Lately, Gen Z has been reviving millennial vibes, blending the vintage aesthetic with our modern-day style. Driven by a deep sense of curiosity, Gen Zers turn to social media trends to discover and recreate former styles from the early 2000s.
Content from social media, fashion influencers, and streaming services has created a culture that’s online and always evolving, revealing differences between generations and how Gen Z borrows trends from earlier years and adds its own flair.
47-year-old flight attendant Alecia Baker states that Gen Zers go back to previous trends because they run out of ideas. Going on to say, “They pick off of it and then improve it to fit their needs. They add to the trends versus taking from them.”
Gen Z is finding ways to make the 2000s style their own rather than copying it. Combining their own present-day twist. Creating a hybrid of what feels both retro and current. According to The Pop Break, a pop culture digital magazine, “It’s not just about copying and pasting what’s been done in the past, it’s about reinventing.”
Different platforms feature famous fashion influencers wearing vintage items from the early 2000s, like Britney Spears. Content creators like Namisnokia share Y2K-inspired fashion hauls, gyaru makeup tutorials, and a playlist that reintroduces early 2000s icons to a younger audience.
According to the Johns Hopkins News-Letter, people return to previous trends every 20 years. According to an article by Gen Zer, Patrecia Meliana, published on ContentGrip, “What appears nostalgic to older generations represents something entirely different to Gen Z: an alternative way of experiencing the world that feels more authentic, more tactile, and paradoxically, more novel than their digital default.”
“Nostalgia marketing has become an increasingly popular strategy for brands to connect emotionally with consumers,” according to Benchmark, a marketing platform. Just by reviving past product brands can stir waves of comfort and connection to the brands, especially for those born in the 2000s. Nostalgia Marketing often brings back memories for those who lived through the 2000s, giving a wave of nostalgia. According to Grey Journal, a publication that focuses on entrepreneurship, “These must evoke a certain era. The best triggers feel instantly recognizable to your audience yet still align with your brand identity.”
The 2000s fashion seems particularly interesting to Gen Z: chunky jewelry, sequins, denim, and strappy sandals. Thrifting has become more than a shopping habit amongst Gen Z; it is a cultural movement. Thrifting online on apps like Vinted makes it easier than ever.
Trends online, from Pinterest pins to Instagram reels, have influenced thrifting habits among Gen Z. Social media is normalizing thrifting content. According to Goodwill, “Influencers and peers alike showcase their thrifted outfits, encouraging followers to explore the diverse world of vintage and upcycled clothing.”
Baker states, “People now know where all the high-end thrift stores are via social media.” According to Baker, 20 years ago, they didn’t have the same technology we have now.
While 12-year-old Kyndall Whitaker believes that Gen Z does have a connection to the 2000s, Baker disagrees. “I think that they’re just kind of copying the style and making it their own.”
Streaming services play a significant role in the 2000s revival. Music, TV shows, and other 2000s content are even more accessible nowadays thanks to streaming services. Teens can discover shows and artists like Mean Girls and Rihanna. The new generation has the accessibility to engage with the 2000s on their own terms. Apps like Kapi Cam act as a digital camera on your phone.
An article published in How Stuff Works states, “Millennials and Gen Z had very different upbringings. Millennials grew up during the rise of social media and the economic uncertainty of the Great Recession.” Going on to say that, “Gen Z expects everything on demand. This has influenced how each group interacts with technology, their expectations in the workplace, and even their spending habits.”
According to Valerie Won Lee, the founder of World Citizen Artists, Global Leader at WomenTech Network, strategic advisor in global communications, and author, Gen Z is influenced by what they see on social media. “They create and spread memes, start viral challenges, and shape online conversations.”
Whitaker says, “Social Media just influences people to like do stuff. Even if it’s not usually what they do.” She believes almost all Gen Zers are on social media. “When you see a whole bunch of people doing something, it kind of influences you to do it too.”
