본문 바로가기 대메뉴 바로가기

대학신문방송국

HIGHHANBAT

미래가치를 창출하는 글로컬 산학일체 혁신대학

Cultural News

Welcome Back, Y2K Fashion!

작성자HANBAT HERALD  조회수4,908 등록일2023-02-20
사진1.png [330.5 KB]

Welcome Back, Y2K Fashion!

By Yoo Jay  Reporter, Senior of Material Science and Engineering

1999, the end of the 20th century, is sending us a signal so we don’t forget it. Our current period is called Y2K, which is a shorthand term for ‘Year 2 Kilo’, meaning the year 2000. The turn of a new century was a historic moment. As we entered this century, future-oriented values, such as cyber and digital, were on the rise. It has also had an influence on fashion, so the style of clothing called Y2K fashion gave off an innovative and daring high teen mood. This fashion seemed to be forgotten over time, but more and more people have started to enjoy wearing it again, after hearing those signals from the end of the century. Let’s look at the celebrities of the late 90’s and early 2000’s, and catch the signals they have sent.  

  1. Check pattern clothes

   One of the representative high teen movies is “Clueless”, which was released in 1995. It is the story of Cher Horowitz, the hottest girl at Beverly Hills High School, growing up through realizing true love. Like the popularity of the movie, Cher’s check pattern two-piece had a strong influence. While the previous check pattern felt like a “Preppy Look”, combined with a gentle color, this check pattern is characterized by a combination of fresh colors to create an energetic image. At the same time, the check pattern gives off a school uniform mood, which reminds us of the image of a student who plays and studies well. You can complete a more youthful fashion if you wear a miniskirt and top that fits your body.

  1. Low-rise pants & Crop top

    Britney Spears, the “Princess of Pop,” who led the teen pop trend with big hits such as Baby, One More Time, and Toxic, was the fashion trendsetter of that time. She enjoys wearing low-rise pants that lower her underwear to reveal her pelvis, so this item has been in vogue for a while. The point of this dress is that you should wear it freely with a wide design to give a feeling of flowing down. If you match this bottom with a short crop top to reveal the belly and abdomen, you can feel the emotions of that time even more. Dickies 874 low-rise pants are recommended as entry-level low-rise pants. If you want to be a snappy dresser, reveal a thong or trunk underwear.     

  1. Kitsch item

     The heiress of the Hilton hotel and also a party animal, Paris Hilton is famous for being famous. She wore an exaggerated, romantic look by matching outlandish, colorful, and eccentric items. Her fashion style, which avoids luxury and pursues tackiness, is kitsch. The dictionary definition of kitsch is art, decorative objects, or design considered by many people to be ugly, without style, or false, but enjoyed by other people, often because they are funny. Kitsch, in fashion, is the opposite of classy and formal, as seen in Paris Hilton’s fashion. She wore pink clothes that looked like she had taken them out of Barbie’s closet, and a cubic headband that looked like a toddler’s toy! She made use of the kitsch fashion that looks like it pursues chaos, rather than sophistication.


So, we have listened to stories from Y2K, which are full of personality. Did their voices touch your heart? Some people would fall into reminiscence, and some would take it as a new culture. Likewise, there are two main reasons why people react to Y2K fashion nowadays. First, the desire to go back to the past. Adults have a desire to go back to their childhood, when they were happy, with ice cream, when they could freely skip classes. This desire is triggered when they see Y2K fashions and their past memories. Another reason is that fashion is a tool which can express individuality. In a 2021 interview with Prof. Kim Gong-sook of the Department of Convergence Contents, Andong University, regarding the revival of the Y2K style, the professor said that “These days, the value of self-expression is important. As such, this is a generation who acknowledge diversity, respect individuality, and are not afraid to express themselves. The values of the 2000s, in which they actively shared their thoughts, have communicated with the current generation.” 

So, if you want to change your style, how about interacting with time through Y2K fashion? You can feel their hearts from 1999, when they felt a sense of freedom by boldly expressing themselves, without paying attention to any social cues. Let’s find them, according to the frequency that  they sent from the end of the century. Can you hear me? Answer me if you can, 1999, and I will search for you!