Remember when your screen froze just right? That beautiful imperfection is the muse for our most exciting issue yet.
Plug into the past and power up your present with The Glitch is Chic: 90s & Y2K
It’s time to embrace the chaos and make it fashion. Style, reset, and reboot your look nowv.
Before the millennium bug, there was the raw, unapologetic coolness of the 90s. This decade was a melting pot of influences, each contributing to a distinct and enduring style:
Grunge’s Anti-Fashion Anthem: Born from the Seattle music scene, grunge was the epitome of effortless rebellion. Think oversized flannel shirts thrown over band tees, ripped and faded denim, and sturdy combat boots. Comfort and authenticity were key, a stark contrast to the glitz of the 80s.
Minimalism’s Sleek Serenity: On the flip side, the 90s also championed a sophisticated “less is more” approach. Clean lines, neutral palettes (think black, white, and beige), and timeless pieces like slip dresses, tailored trousers, and simple tank tops defined this understated elegance.
Hip-Hop’s Street Style Swagger: The rise of hip-hop culture brought with it a bold and influential street style. Baggy silhouettes, oversized sportswear (tracksuits, hoodies, windbreakers emblazoned with logos), and statement sneakers became essential elements.
The Dawn of Athleisure: Even then, the lines between workout wear and everyday fashion began to blur. Bike shorts paired with oversized tees, leggings under dresses, and chunky sneakers hinted at the comfort-driven styles to come.
As the calendar flipped to the year 2000, fashion took a decidedly more playful and technologically optimistic turn. Y2K style, building upon some 90s foundations, blasted off into a realm of bold colors, futuristic fabrics, and unapologetic fun:
Digital Dreamscape: The dawn of the internet and rapid technological advancements heavily influenced the aesthetic. Think shiny, metallic fabrics (silver was a must!), iridescent finishes, and a general “futuristic” vibe.
Pop Princess Power: Icons like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and the Spice Girls heavily shaped Y2K trends. Low-rise everything (jeans, skirts, pants), crop tops, baby tees with catchy slogans, and vibrant colors were their trademarks.
While denim remained popular, Y2K saw it get a makeover with more embellishments, distressing, and often in lowrise, bootcut, or wide-leg silhouettes.
Accessorize with Attitude: Tiny bags (the smaller, the better!), chunky platform sneakers and sandals, butterfly clips, body glitter, and those iconic tiny sunglasses completed the Y2K picture.
Vogue (V): Let’s talk about Clueless. It’s such a fashion phenomenon. When you were making the film, did you have any idea how much of a style impact it would have?
Alicia Silverstone (AS): “Honestly, no! It’s so wild to me. At the time, like I said, I wore a green t-shirt every day with jeans. So I had 64 costume changes, and I had no patience for it. I just didn’t have a fashion sense. But once we were shooting, the clothes obviously inspired and informed me. I mean, you feel very different running around in a big pair of work boots than you do running around in little Mary Janes. That changes how you walk, it changes how you feel. And those little knee-highs. I would never know how to put anything like this together, not even now. So the fact that I had these full suits all the time, I think that gives you a sense of a different feeling, of such put-togetherness. And the character takes things so seriously, she’s a businesswoman, she’s operating like her life is a business, and she’s dressed for the part.”
V: Beyond the plaid, what do you think made Clueless fashion so enduring and influential for decades to come?
AS: “Between this grunge period and then now, fashion was fun and girly. You went from a period of time where it was just cool to just not care, and jeans and your flannel and whatever. And now to like, ‘I care and I’m going to make really cute outfits all the time.’ And you’re welcome and I’m sorry at the same time.”
V: The yellow plaid outfit is arguably the most recognizable look from the film. What are your memories of that specific costume?
AS: “No one knows where that yellow plaid outfit is. It has a life of its own. You see it every year on the runway. And I think it’s so interesting that people are so interested in it and it continues to live. You’ve seen it with Iggy Azalea’s video, she did an entire homage to Clueless. Ariana Grande had an outfit for her tour that was very much inspired by Clueless. ..25 years because every single Halloween, I get pictures sent to me—they’re always in the yellow plaid outfit. They don’t wear any other outfit, which I never thought about until now, but they’re always in the yellow plaid outfit.”
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