Y2K outfit try-on: bring back the 2000s on you

Y2K is fashion from roughly 1999 to the mid-2000s: think pop stars, flip phones and glossy magazines. Key pieces include low-rise flared or baggy jeans, baby tees, velour tracksuits, butterfly tops, mini skirts, metallic fabrics, cargo pants and tinted sunglasses. Colours run from baby pink and lilac to silver and denim blue. It suits anyone who likes fun, nostalgic and slightly cheeky outfits. The trend is everywhere on social media again, and much of it is found second-hand, so previewing before you buy makes thrifting far less risky.

Try a baby tee with low-rise flared jeans, a velour tracksuit, a satin slip skirt with a cropped cardigan, a halter top with cargo pants, a denim mini skirt with a graphic tee, a metallic going-out top and a denim-on-denim set. Swap the preset for any screenshot to try your own find. Y2K is all about playful proportions, so it’s worth comparing a low-rise version with a mid-rise update of the same idea to see which feels more like you.

The preset is a starting point; the real fun is testing pieces from your own shopping tabs. Stand straight, face the camera and use even light, with your whole body in frame. For the outfit, one clear image of a single look beats a moodboard or a screenshot of several items. For low-rise and baggy fits, a head-to-toe photo shows the proportions much better than a waist-up shot. Your face, hair and background stay untouched, so if you want the full effect, do your hair to match before you take the photo.