Y2K Spring 2022 Fashion Show

Chillax, because the early 2000’s are back, biatch

History repeats itself, and these days the pendulum seems to be revolving faster than usual. While much of the 2010’s were spent trying to forget about the fashion crimes everybody was committing a decade before (we know you wore jeans under a skirt), Spring 2022 saw an explosion of a trend that had been quietly building up for some time: Y2K is back and bling-blingier than ever.

The present is scary, to say nothing of the future. Designers are recognizing our post-pandemic yearning for comfort, and what could be more comfortable than the good old days, where nothing can harm us? A major part of this push has been the down-aging that characterized this season; as labels look to court Gen-Z customers, they look to these customers’ earliest aesthetic recollections: when technology was clear and waistlines were low.

Sometimes it’s something as obvious as rhinestone text or a bandana top, while sometimes a look just exudes that naughties je ne sai quois – but we know it when we see it.

Blumarine took things back with bandanas, bodycon, and butterflies. Versace and Mark Fast turn up the neon. Mixing cargo pants, bolero tops, and cowboy boots, Coperni nails that aughties eclecticism. Ottolinger took straps to the max. Chanel matched its barely-vintage inspired designs with show production that hearkened back to when the photographer pit was more like a mosh and supermodels blew kisses.