Yeah i think it's because people view the future in a more dystopian way now with all the tv show like black mirror and the walking dead, it's may also be because technology and fashion are kinda stagnating compared to the fast evolution that happened through the 2000s and 2010s
But that is because the vision of what is known as futurism was born at the beginning of the 20th century and is an illusion of what people dreamed of a utopian world. Each decade had its own version of futurism but what remains is that fetish for technology that makes humans work less: flying cars, self-cleaning houses, robots etc. That's why it gives that feeling that the y2k seems more futuristic but in truth it is an aesthetic illusion of the real problems that were going to explode in the 2000s even until now
Vintage is actually a pretty big trend now. It isn't the only one of course, but I feel like many people don't like the present very much right now so they are looking towards the past for inspiration.
Yes, they're completely different. The McBling "Celebrity Culture" is more of a mid 2000s thing. Juicy sweatsuits, frilly miniskirts, bedazzled stuff, etc.
@@janguage4908 lady Gaga only DEBUTED like 4 whole years after that era, so no, not like her at all. Think Paris and Nicole on the Simple Life. That is McBling.
I don't think Aaliyah ever gets her credit for influencing Y2K. Right from the one in a million era in 1996, she started giving a lot of Y2K looks with her sunglasses, leather, baggy clothes, baggy jackets, hair, etc. And her music video concepts really ecsentuated her avant garde spin on Y2K. Her videos like if your girl only knew, one in a million, four page letter, the one I gave my heart to, are you that somebody, try again, we need a resolution, and more than a woman are the epitome of slick and sexy and sort of avant garde y2k. My favorite video if hers is we need a resolution, which is just chefs 😘 and very futuristic and Y2K without being tacky at all. This is something that I really love about Aaliyah. Despite participating in trends that we may cringe at today, nothing she did was ever tacky and it continues to stay timeless to this day.
I worked in IT back then and I remember how much work the sysadmins and programmers had to put into updating all of our servers and code in order to ensure nothing would happen. Then when nothing happened people that didn't have a clue about programming yelled "HOAX" as if we hadn't been working hard to make sure nothing would happen.
I get confused when someone does a lookback on fashion and cites celebrities as representative. While they did ultimately adopt and influence fashion of the time, what the layman wore vs what a celebrity would wear would be somewhat different.
@@bubblegum03 granted, but the lives of regular people are just as interesting and deserve to have their story explained. It would be interesting to see how people with less resources tried to keep up with the y2k trend
I mean in the past it was like that but things are changing for the better now. I'm seeing more and more people confidently rocking the clothing they like out on the street and I'm loving it. Rock on fashionistas, it literally makes my day
I good example would be the totally spies background decor and technology or Winx club tecna's style and home planet Edit: the DCOM zenon girl of the 21 century would also be a good representation of this aesthetic
I feel like totally spies is a good clash between the two aesthetics because their day to day clothing was super mcbling but their spy catsuits is very much a y2k staple
Is that where the design of Windows 7 comes from? I hate Windows 10 with a passion because they did away with the aero theme, which was bubbly and fun.
@@bry8883 Emo was also popular in the mid 2000s and co-existed with McBling. It was the response to it (like today's alt, not everyone dressed emo but enough people did to become popular). Scene was late 2000s and saw Emo fashions that used to be niche becoming more and more mainstream, esp. in the music and clubbing cultures of the time, which influenced indie sleaze.
I like both aesthetics though and the y2k aesthetic does take a lot of inspiration from the mod movement of the mid and late 60's which was about futurism and new technologies. Also there was that weird era where the two aesthetics where mixed/in the transition phase of one another, like 1997 doesn't have the same aesthetic as 2007 but the year 2002 has both of these aesthetic present.
The architectural examples used here also originated from radical/hippie modernisms of the 60’s and 70’s, especially inflatable architecture that was often temporary. It wasn’t until the 90’s did the technology become widely available to coordinate building complex shapes like that in permanent structures.
black women were huge influencers when it came to y2k aesthetic. Aaliyah, TLC, Janet Jackson, Missy Elliot, etc. It’s so annoying that this generation credits Paris Hilton for being the pioneer for the y2k aesthetic when she’s not.
and the sad thing is when they say y2k in regards to paris hilton they mean mcbling which was also started by black women :/ they are always the blueprint but never get credit
Finally! Someone else who gets it! These 2 aesthethics are completely different things but most people don't see the difference. Love your content btw, new subscriber here 🖤
@@goodytwoshoes6559 this! That's probably the reason, yk2 (99-01) and mcbling (02-05) happened pretty much at the same time, that's why most people think it's the same thing!
@@jessicajefferson4501 I remember this sleek look too! It doesn’t seem like it gets referenced a lot anymore. The women in their 20’s and 30’s wore lots of slinky dresses and black pants with classy looking halter type tops and chunky shoes! It was a very fashion forward yet sophisticated look. A younger woman in her late teens could pull it off but so could a woman in her forties or fifties. I feel like trench coats had a moment too after the matrix.
As someone who graduated high school in 2000, this video was excellently put together... and super nostalgic. Well done! But having lived through it I have to say that I am so glad the Y2K Era is over. It was a time of idealism, excess, and lots of terrible social ideas. It reminds me of the 1920s... excessive, selfish, and naive... it made me as a teenager to be overly optimistic about the future and led to lots of disappointment in my twenties. Kids today are perhaps more grounded and realistic about the future, which is a better way to get through this world. If you are young and reading this, don't worry, this too shall pass.
You just explained the key difference between millennials and other generations. They told them the future was bright and hopeful, and look at how things turned out, most of them can't even afford a house... It's messed up
I'm also class of 2000 and I agree. My 20s were a huge disappointment. Looking back, I did ok, but my career wasn't anywhere near as exciting as my boomer parents. The 1990s were definitely excessive.
@@rebeccajones9757 yea.. tge "hopeful" 90's. psssh..................New years eve 1999.............was ruined for so many 😢now we gon party like its 1999? I swear to god that us kids back then were waiting for that year to come for YEARS just to be able to party just for that song like its 1999.. IN 1999! Never got a chance.... and when it finally came they put out this Y2K bulshit so many stayed in their houses bunkered up like the end of the world was hitting. They ruined our ONCE IN A MILLENNIUM night and disrespected Princes wish on top of it! Disgusting! I'm 36 now!!! (Ahhhhhh)
Thank you for that icy blue Aaliyah in the hoop chair. That’s one of my favorite images! I think Cardi was inspired by her recently. Uk a big part of y2k was also BRATZ dolls!🥰😍💋💋💋
Its interesting what things are back in style again for teens its McBling aesthetic and if you are in your 20s-30s its the 70s groovy and retro style thats in. Funny to see different generations bringing back two different feels.
