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Beauty Y2K fashion: why the 'Noughties' style is back
Amelia Thorpe discusses the comeback of early 2000s fashion, and reasons for its return.
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Amelia Thorpe
Y2K is an abbreviation that means "year 2000". It mainly refers to the global computer glitch of 2000, but also refers to the clothing style of the early 2000s which is marked by its obsession with low-rise jeans, designer logos, tiny sunglasses, and even tinier handbags.
From Dior mini-skirts to Juicy Couture trackies, Y2K style is a kitschy miss-match of glamour and tack as seen on iconic noughties celebrities and girl groups including Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Destiny’s Child, and Spice Girls. It was everywhere, proudly flaunted by top models and single mums alike, and it has re-emerged in 2020 to steal the show once again! There was a good decade or so in-between, however, where dressing like this would’ve been considered a crime against all things fashionable, so why has it made such a strong comeback?
Well, as we know, fashion is cyclical, Y2K fashion itself is a rehash of typical 90s streetwear but with
Dominic Lee brings back Brand of the Week with a small sustainable designer combining pubs and streetwear
Welsh designer, Adam Jones takes inspiration from local pubs- the ones you might find your dad or your grandad drinking in- and makes clothes that fit the aesthetic. In his collections, you'll find sweater vests, bags and scarves made out of bar towels from beloved beers such as Newcastle Brown Ale, Tetley's and Marston's. My personal favourites are of course the Brown Ale items- it's one of my favourite beers after all- and I have my eye on the scarf should it ever come back in stock.
Jones' aesthetic is fun, colourful and delightfully vintage and using bar towels to make clothes out of is not only eco-friendly but unique. The new collection for Spring/Summer 2021 also upcycles items such as tea towels and ribbon that are then made into more sweater vests- which seem to be a mainstay in Jones' collections- along with shorts and dresses. My favourite pieces from the new collection would have to be the leopard print towelling trousers and the distressed Union Jack jumper- with a matching hat designed by Benny Andallo. copious amounts of runway glamour added to the mix. So it was only a matter of time before the early 2000s became fashionable again, encouraged by pop-culture as per usual, social media, and celebrities, as well as the popularisation of thrifting. Celebrities like Bella Hadid have been sporting Dior’s Saddle bag (a reinvention of the early 2000s original) since 2018, and designer brands like Louis Vuitton and Gucci have been making logo mania great again. Even the original noughties icons are making a re-appearance, such as Spice Girls, with their reunion tour back in 2019, bringing attention back to the trend as people reminisce the early 2000s.
Social media platforms including Instagram and TikTok have also been taken over by this trend, with users sharing their favourite Y2K ‘outfit inspos’, who’ll then take their bucket hats, butterfly clips, and diamante encrusted tracksuits to the streets, making this trend unavoidable.
Brand of the week: Adam Jones
Dominic Lee
My brand of the week of the moment is all about championing two things that are very close to my heart- sustainability and the pub.
Possibly because of its prevalence on social me-
Much of Jones' collection- if not all- is unisex which is another positive for potential customers, as a move towards gender neutral fashion is far more inclusive for people interested in wearing Adam Jones.
