Fashion

What Does Y2K Fashion Mean for Today's Body Inclusivity Movement?

“There’s a chance for us to redefine what flattering means to us.” — Maia Douglas

5.1K

Nostalgia core is at an all time high, with a rise in Y2K silhouettes across emerging brands and luxury staples. Whether it be slim office siren glasses and sleek capris or leopard print and French tips, early aughts trends are undoubtedly experiencing a resurgence.

Although the decade delivered iconic fashion, it also revealed an obsession with thinness. The rise in Ozempic use and the return of the Y2K and heroine chic adjacent aesthetics is no coincidence. Before body inclusivity became mainstream — or at least a performative version of it — media blatantly encouraged collective body dysmorphia across a generation of girls.

Many Gen Z and Millennials women spent their formative years witnessing celebrities like Jessica Simpson be publicly shamed for weighing more than 120 pounds. Revisiting TV shows like America’s Next Top Model and hearing Janice Dickson refer to a size 4 model as “plus-sized” illustrates the toxic beauty standards we were conditioned to believe. So, with the re-emergence of  Y2K style, how have conversations around body inclusivity changed?

y2k fashion size inclusive body positivity trends sex and the city carrie bradshaw low rise jeans

“With any item from fashion eras’ past, there’s always a concept of the ideal body type that underlies the design. Certain women have memories of not having the ideal body and feeling uncomfortable when they wear them,” fashion historian and vintage expert Paige Rubin tells us. Because of this, for many young women, Y2K fashion can be a reminder of society’s inherent fatphobia. Low-rise jeans, the defining clothing of the time, are now controversial as they aren’t hospitable to wearers with ample hips and thighs.

y2k fashion size inclusive body positivity trends sex and the city carrie bradshaw low rise jeans

Curve model and content creator Maia Douglas recalls, “overhearing women not feeling comfortable wearing shorts and snug capris because they were too embarrassed to show their thighs.” She continues explaining,  “I feel like low rise pants can be incredibly ostracizing. I could wear a low rise silhouette, but because I have bigger thighs and a larger butt, when I sat down I would get picked on for having ‘plumbers crack,’ which for anyone as a kid growing up in the early 2000s, we all know what that experience was like. I’d love to see low-rise jeans that are more inclusive to shapelier bodies.”

As we redefine what’s “flattering” in 2024, we’re reclaiming the aesthetic for all body types, bringing the Y2K style into the future. Influencer Bianca Rodriguez doesn’t allow societal standards to prevent her from joining in on the fun of trying out a trend. “When early ’00’s trends started coming back in style, I only saw it on thinner women, which can be intimidating for someone with curves. We’re told not to accentuate our thighs, hips and stomach, but I love challenging myself to wear things that may not necessarily be deemed as flattering. If it’s a trend that I’m excited about and I find cute on other people, I want to be able to be a part of it as well. I want to be able to inspire other women with similar bodies to wear whatever they want, even if they have a little stomach bulge.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Bianca J🥀 (@bianca_j)

Separating what society considers to be flattering from fatphobia can be used as a tool to take up space. “There’s a chance for us to redefine what flattering means to us. Making my body look bigger doesn’t have to be coded as bad,” Douglass continues. The ebb and flow of the trend cycle is inevitable and while indulging in Y2K-inspired clothing is here to stay, we don’t need to accept the harmful body standards along with it.

Read Full Article
Text By
Share this article

What to Read Next

The Coolest Jewelry Brands to Add to Your Summer Rotation
Fashion

The Coolest Jewelry Brands to Add to Your Summer Rotation

From tarnish-free to sustainably designed, we’ve got it all.

Maje x Jiayi Li Launch Summer-Ready Collaboration
Fashion

Maje x Jiayi Li Launch Summer-Ready Collaboration

Perfect for a getaway to an island in the sun.

Glossier's Revamped Basketball Court Adds Beauty to Real Life
Culture

Glossier's Revamped Basketball Court Adds Beauty to Real Life

The Glossier x WNBA partnership expands with a public court.

Team USA and SKIMS Gear Up for the Olympics and Paralympics 2024
Fashion

Team USA and SKIMS Gear Up for the Olympics and Paralympics 2024

Let the games begin.

Levi's x sacai Dip into Denim at Paris Fashion Week
Fashion

Levi's x sacai Dip into Denim at Paris Fashion Week

Big denim energy.

Say Goodbye to Frizz With LOBIE's Game-Changing Hair Mask
Beauty

Say Goodbye to Frizz With LOBIE's Game-Changing Hair Mask

Packed with 123 amino acids.

Illuminate Your Natural Beauty With Patrick Ta's New Highlighter Duo
Beauty

Illuminate Your Natural Beauty With Patrick Ta's New Highlighter Duo

“These are not your 2016 highlighters, it’s a new way to glow.” — Patrick Ta

These 10 Artists Will Be The Soundtrack Of Your Summer
Music

These 10 Artists Will Be The Soundtrack Of Your Summer

From Afrobeats to R&B, these songs you do not want to miss.

Salomon and MM6 Maison Margiela Officially Dropped Their X-ALP Collection
Footwear

Salomon and MM6 Maison Margiela Officially Dropped Their X-ALP Collection

“A new urban classic.”

Palace Artois Is Back With a Bang
Fashion

Palace Artois Is Back With a Bang

This time, teaming up for a tenniscore-inspired collection that’s somehow perfect for the pub.

More ▾
 

Looks like you’re using an ad-blocker

We charge advertisers instead of our readers. Support us by whitelisting our site.

Whitelist Us

How to Whitelist Us

screenshot
  1. Click the AdBlock icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. Under “Pause on this site” click “Always”.
  3. Refresh the page or click the button below to continue.
screenshot
  1. Click the AdBlock Plus icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. Block ads on – This website” switch off the toggle to turn it from blue to gray.
  3. Refresh the page or click the button below to continue.
screenshot
  1. Click the AdBlocker Ultimate icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. Switch off the toggle to turn it from “Enabled on this site” to “Disabled on this site”.
  3. Refresh the page or click the button below to continue.
screenshot
  1. Click the Ghostery icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. Click on the “Ad-Blocking” button at the bottom. It will turn gray and the text above will go from “ON” to “OFF”.
  3. Refresh the page or click the button below to continue.
screenshot
  1. Click the UBlock Origin icon in the browser extension area in the upper right-hand corner.
  2. Click on the large blue power icon at the top.
  3. When it turns gray, click the refresh icon that has appeared next to it or click the button below to continue.
screenshot
  1. Click the icon of the ad-blocker extension installed on your browser.You’ll usually find this icon in the upper right-hand corner of your screen. You may have more than one ad-blocker installed.
  2. Follow the instructions for disabling the ad blocker on the site you’re viewing.You may have to select a menu option or click a button.
  3. Refresh the page or click the button below to continue.