I found an old summer hits compilation with Spice girls and the like from the time in my parents car and it was shocking how saccharine the music was. All my memories from my back then were of being scared of terrorism.
Flared jeans were a HUGE must have item starting in 1997 through 2007, then regular mom jeans were very out and skinny jeans with spandex weren't invented yet, hip hugging flared jeans is what causes the confusion between the eras. There are three parts, YTK 1997-2002(The Limited, Bebe, Steve Madden, Delias, Alloy), McBling 2003-2005(Juicy Couture and Ambercrombie & Fitch), and lastly Fast Fashion 2006-early 2010s (Forever 21, H&M, Kohls, Target).
Flared jeans were also such a struggle though. I know most of mine were torn and worn down at the bottom, from getting stepped on by my heels or from dragging in the ground/rain/snow 😂
As someone who graduated hs 1998, and started college in 2000, I can attest this is 100% accurate. I really got into fashion during this time (1998 - 2004) since I finally had money. I can remember the fashion / aesthetic clearly. It made such an impact on my style. This is one of the only accurate takes I've seen so far. Things you saw a lot: ripstop NYLON fabric (nylon cargo pants), icy SILVER (metallics, in fabric and makeup), UTILITY style (pockets, velcro, sling bags, padded details that looked "orthopedic" especially on shoes), SLEEK streamlined style (especially in typefaces, technology like Sony Walkman, logos, etc.), DRUM & BASS and TECHNO music (became mainstream at this time - it was around everywhere, even in commercials and movies)
The Y2K clothing looked amazing, I love seeing it on TLC and the japanese fashion magazines especially. In terms of interior design, i'm not soo keen on the blobs, but the technology looked really cool. I think this is why I really like futurewave music, so i can imagine living in that era and enjoying that aesthetic :)
I was born in 1964 and have been through quite a few decades of fashion. For me the Y2K aesthetic fashion is still the most fun and exciting fashion to wear. The clothes, hairstyles, makeup, music, movies, etc of that era was dope and nothing since then compares to it, in my opinion.
It's so interesting to me, as someone who was in their late teens during this time to see this style come back and people are analyzing the fashion just like people my age were analyzing fashion from the 70's, 80's, 90's in the early 2000's. I was so happy when this "aesthetic" was over because most girls and women who have a full figure had trouble squeezing into low waisted jeans. I don't even remember the stores carrying anything but low waisted jeans...and I mean LOW, like just covering your pubic area low. It was a style that a lot of the "cool" girls wore, but also considered really trashy at the time. You were seen as "slutty" and "cheap" when wearing that specific Y2K style that many celebrities wore. Look how Britney Spears got ripped to shreds because of how she dressed. I'm glad our society allows girls to dress however they want these days (though there are still some slut shaming and sexist people out there). It's interesting to see this style come back, but I hope that the type of body the early 2000's was promoting doesn't come back. Many many many girls and boys suffered from eating disorders then (I was one of them) because that was the look. The Y2K styles almost always required you to be stick thin. Think Nicole Richie, Mischa Barton, Hillary Duff when they were emaciated. It was a very toxic time, so as a full grown adult woman now, I just wanted to say that it's ok to enjoy the fashion, but don't glamourize it, and don't bring back it's toxicity and VERY unhealthy body standards. What's most important is to wear what flatters your body most, and still shows off your style. A lot of Y2K clothing has very unflattering shapes, lengths, and cuts, and not exactly meant to flatter the female body.
Ditto! As someone who lived through this time during my preteen and early teen years, I remember this time too. Since I was younger, there were some things I still didn't understand as well or wasn't aware of. However, despite some late 90s/early 2000s stuff having somewhat of a revival, I hope the toxic body image side of it doesn't either, especially since the 2010s had us see more body diversity. Also, I don't really mind some elements of 2000s stuff coming back. It doesn't really surprise me so much that we've seen more wide leged pants and jeans again. I figured something like this would happen again after we had skinnys for roughly 15 years. As a matter of fact, I was wondering what options would come to us once we entered this decade. At least this way I can experiment with different styled pants. I want to also try to see how wearing flairs and bootcuts may apply to how I might wear them now as I create a more defined style compared to my teens.
Agreed with this. I’m just glad the style is back and this current generation of fashion enthusiasts have been able to make it fit for all sizes, not just catering to skinny girls anymore.
PSA: Just because a style is in, or big lips, or thin eyebrows, or thigh gaps are trendy literally does not mean you have to change yourself to fit a trend. I can’t speak for 1999, but if stores now start carrying only low waisted jeans, then online shopping is always an option??? It doesn’t mean that you have to become a size 00 and have half your ass on display just to fit the trend
I’ve been really obsessive with the nostalgia my generation is responding to current crises with, this video is incredibly helpful, detailed and concise. I appreciate the distinction between the two not only aesthetically but the cultural/social/political shifts that influenced fashion. This was just a really great job of solidifying terms for a mirage of conversation and other deep dives! Subscribed!
i loveeee this style so much! while i agree that the mcbling aesthetic is more popular/mainstream, i've definitely seen y2k on people that are into more of an alternative style, especially if you're into techno/raves; or at least my mutuals and i wear and surround ourselves with things more similar to this than the mcbling :) super great and well researched video, this deserves way more views!
Also, lets not forget the inflatable furniture craze that came with the Y2k aesthetic haha as well as how a lot of electronics were transparent. I wanted an inflatable chair so bad. I hated the Mcbling era because i loathe bedazzled things and low-rise jeans.
Great video but you forgot to mention the music the music genre that defined this aesthetic was techno/euro dance Aqua, A Touch of Class, Darude, Alice Deejay, Robert Miles, Caramell, Daft Punk and the Vegaboys all of these acts in the electro pop genre defined the Y2K aesthetic with it's over the top futuristic outfits and futuristic music videos and sound it also popularized the use of autotune, Cher's Believe was a dance hit that was the first song to incorporate autotune and it was used as a futuristic vocal effect instead of how it's used today.
I was old enough to remember the McBling Era (I was 4 to 9 years old) but certainly not old enough to remember the Y2K era. In fact the Y2K did make a reappearance in Tumblr about a decade ago though it wasn't very big(I've been following Y2K institute for about as long). Which honestly tracks as it is getting close to about 20 years since the start of the McBling era.
yay but the y2k aesthetic never really had the time to shine in the 2010's like the mcbling aesthetic is having today. In 2016 everyone was more into the vaporwave aesthetic which was more 80s futurism and really early 90s inspired then 90s futurism. Secondly I would argue both are coming back but true y2k is going to take a lot longer take hold then mcbling.