Jones is pretty much a oneman team
Adam Jones is still very much an up-and-comer though, having set up a GoFundMe page which allows his brand to stay afloat. Jones is pretty much a one-man team too, with his designs being made by hand and materials sourced by himself. The designer also owns 50M, a store in the Belgravia area of London which stocks other promising designers alongside himself, and other more established names such as Liam Hodges. Jones also does commission work, so if you've got any old bar towels lying around the house, or a big pile of ribbons then he'd probably love if you sent them his way. So if you want to add a more personal and unique touch to your wardrobe then Adam Jones might just be the brand and the designer for you. Jones is pretty much a oneman team too, with his designs being made by hand and materials sourced by himself. The designer also owns 50M, a store in the Belgravia area of London which stocks other promising designers alongside himself, and other more established names such as Liam Hodges. Jones also does commission work, so if you've got any old bar towels lying around the house, or a big pile of ribbons then he'd probably love if you sent them his way. So if you want to add a more personal and unique touch to your wardrobe then Adam Jones might just be the brand and the designer for you. dia, the trend has been embraced by one generation in particular, Gen-Z. The early 2000s, to a typical Gen-Z, will symbolize a childhood filled with Bratz dolls, Groovy Chick bed sheets, tacky lip balm palettes, and Lelli Kelly shoes. There is an undeniably childish aura to this trend, which explains why many Gen-Z’s might adopt this style due to the nostalgia that surrounds this era of fashion. Furthermore, adopting this style is made easier than ever due to the rise of thrifting, from buying and selling noughties clothes on Depop, to shopping at vintage fairs and charity shops; Y2K fashion is readily available to everyone, hence its mighty comeback. And whether you love it or hate it, the trend is here to stay for the foreseeable future.
Instagram:@ _early_2000s_fashion
Campus Fashion: Sophia Ayub
In celebration of my mother’s 55th birthday, I whisked her away to a gorgeously rustic Victorian home up in Edinburgh for the weekend. When shopping for the trip, I had taken great consideration into the potential chilliness we were about to endure. Despite the deceivingly bright days, I was not at all wrong. Upon my mother’s request, we visited River Island as she herself had an eye on a new coat. To my surprise, I stumbled across this gorgeous cable knit co-ord cardigan and top. I picked up the tan (which always seems to be sold out now when browsing), however, it was also available in a beautiful violet tone, as well as the classic black. I paired this with some standard Topshop Joni
jeans, (the absolute dream fit when it comes to skinny jeans), a Versace belt, (stolen from my mum’s luggage), and my plain black high-top converse. The co-ord sparked particular interest, resulting in several Instagram DM’s inquiring on the co-ord.
Photo: Sophia Ayub
THE COURIER Monday 19 October 2020
Beauty 19 Rare Beauty: rare inclusivity When Selena Gomez first announced the launch of her makeup brand to her 190 million Instagram followers, I found myself amongst many sceptical observers. After all, it was nothing new; just another celebrity trying her hand at cosmetics. Little did I know then that Rare Beauty was no ordinary makeup business. The rising number of singers, actresses and Instagram models branching out into the makeup world has made the creation of makeup nothing but a cash grab, but Selena’s unique mission with Rare Beauty has set her aside from the rest. The debut picture on Rare Beauty’s Instagram which declares that “You are Rare”, and the caption that clearly states the brand’s aim to “shape conversations around beauty, self-acceptance and mental health” encourages us to perceive the brand as one that truly cares about the wellbeing of its consumers. Not only does Rare Beauty offer helplines and useful resources on its website, but its online presence also features discussions regarding mental health, with #WeAreRare dedicated to destigmatising mental health and building a supportive community. What’s more, the brand has even gone as far as delegating a Mental Health Council to “help guide [its] strategy”. This focus on supporting mental health is further highlighted by Rare Beauty’s impact fund, which aims to donate $100 million to mental health services in the next ten years. In fact, from launch-day the brand kickstarted this mission by donating 1% of every product sale to such services, proving that the company’s ambitious promises are, slowly but surely, coming to fruition. Selena’s brand also promotes a refreshingly positive message regarding makeup and beauty: Rare Beauty is about “accepting who you are - and finding the comfort in your imperfections”, about “breaking down unrealistic standards of perfection” and about makeup that is “made to feel good in, without hiding what makes you unique.” With more and more makeup brands promoting full coverage products, Rare Beauty encourages us all to practice self-love and acceptance. In a climate where only 28% of men and 26% of women are satisfied