SCAN MAGAZINE FALL 2023
MODERNIZING A MILLENNIUM Unearthing the Y2K Icons Who Established a New Age of Fashion Step into a time machine and transport yourself back to the turn of the millennium, when the world was abuzz with Y2K panic and technological uncertainty. As the year 2000 approached, the “Y2K” phenomenon captivated the masses, giving rise to a distinctive aesthetic that blended futuristic elements with nostalgic nods to the past. From shimmering metallic fabrics, bold neon hues, and low rise denim, the fashion icons of the 00’s era emerged as trendsetters who pushed boundaries and redefined what it meant to be fashionable in the new millennium.
PARIS HILTON: Before touch screens, “going viral” came from being a muse in the public eye but it wasn’t as easy as likes and comments. Before “influencer” was even a term, Paris Hilton was the “it girl” and can be held responsible for the decade of baby tees, low rise bottoms, and bedazzled accessories. Some consider this icon as the first influencer to ever exist because of her less than obvious career path and over the top fashion that ricocheted through early 2000’s red carpet and paparazzi photos. One of her most iconic looks, the silver chainmail Julien Macdonald minidress she wore to celebrate her 21st birthday in 2002. This dress has been recreated and revived many times since, most notably by Kendall Jenner in 2017. It’s safe to say she will forever wear the tiara of “Y2K Queen.”
AVRIL LAVIGNE: In the early 2000’s, buried beneath a 5 ‘1 Canadian teenager, was a catalyst for young punk girls to express their ‘sk8r’ fantasies. Avril Lavigne was just the girlfriend to initiate skater punk rock style within young girls through both her iconic looks and edgy teenage music. Instead of juicy tracksuits, kitten wedges, and mini skirts, she walked red carpets in baggy cargo pants, plain tanks, boxer briefs and a whole lot of eyeliner like her most acclaimed look from the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards. The notable men’s tie with a Canadian flag safety pinned to the front and embellishment in studded bands became her most recognized and recreated looks of her career. Her style polarized preppy fashion while simultaneously popularizing the embrace of teen angst. More importantly, Lavigne pioneered a new approach to being a feminist which encouraged young girls in the 00’s to embrace their masculinity and relinquish the gender conforming stereotypes pushed on women to be pretty, prissy and pink.