Yeah. EVERY SINGLE TIME I try to look up Y2K Futurism stuff on the Internet such as bedrooms, notebooks, ANYTHING that actually looks Y2K, the first thing I see is LITERALLY these girly fashions, McBling stuff, NOTHING related to the futuristic aesthetic I love UNDENIABLY!!!! Honestly, the fact that people are saying McBling is "Y2K" IS DRIVING ME INSANE!!!!! TO THOSE WHO THINK THIS, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!!!! I love the Y2K Futurism aesthetic so much, but please people, why think ANYTHING 2000's is Y2K while the aesthetic itself is about retro futurism!? **sigh**
Thank you for this. I didnt know McBling wasn't Y2k. My boyfriend and I wad talking about it and we just thought it was another form of y2k. We consider actual Y2k to be the futuristic y2k and McBling to be some type of luxurious y2k.
I agree. Too many things are taken for Y2K revival when it's not, but this aesthetic def inspires contemporary artists, like Doja cat, or runways ( Givenchy cyber collection )...
I’m so glad I found this video. I never knew ‘McBling’ was considered it’s own style compared to the Y2K aesthetic but I’m glad I now know it’s name. While I do miss some of the y2k fashions like the use of bold colors, wild patterns and metallic everywhere personally I’m okay with leaving its clothes and fashion choices in the past.
I loved the look of those computers when I was younger! Especially the pink, blue and white one with the different colored stars on them. I wanted one for my room but never got one. My dad did get a Power Mac a few years later though, and at some point I had it in my room even if it wasn't entirely my computer.
@@honeybnoir824 thats so cool, my sister’s were never really apple people back then they got Microsoft’s chunky computers when I showed my oldest sister the imac g3 she said that she used to beg my mother to buy her it but my mom never did :)
The futuristic aspect of early 2000s fashion is reminiscent of mid to late 60s fashion, indicating a cultural shift towards the future (end of the first half the century vs end of the millennia). You can also see that in 60s movies and TV shows such as 2001: A Space Odyssey or Star Trek.
I love you for making this and the McBling video! I turned 9 right at the beginning of 2000, so I was young but old enough to remember a lot of things. There's nothing wrong with teens wanting to have an early 2000s aesthetic, but it's weird seeing Y2K futuristic stuff get mixed up with Juicy Couture tracksuits and trucker hats. :D
@@CheerUp2o man I think I have created something bye catching people's interest in very risky topic's like mental health and physical health long term effects of abuse emotional and physically sexually molested as a very young child a person who never never know who 2yknow or approach with un wanted disturbing impulse es that were not welcome has really made this world a really fucking cold fucking place where the technology they thought was still safe from distribution are people who will own google in 2225 and I'm switching the name to Y2K Gunning
Hey there, just want to make sure you know Y2K was a "real" threat and in some places like the UK had some serious consequences. We dished out the most money but we did avoid a problem. Otherwise, interesting video!
this is a great video! i would like to point out the y2k computer problem was very real and the reason 2000 came and went with little to no problem was because many programmers worked incredibly hard to fix it and are largely uncredited in helping solve the issue
I was 5 in 1999 and it felt like we were moving towards some space like future, from cartoons to video games, film, and music, it seemed like that all around looking back on it. From a kid's experience it was a fun time to be around, just the right amount of technology to still go out and have fun with the kids. I greatly miss this era (1998-2002).
I've never heard the term "McBling" before, but I am glad you differentiated these two styles. I love the Y2k aesthetic, which I remember mostly from like 97-99. All the silver, spacey , rave-y futuristic stuff . I loathe McBling, (which I never had a name for other than 'tacky garbage'). Unfortunately it's McBling which is coming back. :(
omg ‘blobitechture’....so nostalgic haha i loved the look of curvy neon candy colored technology when i was a kid !! i thought it was so hip and trendy sjdbdf (i mean it was back then) i wanted my room to look like that
I was born in 97, and I like to add little y2k elements to my looks , such as patent leather bags and chunky shoes. I'd say you still have a chance , if you'd be comfortable
This was something you got in music videos, not real-life fashion. A normal person would be more likely to wear these styles for Halloween now, than on any other day of the year in actual 2000. That said, if you want to wear something...just do.
as a teenager ive been taking some y2k elements and putting them into my outfits because they look fun! I love the metallics and juicy track suits cause I wore them as a child and they're so comfy and fun
@@generatoralignmentdevalue I was 16 in the year 2000 and when we went out dancing to clubs we did used to dress up like in the video. For new year in the year 2000 I wore a metallic shimmery pink cowel neck top, low rise black trousers with a diamanté belt chunky heels, and a Diesel mini handbag, I remember it clearly! We loved to get dressed up with elements of sparkle and bling to go with our low rise jeans and 'going out' tops.
I digress, the Y2K aesthetic is the back and has evolved through the Hyperpop aesthetic. But idk, I'd like to hear your perspective on hyperpop as a whole considering much of its foundation was based on that whole futuristic fantasy.
My god thanks for finally addressing this. I was just entering high school around the year 2000 so this was an era that is very nostalgic for me. And I really enjoy this aesthetic but it seems like people have been mislabeling it and it has been incredibly annoying for people who don't know fashion history. I'd love to see ways of bring this kind of thing back. I love Y2K icy blue.
As someone who was in high school at the end of the 1990s, this made me feel so old. And I'd also like to formally apologize to my parents for talking about their aesthetic (70s) as treads and culture. Also, the reason that Y2k didn't end up being an issue is because of all the hero programmers that saved us.
Thanks for explaining!! I’m about to watch your video on Mcbling next!! I also don’t know why this only has 800 views?? This deserves way more. Personally I love both y2k & Mcbling. Personally when I think of my style and future, I lean more towards Mcbling, but I think they are both iconic. I started falling in love with the 2000s after looking up to Paris Hilton.
This was so weird to watch... it felt like a documentary of my childhood, teens and early 20’s. It’s funny how the Apple monitor commercial looks like their recent commercials for the iPhone and iPads
Kpop groups like NewJeans, STAYC and XG are kinda revisiting the Y2k aesthetic right now though they add some modern twist to it. I think it's pretty cool.
Y2K was inspired by media, movies, and stars of the time, to be futuristic, exaggerated and honestly kitschy. MCBLING was inspired by the 90’s runways that slowly started to be more accessible to the general public, and was popularized by many RnB artist.
I was only 8 years old during y2k and just the optimism in the air made everything just feel so hopeful. The fall back to reality hurt, but dang if that wasn't an incredible feeling while it lasted.
I prefer y2k over McBling any day. I think it's cause I really love a lot of Dreamcast era games that were right at the time it was taking off (Space Channel 5, Jet Set Radio). It has some really nice inspo from 60s space aesthetics and trends from the 90s mashed together. It's not the most practical, but it feels fun. I feel the colored plastics are ugly and impractical in the best way possible. I'm eager to see if/how it will adapt to 2020s nostalgic revival in clothes, since it seems much more challenging to adapt than McBling.