with how they look, Selena’s message that makeup is simply an “accessory to compliment what’s beautiful about you” couldn’t be more valuable. Whilst Rare Beauty’s mission to destigmatise mental health and discover self-love is incredibly important, another crucial element to the makeup brand is its inclusivity. At Rare Beauty, you will find your products 100% vegan and cruelty-free, but also in 48 different shades when it comes to foundation and concealer. This extensive shade range for a debut makeup brand can only be challenged by Rihanna’s ground-breaking Fenty range, which today contains a total of 50 different shades. But enough about Fenty. In addition to the diverse range of foundation and concealer shades, Selena’s products are also disability-friendly. The Rare Beauty tools, “designed to mirror the shape of your finger”, along with the rounded tops of the product bottles, make makeup application easier for those with limited joint movement. Taking this into consideration, Selena’s two-year project, Rare Beauty, is nothing if not an industry gamechanger. Despite scepticism, Georgia Morson learns that Selena Gomez's beauty line truly is Rare Georgia Morson Lets Tik-Tok about fashion As unforgiving as my initial attempt at a pun may be, many of us know the app for its comical, cringe-worthy content. However, those of us who have fallen victim to the apps enticement will know that there is so much more to its content, proving to be surprisingly informative – no seriously, I have for sure learned a thing or two! But what does this have to do with fashion? So what’s the big deal with Tik-Tok? The app's content consists of sharing short video’s, incorporating smart editing, music and a multitude of filters. With an audience of 800 million active users in 2020 (Datareportal, 2020). The app ranks as the ninth most popular social network site, with 33 million downloads in a single quarter from the Apple store (Q1, 2019). At this incredible figure, Tik-Tok beats fellow social media apps Instagram, YouTube and Whatsapp. Many would see this as no surprise, viewing Tik-Tok as the social platform ‘representative’ for Generation Z, with 41% of users aged between 16 and 24 (Globalwebindex, 2019). Those figures speak for themselves, there’s no denying that the globally celebrated app is taking the world by storm-but what has any of this got to do with fashion? Going back to the app’s fastpaced business, capitalising off the creation and sharing of short videos, it only makes sense that the social media beast has boomed within the fastfashion industry. This includes numerous brands which increase marketing interaction and causes an influx in brand sponsorship of influencers via paid promotions and collaborations. Cheap and chic brand Shein is one of many who have jumped onto the bandwagon, with a whopping 876.9k folclientele exemplifies the unlimited business potential which the app offers. The never-ending evolvement of fashion trends can prove to be quite overwhelming, as well as expensive. What Tik-Tok has enabled is fashion fanatic creators to share their individual style and offer advice, which, in turn, allows them to grow their audience and capitalise from their following. In regards to the average user, followers are able to have that free insight on how to not only dress, but accessorise, style, and most importantly save. This is where Shein comes in, with its competitive pricing and trendy stock, its collaboration with influencers offers an accessible means-especially so amongst the ongoing pandemic-of providing users with the means to embrace trends, and even creating their own style; whilst supporting the average individual's bank account. Love it or hate it, Tik-Tok is making moves, and that includes in the fashion industry, bringing us all one step closer to inspiring an at-home style Sophia Ayub talks facts, figures and personal opinion on the impact of break-out social media app, Tik-Tok Sophia Ayub
Margarita Ivanova opens
Margarita Ivanova
— Fashion and Beauty sub-editor the world. The truth is, I’ve spent my whole life waiting to be old enough to wear heels, so I couldn’t imagine that there would come a day when I would want to stop.
Ever since I was little, I dreamed of wearing shoes that would make me feel tall, graceful and, more importantly, feminine. Looking back, I don’t know why I associated high heels with femininity. Perhaps it was because, as a young girl, I wanted to look just like Barbie — and none of my Barbies ever had anything but high heels. Or maybe it was the fact that all of the too. They made wearing them look so effortlessly natural that I couldn’t help believing that it was, in fact, a natural choice of shoe for women. This fed into my notion of what femininity is and how it can be expressed, so much so that high heels became the epitome of feminine beauty and the power that came with it. I started to believe that women have to dress a certain way to fit the carefully constructed, and perpetually controlled image of femininity, so I wore dresses, skirts, high heels — and just about anylowing, as well as 7.5 Million Likes (Friday 2nd YouTube: RareBeauty Instagram: @thenavarose How I dress versus how I want to dress
up our new series with how her heels-to-flats journey helped her take back her power.
