Gen Z’s disdain for millennial fashion was once legendary. Too-short socks, overly tight jeans, the awkward full-hand heart sign – these were just a few of the fashion faux pas that defined, in their eyes, the millennial aesthetic. The line between the generations seemed clearly drawn, separating bleached brows from barely-there ones, cheugy from chic. But a curious shift has occurred. The streets, clubs, and social media feeds are awash in what looks unmistakably like…millennial style. And the wearers? Often, they’re Gen Z themselves, individuals barely old enough to remember the original reign of these trends.
This isn’t just a trickle; it’s a full-blown revival. Skirts over trousers, leopard-print coats, even those infamous ‘going out tops’ are making a comeback. Skinny jeans are back with a vengeance, accompanied by the equally controversial return of bulky skate trainers. This unexpected embrace of styles once deemed hopelessly outdated begs the question: what’s driving this trend cycle acceleration?
The millennial style itself is a broad spectrum, encompassing everything from early 2000s low-rise jeans and zip-up hoodies to the early 2010s explosion of side fringes, leopard print, and black tights under denim booty riders, and even the indie sleaze aesthetic with its signature cigarettes, digital cameras, and bold red lipstick. Yet, Gen Z seems to be enthusiastically recreating every element, from the coin belts of yesteryear to the puffy ball skirts that once graced runways. It’s a fashion time warp, a vibrant tapestry woven from the threads of the recent past.
This isn’t entirely surprising. The 20-year fashion cycle is a well-documented phenomenon, though recent years have seen it significantly speed up. The pandemic’s impact on social trends and the ever-present influence of social media have likely contributed to this acceleration. Individuals are simultaneously channeling 2004 and 2014, creating a dizzying blend of styles that blur the lines of time. As Simon Reynolds noted in his 2010 book *Retromania*, our society is uniquely obsessed with its immediate cultural past. Hannah Ewens echoed this sentiment in VICE, questioning the rapid pace of this nostalgic whirlwind.
This cyclical nature of fashion is perhaps best understood through personal experience. The teenage conviction of originality clashes harshly with the realization that your current style was once worn by your parents – and is, soon enough, to be adopted by another generation. The cringeworthy realization that your current fashion choices were once considered passé is a universal experience, a comedic loop that plays out again and again across generations. What was once seen as unique and innovative becomes a source of ironic amusement, only to resurface as a trendy revival a couple of decades later.
Interestingly, the millennial style Gen Z criticizes often focuses on a specific archetype: the woman in brown ankle boots, wide-brimmed hat, and a ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ bathroom sign. However, when considering the broader spectrum of millennial trends across the 2000s and early 2010s, it’s clear that these styles are more prevalent now than ever. The current fashion landscape is a testament to the cyclical nature of trends, a constant reimagining of past styles, and the inevitable shift in generational perspectives. As the oldest Gen Z members approach their late twenties and Generation Alpha emerges with its own unique digital imprint, this cycle will undoubtedly continue. The fashion carousel spins, carrying us all along on its relentless journey of reinvention and rediscovery. The next target for their wry observations? The very trends Gen Z once held dear.