I really appreciate you mentioning Zenon for featuring this aesthetic!! I always used to be so jealous of their clothes when I was a kid. Really cool video 😁
Yes! Thank you! Love this video so much. Fantastic job! It's frustrating watching Y2K fashion videos, etc. and they're all heavily McBling inspired. Y2K aesthetic to me has always been 1997-2003. The "Early 2000s" ended in 2003 as far as I'm concerned. McBling began in 2004 through 2008ish, which is mid-late 2000s. I have, like, zero nostalgia for McBling stuff (it was really tacky imo lol) so I hate that it's constantly overlapping with the true Early 2000s stuff. Same goes for music! For instance, the Pop2K SiriusXM channel brands itself as music from the "Early 2000s" but you'll hear "Oops! I Did It Again" back-to-back with "Right Round" by Flo-Rida or something lol. It's so annoying. The music from the beginning of the decade is soooo different from the latter half. 2000-2003 had SUCH a different vibe, it was still very late-90s influenced and that's what I'm personally nostalgic for. That futuristic feel was everything and the coolest aesthetic EVER when I was kid. The iMac G3 will always be the most iconic thing that comes to mind. You're so right about it being rooted in our optimism for the future. I think that's why 1997-2003 is such a special time period and will always hold a unique and highly appealing type of nostalgia. It was really the last hurrah before true internet culture started to permeate every facet of our lives and change everything forever. The "information highway" was a treat at first -- but quickly became a full-time force, providing us TOO MUCH information and access to everything, so we became jaded, disillusioned, and honestly... depressed lol. In the Late 90s/Early 2000s we had a ton of imagination and dreamed of a future far more fun.
Sorry to reply to a 1 yr old comment, but I wholeheartedly agree with you. It really irks me when I see people refer to trends and/or events that occurred in the mid to late 2000s (04-09) and label them “y2k” or “early 2000s.” This makes me suggest that they were either too young to remember the actual early 2000s or weren’t event born yet. The majority of my childhood took place in the 2000s decade and there is a night and day difference between the y2k era and the “mcbling” era of the mid 2000s. If you think about it I was entering elementary school during the y2k era and was in middle school entering high school around the mid to late 2000s. There’s a clear difference in the trends, politics, the events, music, fashion, tv shows/movies, and pop culture throughout that decade as well. I remember the y2k era mostly by the music, the fashion, and the tv shows I watched. I liked the futuristic theme that was en vogue at the time (i.e. the capri pants, the frosted tips, and the metallic tube tops). If you notice the format of the kids TV networks (Disney channel and Nickelodeon) changed when 2004 came around; many of the 90s TV shows and cartoons that I watched ended that year (except for SpongeBob) and Disney Channel began to phase the reruns of their 90s DCOMs and TV shows out of syndication. As for the music, Euro pop (house music) bands were popular (i.e A Touch of Class and Eiffel 65) and the Hip Hop and R&B artists at the time were Aaliyah, DMX, Destiny’s Child, Ashanti, and Brandy. The early 2000s and its futuristic aesthetic really did end in 2003 and I’m only recalling this from memory alone.
So I came back to the two videos that you did and wow views have jumped up. I like to refer people to these videos so therefore they know the difference between early Y2K futurism vs mcbling era. I seriously feel like either the new generation has it confused or is not looking into the history of Y2K
It was a time of optimism and excitement for the new century, and all the possibilities it could bring. Sadly, all nothing good lasts forever. For those of us who remember the bright colors, shiny clothes, and bubble plastic, it was a special time to be alive.
Someone else mentioned how euro music was influential, but also this was the era when Japanese pop culture (rather than traditional/historical culture) found its way into the west. The Sega Dreamcast's titles, not just technology, is filled with this - Jet Set Radio is a huge one. Dance Dance Revolution was huge - a Japanese game that featured loads of music that just drips Y2K. wipEout for the PS1 is also iconic in its design, as is Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere. And on the non-interactive media side, Digimon spawned off the digital pet trend and is intrinsically linked to the fascination with "digital" that infuses so much of Y2K. Point being, this really was a global phenomenon and for probably the first time in history, most every major economic zone was sharing this to some degree _without_ some sort of major war being the catalyst. I also will somewhat disagree with you in saying that Y2K isn't having a resurgence. It's just not hit the mainstream yet. There's creators such as Joel G with his ENA character and the whole "webcore" genre that has been spawning off of it, related to but distinct from the 90s-inspired vaporwave. Froyo Tam et. al. are cataloguing loads of old stuff in the Y2KAestheticInstitute spaces on different social media sites. And if you missed it, at E3 there was a trailer for a company called Virtuoso Neomedia that just drips Y2K. I don't know if any of this will stick to the greater culture, but the memory of Y2K is spawning new creations that bring different emotions to the table compared to what else has been trendy. It's honestly never been a better time to go looking for whatever aesthetic you want to experience.
oh my god, thank you!!!!! you're the ONLY person who could pinpoint the difference on youtube. i always noticed that what people called Y2K (which is what mcbling is) felt more late 2000s, thanks for explaining the difference, i couldn't really put my finger on it
I didn't know these two styles were called this, but I remember them very well growing up. I didn't even know people confused these things that much! I guess it's because those that are into it and starting a somewhat revival of it today were either too young to remember it or weren't born yet, not just because they were so close together in time. As someone whose late childhood and early teens were between these eras, you are so right about them being totally different. I remember just about everything you mentioned in this video, but I still learned about it because I was at that age that didn't really follow things into too much detail and thus not understand how and why Y2K style became a thing. I just saw everything as it was. Thanks for this ☺️
As a Gen Xer this video is so confusing to me. Y2K never referred to fashion back then and I don’t know what “mcbling” is. Pretty sure these terms were invented by zoomers.
I'm so glad to come across this video because Y2K is so dear to me and I get really defensive when people assimilate it with the McBling aesthetic. Now I have an excellent example depicting both aesthetics on their own! Can't wait to see more of your future content, subscribed immediately!
Thank you so much for this video!! When people started throwing out y2k to describe their fashion, it annoyed me to no end; when I would talk about it ppl would just pass it off as 'definitions change over time'.
Thank you. I grew up in Pakistan, but the Y2K aesthetic is still a part of my life because I really liked computers and American cartoons. All of this stuff was in English.
Y2k: 2000s futurism
Mcbling: sparkly and expensive 2000s things
what is that video at 6:31 ?
@@judsuu If i had to guess it's some sort of commercial ad for a product. I don't think it's a music video or anything like that.