Iused to be the kind of girl who always wore high-heeled shoes. For years, I would slip them on without fail and click-clack my way out of the front door, ready to take on
women that I ever saw on TV wore high heels, Photo: Margarita Ivanova October 2020). It’s increasing interaction with its thing else that would meet the expectations of my gender identity. Yet it was always high heels that dictated the way I saw myself. Without them, I felt powerless, no longer beautiful.
But what’s the point of power, if it causes you nothing but pain? I thought that pain was the price of power. After all, some women go through many painful procedures to feel beautiful, and I was no different. I once spent an entire day walking around in a pair of heels that left my feet blistering and bleeding so much that the scars left took months to heal. That didn’t stop me from wearing those shoes again, though. Wearing heels until my feet looked like they’ve been through war was just a normal day for me. I didn’t mind.
It took me a long time to understand that femi-
ninity can be defined in many different ways, that there are no rules — only my own. I can’t remember the day that everything changed, but eventually I realised that the only thing more painful than wearing heels was pretending that they empowered me. Even though wearing heels did add height and a level of grace and sophistication, I started to question if I truly needed them to feel beautiful, powerful, and feminine.
So, enough was enough: I ordered one pair of flat shoes (you know, just to try it), and soon I was buying another, and another, and another. It was nice to be able to walk and not be so painfully aware of my feet all the time. I never thought that I could feel so confident, so feminine — and in a pair of Converse! My sense of clothing style was beginning to change too. I learned that I really enjoy wearing trousers and that, actually, I like wearing trousers more. Don’t get me wrong, I still like dresses and skirts, I just no longer feel confined to them. And as for heeled shoes: who knows if I’ll ever wear them again? If I do, I won’t let them define me, my self-worth, or my sense of beauty. No pair of shoes should ever be given that much power.
Writers,
This year we would like you to write about your own fashion journeys, and send them in to us. We would also love to see some original images of your outfits too - such as before and afters of how you developed your style!
Monday 19 October 2020 THE COURIER
20 Travel The ultimate guide to your UK staycation
Staycations can be just as much fun as travelling abroad. The beauty of a staycation is that it can range from a day trip, a city break or a fortnight-long tour of the UK’s best sites. The UK is an incredible place to go on holiday because it caters to such a wide variety of holidaymakers: the historical hunters, the day trippers, those searching for the thrill of a city break, and those that simply want to relax; a UK staycation is perfect for everyone. The most important thing to do when planning a staycation is figuring out the exact type of holiday you want. Planning any holiday is determined by three things: the price, the place and the people. The price is probably the most crucial part of planning your staycation because it determines alCaitie explores our best options when it comes to staycations Caitie Woolridge and people, but you should make sure that you plan and book any activities in advance. Organising activities once you get to your holiday destination is both frustrating and challenging because it can feel like you’re wasting time, especially now that you need advance tickets to most venues. Quiet staycations: Lake District and Somerset The countryside is an excellent choice for a staycation if you crave peace and quiet. Cottages, lodges and B&Bs in the countryside are some of the best places to take a few deeps breaths, take long walks or pick up a book. The Lake District is one of the most well-known northern locations for a countryside break because of its beautiful mountains and forests. The Lake District holds a National Park with activities such as treetop treks or renting a boat for hire available. Likewise, Somerset has lots of holiday cottages and, as it is cider country, it has tours and tastings of cider farms available. If you want to immerse yourself in the culture, Somerset is also home to the Roman baths. Day trips near Newcastle: York and Edinburgh Since York is a short train ride away, it is ideal for people that just want to go on a day trip. You can take a tour of York’s Chocolate Story, or walk through the picturesque Shambles which is full of cafes and little shops. There is a myriad of activities and events