@@judsuu Looks Like a CD commercial to me. Cd's were new at that time :)
@@gingo_ thank :))
@@judsuu no idea. Sorry
The ironic thing is that the true y2k aesthetic in the early 2000s seemed way more futuristic than any kind of aesthetics now
Yeah i think it's because people view the future in a more dystopian way now with all the tv show like black mirror and the walking dead, it's may also be because technology and fashion are kinda stagnating compared to the fast evolution that happened through the 2000s and 2010s
@@darka97130 feel like this might also tie into why more retro/vintage styles have really been making a comeback
Not really futurewave is coming back. Look at mugler.
But that is because the vision of what is known as futurism was born at the beginning of the 20th century and is an illusion of what people dreamed of a utopian world. Each decade had its own version of futurism but what remains is that fetish for technology that makes humans work less: flying cars, self-cleaning houses, robots etc. That's why it gives that feeling that the y2k seems more futuristic but in truth it is an aesthetic illusion of the real problems that were going to explode in the 2000s even until now
Vintage is actually a pretty big trend now. It isn't the only one of course, but I feel like many people don't like the present very much right now so they are looking towards the past for inspiration.
Yes, they're completely different. The McBling "Celebrity Culture" is more of a mid 2000s thing. Juicy sweatsuits, frilly miniskirts, bedazzled stuff, etc.
I always thought so too! But since they happened so close together I can see why everybody thinks they’re similar :)
So like lady gaga?
@@janguage4908 Ehh no I would definitely not consider lady gaga in the McBling aesthetic
@@janguage4908 lady Gaga only DEBUTED like 4 whole years after that era, so no, not like her at all. Think Paris and Nicole on the Simple Life. That is McBling.
I miss that shit
I don't think Aaliyah ever gets her credit for influencing Y2K. Right from the one in a million era in 1996, she started giving a lot of Y2K looks with her sunglasses, leather, baggy clothes, baggy jackets, hair, etc. And her music video concepts really ecsentuated her avant garde spin on Y2K. Her videos like if your girl only knew, one in a million, four page letter, the one I gave my heart to, are you that somebody, try again, we need a resolution, and more than a woman are the epitome of slick and sexy and sort of avant garde y2k. My favorite video if hers is we need a resolution, which is just chefs 😘 and very futuristic and Y2K without being tacky at all. This is something that I really love about Aaliyah. Despite participating in trends that we may cringe at today, nothing she did was ever tacky and it continues to stay timeless to this day.
You know they won't give a black woman any credit 🤪
@@rarity-bo8pk I don’t know why though. Everyone knows we are trend setters 😭
THIS. her influence was literally vital, but yet Paris Hilton gets all the credit....
People only know her as the Rkelly girl or the girl who died in a plane crash but nobody ever acknowledges her impact on music and art in general
Rest In Peace
When I think of y2k I just think about everyone losing their shit about going from 1999 to 2000
That’s basically it lmaooo 😭 they thought we would be cool but no we just got Corona 😔
🎶PARTY LIKE ITS 1999🎶
what is that video at 6:31?
I worked in IT back then and I remember how much work the sysadmins and programmers had to put into updating all of our servers and code in order to ensure nothing would happen. Then when nothing happened people that didn't have a clue about programming yelled "HOAX" as if we hadn't been working hard to make sure nothing would happen.
omg yes. my mum at work waiting the machines to blow 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I get confused when someone does a lookback on fashion and cites celebrities as representative. While they did ultimately adopt and influence fashion of the time, what the layman wore vs what a celebrity would wear would be somewhat different.
She did mention this isn't how most people dressed back then, just a look at the trends and celebrities definitely influence trends.
@@bubblegum03 granted, but the lives of regular people are just as interesting and deserve to have their story explained. It would be interesting to see how people with less resources tried to keep up with the y2k trend
I mean in the past it was like that but things are changing for the better now. I'm seeing more and more people confidently rocking the clothing they like out on the street and I'm loving it. Rock on fashionistas, it literally makes my day
what is that video at 6:31?
I good example would be the totally spies background decor and technology or Winx club tecna's style and home planet
Edit: the DCOM zenon girl of the 21 century would also be a good representation of this aesthetic
Yes the technology they used in Totally Spies was very Y2K💖
Code Lyoko (aka that French show with the giant foreheads) is also pretty good too
Techna is 100% Y2K and I'm living for it
*Tecna
I feel like totally spies is a good clash between the two aesthetics because their day to day clothing was super mcbling but their spy catsuits is very much a y2k staple
man oh man i love transparent technology from the era
It was amazing it always gives me so much nostalgia when I look at it
Is that where the design of Windows 7 comes from? I hate Windows 10 with a passion because they did away with the aero theme, which was bubbly and fun.
Everytime I see people irl or i media wearing Y2K clothing, I always imagine them looking like a sim
Honestly I saw a girl at the mall wearing an IG worthy Y2K outfit and ... she 100% looked like a sim
what is that video at 6:31?
y2k = late 90s and early 2000s
mcbling = mid 2000s
Yeah
Emo/scene= late 2000's
@@bry8883 Emo was also popular in the mid 2000s and co-existed with McBling. It was the response to it (like today's alt, not everyone dressed emo but enough people did to become popular). Scene was late 2000s and saw Emo fashions that used to be niche becoming more and more mainstream, esp. in the music and clubbing cultures of the time, which influenced indie sleaze.
when it comes to the y2k aesthetic in movies - it feels like Fifth Element was really doing the absolute mooosst
don’t do my man jean paul gauliter like that 😔
@@darkalleyvampire hey, I see it as a good thing! lol
the way i love fifth element so much! Gautier did an amazing job
@@exquis_ honestlyyyyyy such an iconic film and the outfits still slap
I like both aesthetics though and the y2k aesthetic does take a lot of inspiration from the mod movement of the mid and late 60's which was about futurism and new technologies. Also there was that weird era where the two aesthetics where mixed/in the transition phase of one another, like 1997 doesn't have the same aesthetic as 2007 but the year 2002 has both of these aesthetic present.
You're right about 60s inspiration and it was even more obvious in Japan with the Shibuya-kei movement
The architectural examples used here also originated from radical/hippie modernisms of the 60’s and 70’s, especially inflatable architecture that was often temporary. It wasn’t until the 90’s did the technology become widely available to coordinate building complex shapes like that in permanent structures.
Correct lol
black women were huge influencers when it came to y2k aesthetic. Aaliyah, TLC, Janet Jackson, Missy Elliot, etc. It’s so annoying that this generation credits Paris Hilton for being the pioneer for the y2k aesthetic when she’s not.
Rightttt and the fact Paris Hilton was mad racist too makes it worse. I hate how white peoples are always the ones that are credited
Exactly
@@toebag4286 I agree but sometimes they are the ones who made the aesthetic, not this case but in some
and the sad thing is when they say y2k in regards to paris hilton they mean mcbling which was also started by black women :/ they are always the blueprint but never get credit
@@darkalleyvampire exactly!!!
Finally! Someone else who gets it! These 2 aesthethics are completely different things but most people don't see the difference. Love your content btw, new subscriber here 🖤
Omg thank you so much! And yes I think people get them confused because they happened so close but they really couldn’t be anymore different!!😤❤️❤️
@@goodytwoshoes6559 this! That's probably the reason, yk2 (99-01) and mcbling (02-05) happened pretty much at the same time, that's why most people think it's the same thing!
@@jessicajefferson4501 I remember this sleek look too! It doesn’t seem like it gets referenced a lot anymore. The women in their 20’s and 30’s wore lots of slinky dresses and black pants with classy looking halter type tops and chunky shoes! It was a very fashion forward yet sophisticated look. A younger woman in her late teens could pull it off but so could a woman in her forties or fifties. I feel like trench coats had a moment too after the matrix.
@@goodytwoshoes6559 what is that video at 6:31?
People mistype Y2K just like they mistype grunge.
people brought it back and misuse it like they do everything else...
@@erm12302 the amount of “goth” playlists that just have lil peep in it hurt my soul 😭 or when ppl use goth, scene, emo, and punk interchangeably
what is that video at 6:31?
Thank you for explaining the difference because people are calling EVERYTHING form the 2000’s Y2K.
Y2k was late 90s mcbling was early 2000s
As someone who graduated high school in 2000, this video was excellently put together... and super nostalgic. Well done! But having lived through it I have to say that I am so glad the Y2K Era is over. It was a time of idealism, excess, and lots of terrible social ideas. It reminds me of the 1920s... excessive, selfish, and naive... it made me as a teenager to be overly optimistic about the future and led to lots of disappointment in my twenties. Kids today are perhaps more grounded and realistic about the future, which is a better way to get through this world. If you are young and reading this, don't worry, this too shall pass.
Aww.. im close to you, 2003 hs grad, and can, for the most part, confirm you are correct
I appreciate this comment so much (I graduated in the year 2018).
You just explained the key difference between millennials and other generations. They told them the future was bright and hopeful, and look at how things turned out, most of them can't even afford a house... It's messed up
I'm also class of 2000 and I agree. My 20s were a huge disappointment. Looking back, I did ok, but my career wasn't anywhere near as exciting as my boomer parents. The 1990s were definitely excessive.
@@rebeccajones9757 yea.. tge "hopeful" 90's. psssh..................New years eve 1999.............was ruined for so many 😢now we gon party like its 1999? I swear to god that us kids back then were waiting for that year to come for YEARS just to be able to party just for that song like its 1999.. IN 1999! Never got a chance.... and when it finally came they put out this Y2K bulshit so many stayed in their houses bunkered up like the end of the world was hitting. They ruined our ONCE IN A MILLENNIUM night and disrespected Princes wish on top of it! Disgusting! I'm 36 now!!! (Ahhhhhh)
Thank you for that icy blue Aaliyah in the hoop chair. That’s one of my favorite images! I think Cardi was inspired by her recently. Uk a big part of y2k was also BRATZ dolls!🥰😍💋💋💋
Yes bratz dolls had a huge influence and I think that Aaliyah's influence in Y2K culture is so unappeciated :( Thanks a lot for watching !
Its interesting what things are back in style again for teens its McBling aesthetic and if you are in your 20s-30s its the 70s groovy and retro style thats in. Funny to see different generations bringing back two different feels.
man i can't remember a time where our youths actually had a positive and hopeful view of the future.
I found an old summer hits compilation with Spice girls and the like from the time in my parents car and it was shocking how saccharine the music was. All my memories from my back then were of being scared of terrorism.
Flared jeans were a HUGE must have item starting in 1997 through 2007, then regular mom jeans were very out and skinny jeans with spandex weren't invented yet, hip hugging flared jeans is what causes the confusion between the eras.
There are three parts, YTK 1997-2002(The Limited, Bebe, Steve Madden, Delias, Alloy), McBling 2003-2005(Juicy Couture and Ambercrombie & Fitch), and lastly Fast Fashion 2006-early 2010s (Forever 21, H&M, Kohls, Target).
Flared jeans were also such a struggle though. I know most of mine were torn and worn down at the bottom, from getting stepped on by my heels or from dragging in the ground/rain/snow 😂
@@CheerUp2 those hems ravel so much 😭
@@CheerUp2 I actually really like the look of that kind of clearly well-worn hem! I think it looks really cute, I don’t really know why though
basically: matrix/mean girls/devil wears prada
Exactly!
Finally!!!! personally I think y2k looks so much cooler and sicker than mcbling
Yes me too!
The Britney Spears song Oops I did it again really defined Y2K as a whole.
And Brandy she was so popular in the late 90s and now people only remember Britney, I wonder why.
@@janguage4908 you know why, I know why, we all know why.
@@alwaysannoyedforever518 brandy didn’t do stuff to keep her self relevant
@@janguage4908 brandy accidentally killed someone, which in turn killed her career
@@urdad7318 actually, she had hits until the accident and was still relevant even today for SINGING.......
I really love the music videos and the CD covers that show the y2k aesthetic
God my pet peeve is when people use y2k and “the 2000s” interchangeably
As someone who graduated hs 1998, and started college in 2000, I can attest this is 100% accurate.
I really got into fashion during this time (1998 - 2004) since I finally had money. I can remember the fashion / aesthetic clearly. It made such an impact on my style.
This is one of the only accurate takes I've seen so far.
Things you saw a lot: ripstop NYLON fabric (nylon cargo pants), icy SILVER (metallics, in fabric and makeup), UTILITY style (pockets, velcro, sling bags, padded details that looked "orthopedic" especially on shoes), SLEEK streamlined style (especially in typefaces, technology like Sony Walkman, logos, etc.), DRUM & BASS and TECHNO music (became mainstream at this time - it was around everywhere, even in commercials and movies)
y2k in everyday life turns me off really quickly but its honestly the best for music videos and photoshoots.
The Y2K clothing looked amazing, I love seeing it on TLC and the japanese fashion magazines especially. In terms of interior design, i'm not soo keen on the blobs, but the technology looked really cool. I think this is why I really like futurewave music, so i can imagine living in that era and enjoying that aesthetic :)
what is that video at 6:31 ?
yall remember winx totally spies and bratz. those shows were a fever dream
Pinterest seems to remember them vividly
I'm starting to notice a little of both in today's youth, mainly on girls. For boys, I wonder if frosted spikey hair will come back lol.
Honestly, I hope it does. That would be pretty fun lol
@@boredonline97 Yeah haha, I feel like we need something a little more "out there" for men.