going on in York such as the Van Gogh immersive experience. If you go north of Newcastle, Grassmarket in Edinburgh often has free events going on. That area used to hold public executions, and now has a pub named The Last Drop referring to the final hanging of the 18th century. It's fair to say that a staycation might not be the holiday that you hoped for, but it doesn’t mean that it can’t still be a great break away. most the entirety of your holiday from how long you can spend in an area to the type of holiday you City breaks: Cardiff and Belfast can afford. Honestly, a week in London is not exactly ideal on a student budget. A long weekend in Manchester? A lot more doable. Who do you want to accompany you on your staycation? Your friends, partner, family or a solo mission? The people that you plan to go on holiday with will determine where you go. You should organise a chat to figure out exactly what everybody wants to get out of their staycation because there is nothing worse than having somebody who wants a chill few days in the forest whilst you want to go on a bender in the city. Figure it out before you start googling woodland cabins! The place is obviously determined by the price Cardiff might be a bit of a trek from Newcastle, but it is worth spending a few days in such a fun place. Among the top things to do in Cardiff, booking one of their many escape rooms would definitely be on that list along with treetop adventure golf. In addition, the city has a whole host of history running through it with Cardiff Castle and the spooky ghost tours that are offered. Belfast is a small city that still has a lot to offer in terms of its history; it is home to Belfast Titanic which provides visitors with a ‘Titanic experience’ including interactive galleries. You can also go on a coach trip to the infamous Giant's Causeway. Image: Wikimedia common, Giorgio Galeotti
Travel with me: Cinque Terre, Italy
Karolina takes us on a magical tour around Cinque Terre, a hidden gem of Northwest Italy
Karolina Kokoszko
The current situation is not ideal for
travelling, so I’m reminiscing about my trip to Italy this summer. I’ve seen a lot of magical places there, but today I’m going to tell you about the most beautiful one – Cinque Terre.
Cinque Terre means ‘five lands’ and it’s a region of five small villages on the hills of Northwest Italy. We got there by train from Pisa and stayed in La Spezia, which is not one of the five villages, but it’s a really good place to book a room/apartment, since it’s not as expensive as the actual Cinque Terre.
Manarola
First village we visited was Manarola. There’s a restaurant with a gorgeous view called Nessum Dorma, where we had lunch and drank Aperol Spritz. Don’t forget to bring a swimsuit – when it gets hot, it’s tempting to jump into the crystal clear water from the rocks. That’s what we did after wandering around for a while.
Riomaggiore
Then, we jumped on a train to another town – Riomaggiore. We watched the sunset sitting on the rocks, surrounded by tons of people enjoying golden hour with wine and pizza. The village looked so beautiful in the golden light of the sunset and I have to admit, Riomaggiore may be my favourite out of all 5 towns.
Corniglia
The next day we woke up early and headed to Corniglia. It’s unique, as you need to climb about 400 stairs to get to town from the train station. There’s also a bus, which is free if you purchased an all-day train ticket. My friend decided to climb up the stairs, while I took the bus and she got lost! Somehow, she ended up way above Corniglia, on top of the hill and couldn’t find her way around. She was wandering around vineyards, with no phone coverage and mobile data for a few hours. Finally, after walking nearly 15 kilometers, she managed to get back to Corniglia. It was scary at the moment, but now makes for a good story.
Monterosso al Mare and Vernazza
She was exhausted, so we went to Monterosso al Mare – the only village that has a beach. Monterosso is the least breath-taking town, as there are no colourful houses hanging off a cliff, but it’s great to relax at the beach. We ended the day in Vernazza, where we got pizza, bought tiny, cute bottles of Aperol Spritz and watched the sunset.
In the morning we had to say goodbye to Cinque Terre. But not to Italy! We got on a train and headed to Florence, where I may have met my soulmate… But that’s a story for another time!
I’ll never forget those two days in Cinque Terre, filled with picturesque views, delicious gelato and watching sunsets.
I highly recommend visiting this place when travel becomes more possible, and if you have any questions or want some tips, don’t hesitate to text me. Have you heard of Cinque Terre before?