That’s was so hot to me idk why
@@IeopardIimo I definitely crushed on some guys with that hair 😅
PLS DONT SPEAK OF THE SPIKEY HAIR
I was born in 1964 and have been through quite a few decades of fashion. For me the Y2K aesthetic fashion is still the most fun and exciting fashion to wear. The clothes, hairstyles, makeup, music, movies, etc of that era was dope and nothing since then compares to it, in my opinion.
It's so interesting to me, as someone who was in their late teens during this time to see this style come back and people are analyzing the fashion just like people my age were analyzing fashion from the 70's, 80's, 90's in the early 2000's.
I was so happy when this "aesthetic" was over because most girls and women who have a full figure had trouble squeezing into low waisted jeans. I don't even remember the stores carrying anything but low waisted jeans...and I mean LOW, like just covering your pubic area low. It was a style that a lot of the "cool" girls wore, but also considered really trashy at the time. You were seen as "slutty" and "cheap" when wearing that specific Y2K style that many celebrities wore. Look how Britney Spears got ripped to shreds because of how she dressed. I'm glad our society allows girls to dress however they want these days (though there are still some slut shaming and sexist people out there).
It's interesting to see this style come back, but I hope that the type of body the early 2000's was promoting doesn't come back. Many many many girls and boys suffered from eating disorders then (I was one of them) because that was the look. The Y2K styles almost always required you to be stick thin. Think Nicole Richie, Mischa Barton, Hillary Duff when they were emaciated. It was a very toxic time, so as a full grown adult woman now, I just wanted to say that it's ok to enjoy the fashion, but don't glamourize it, and don't bring back it's toxicity and VERY unhealthy body standards. What's most important is to wear what flatters your body most, and still shows off your style. A lot of Y2K clothing has very unflattering shapes, lengths, and cuts, and not exactly meant to flatter the female body.
Ditto! As someone who lived through this time during my preteen and early teen years, I remember this time too. Since I was younger, there were some things I still didn't understand as well or wasn't aware of. However, despite some late 90s/early 2000s stuff having somewhat of a revival, I hope the toxic body image side of it doesn't either, especially since the 2010s had us see more body diversity.
Also, I don't really mind some elements of 2000s stuff coming back. It doesn't really surprise me so much that we've seen more wide leged pants and jeans again. I figured something like this would happen again after we had skinnys for roughly 15 years. As a matter of fact, I was wondering what options would come to us once we entered this decade. At least this way I can experiment with different styled pants. I want to also try to see how wearing flairs and bootcuts may apply to how I might wear them now as I create a more defined style compared to my teens.
👏👏👏👏 i agree so much!!! :,0 💖
Agreed with this. I’m just glad the style is back and this current generation of fashion enthusiasts have been able to make it fit for all sizes, not just catering to skinny girls anymore.
britney drip
You should see her epic clothes in that basketball video she does with snoop dogg
PSA: Just because a style is in, or big lips, or thin eyebrows, or thigh gaps are trendy literally does not mean you have to change yourself to fit a trend. I can’t speak for 1999, but if stores now start carrying only low waisted jeans, then online shopping is always an option??? It doesn’t mean that you have to become a size 00 and have half your ass on display just to fit the trend
I’ve been really obsessive with the nostalgia my generation is responding to current crises with, this video is incredibly helpful, detailed and concise. I appreciate the distinction between the two not only aesthetically but the cultural/social/political shifts that influenced fashion. This was just a really great job of solidifying terms for a mirage of conversation and other deep dives! Subscribed!
Literally thank u for this video. It annoys me so much when people think the mcbling aesthetic is y2k
i loveeee this style so much! while i agree that the mcbling aesthetic is more popular/mainstream, i've definitely seen y2k on people that are into more of an alternative style, especially if you're into techno/raves; or at least my mutuals and i wear and surround ourselves with things more similar to this than the mcbling :) super great and well researched video, this deserves way more views!
Also, lets not forget the inflatable furniture craze that came with the Y2k aesthetic haha as well as how a lot of electronics were transparent. I wanted an inflatable chair so bad. I hated the Mcbling era because i loathe bedazzled things and low-rise jeans.
Y2K culture VS mid 2000's culture are CRAZY different
Great video but you forgot to mention the music the music genre that defined this aesthetic was techno/euro dance Aqua, A Touch of Class, Darude, Alice Deejay, Robert Miles, Caramell, Daft Punk and the Vegaboys all of these acts in the electro pop genre defined the Y2K aesthetic with it's over the top futuristic outfits and futuristic music videos and sound it also popularized the use of autotune, Cher's Believe was a dance hit that was the first song to incorporate autotune and it was used as a futuristic vocal effect instead of how it's used today.
So true, that really solidified the look and feel!
Trance raves come to mind
Right TLC & Blaques in 1999 for example are what I consider Y2K fashion
I was old enough to remember the McBling Era (I was 4 to 9 years old) but certainly not old enough to remember the Y2K era. In fact the Y2K did make a reappearance in Tumblr about a decade ago though it wasn't very big(I've been following Y2K institute for about as long). Which honestly tracks as it is getting close to about 20 years since the start of the McBling era.
yay but the y2k aesthetic never really had the time to shine in the 2010's like the mcbling aesthetic is having today. In 2016 everyone was more into the vaporwave aesthetic which was more 80s futurism and really early 90s inspired then 90s futurism. Secondly I would argue both are coming back but true y2k is going to take a lot longer take hold then mcbling.
I follow a Y2K fashion blog too! I started following them in 2016, but they haven't posted in a while.
This futuristic y2k is like 100x better than what tiktok is trying to pass off as y2k.
Yeah. EVERY SINGLE TIME I try to look up Y2K Futurism stuff on the Internet such as bedrooms, notebooks, ANYTHING that actually looks Y2K, the first thing I see is LITERALLY these girly fashions, McBling stuff, NOTHING related to the futuristic aesthetic I love UNDENIABLY!!!! Honestly, the fact that people are saying McBling is "Y2K" IS DRIVING ME INSANE!!!!! TO THOSE WHO THINK THIS, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE!!!! I love the Y2K Futurism aesthetic so much, but please people, why think ANYTHING 2000's is Y2K while the aesthetic itself is about retro futurism!? **sigh**
Thank you for this. I didnt know McBling wasn't Y2k. My boyfriend and I wad talking about it and we just thought it was another form of y2k. We consider actual Y2k to be the futuristic y2k and McBling to be some type of luxurious y2k.
I’m born in 1987 so I remember these era vividly. It was such a fun time to be a pre-teen/teen.
Ah yes, the music videos, and the age old question: Is this a hot new club, or the inside of a cheese grater?
I agree. Too many things are taken for Y2K revival when it's not, but this aesthetic def inspires contemporary artists, like Doja cat, or runways ( Givenchy cyber collection )...
I’m so glad I found this video. I never knew ‘McBling’ was considered it’s own style compared to the Y2K aesthetic but I’m glad I now know it’s name.
While I do miss some of the y2k fashions like the use of bold colors, wild patterns and metallic everywhere personally I’m okay with leaving its clothes and fashion choices in the past.
You made some great points. I also feel the y2k aesthetic was the antithesis of the 90s grunge aesthetic also
This video should be put on entrance of pinterest
I want to have a computer room with just imac g3’s
I loved the look of those computers when I was younger! Especially the pink, blue and white one with the different colored stars on them. I wanted one for my room but never got one. My dad did get a Power Mac a few years later though, and at some point I had it in my room even if it wasn't entirely my computer.
@@honeybnoir824 thats so cool, my sister’s were never really apple people back then they got Microsoft’s chunky computers when I showed my oldest sister the imac g3 she said that she used to beg my mother to buy her it but my mom never did :)
The futuristic aspect of early 2000s fashion is reminiscent of mid to late 60s fashion, indicating a cultural shift towards the future (end of the first half the century vs end of the millennia). You can also see that in 60s movies and TV shows such as 2001: A Space Odyssey or Star Trek.
why does this video only have 195 views??? this should go viral
thank you so much I’m glad you enjoyed it :)
y2k was creative colourful and fun
I love you for making this and the McBling video! I turned 9 right at the beginning of 2000, so I was young but old enough to remember a lot of things. There's nothing wrong with teens wanting to have an early 2000s aesthetic, but it's weird seeing Y2K futuristic stuff get mixed up with Juicy Couture tracksuits and trucker hats. :D
I think teens just like the sounds of Y2K so they wanna classify everything as that because i agree its weird people seeing things mixed up
@@CheerUp2o man I think I have created something bye catching people's interest in very risky topic's like mental health and physical health long term effects of abuse emotional and physically sexually molested as a very young child a person who never never know who 2yknow or approach with un wanted disturbing impulse es that were not welcome has really made this world a really fucking cold fucking place where the technology they thought was still safe from distribution are people who will own google in 2225 and I'm switching the name to Y2K Gunning
Hey there, just want to make sure you know Y2K was a "real" threat and in some places like the UK had some serious consequences. We dished out the most money but we did avoid a problem. Otherwise, interesting video!
this is a great video! i would like to point out the y2k computer problem was very real and the reason 2000 came and went with little to no problem was because many programmers worked incredibly hard to fix it and are largely uncredited in helping solve the issue
Can't forget about the live action Scooby Doo movies. They even had Pamela Anderson and Sugar Ray cameos 💙
I was 5 in 1999 and it felt like we were moving towards some space like future, from cartoons to video games, film, and music, it seemed like that all around looking back on it. From a kid's experience it was a fun time to be around, just the right amount of technology to still go out and have fun with the kids. I greatly miss this era (1998-2002).
This is an AMAZING breakdown, thank you so much for going into such great detail on almost every aspect of the Y2K aesthetic.
I think the sudden the modern versions of these styles need a completely different name....
Something like Y2K Modern or Modern Y2K. IDK.
Y2K2?
It will have its own name when we look back on it in 20 years :)
It already has a name, it’s called Neo-Y2K
@@GPSespanol I have never seen that before. Thanks for informing me.
I've never heard the term "McBling" before, but I am glad you differentiated these two styles. I love the Y2k aesthetic, which I remember mostly from like 97-99. All the silver, spacey , rave-y futuristic stuff . I loathe McBling, (which I never had a name for other than 'tacky garbage'). Unfortunately it's McBling which is coming back. :(
frosted lavender is like the most y2k colour I can think of
y2k or 60s fashion is probably my fav aesthetic
omg ‘blobitechture’....so nostalgic haha i loved the look of curvy neon candy colored technology when i was a kid !! i thought it was so hip and trendy sjdbdf (i mean it was back then) i wanted my room to look like that
I was born in 98’ but i felt like i never really got the chance to dress up like this 😭
I was born in 97, and I like to add little y2k elements to my looks , such as patent leather bags and chunky shoes. I'd say you still have a chance , if you'd be comfortable
This was something you got in music videos, not real-life fashion. A normal person would be more likely to wear these styles for Halloween now, than on any other day of the year in actual 2000.
That said, if you want to wear something...just do.
as a teenager ive been taking some y2k elements and putting them into my outfits because they look fun! I love the metallics and juicy track suits cause I wore them as a child and they're so comfy and fun
@@generatoralignmentdevalue I was 16 in the year 2000 and when we went out dancing to clubs we did used to dress up like in the video. For new year in the year 2000 I wore a metallic shimmery pink cowel neck top, low rise black trousers with a diamanté belt chunky heels, and a Diesel mini handbag, I remember it clearly! We loved to get dressed up with elements of sparkle and bling to go with our low rise jeans and 'going out' tops.
I digress, the Y2K aesthetic is the back and has evolved through the Hyperpop aesthetic. But idk, I'd like to hear your perspective on hyperpop as a whole considering much of its foundation was based on that whole futuristic fantasy.
My god thanks for finally addressing this. I was just entering high school around the year 2000 so this was an era that is very nostalgic for me. And I really enjoy this aesthetic but it seems like people have been mislabeling it and it has been incredibly annoying for people who don't know fashion history. I'd love to see ways of bring this kind of thing back. I love Y2K icy blue.
Finally someone who knows the difference!
As someone who was in high school at the end of the 1990s, this made me feel so old. And I'd also like to formally apologize to my parents for talking about their aesthetic (70s) as treads and culture.
Also, the reason that Y2k didn't end up being an issue is because of all the hero programmers that saved us.
Yea I remember there was a few in particular who figured out a workaround.
Thanks for explaining!! I’m about to watch your video on Mcbling next!! I also don’t know why this only has 800 views?? This deserves way more. Personally I love both y2k & Mcbling. Personally when I think of my style and future, I lean more towards Mcbling, but I think they are both iconic. I started falling in love with the 2000s after looking up to Paris Hilton.
I love McBling but idk if it’s because I’m so nostalgic for it?¿ but yes they are both iconic
This was so weird to watch... it felt like a documentary of my childhood, teens and early 20’s. It’s funny how the Apple monitor commercial looks like their recent commercials for the iPhone and iPads
Kpop groups like NewJeans, STAYC and XG are kinda revisiting the Y2k aesthetic right now though they add some modern twist to it. I think it's pretty cool.
The Tlc no scrub video is a great representation of Y2K PERIODT & that’s facts
i feel like mariah carey’s boy (i need you) music video is such a good example of "true y2k"
Yo the research and depth you explained things from fashion to movies to technology and government was A+
I was 10 in 2000 and the y2k i remember everyone freaking out at midnight lol everything was futuristic at a certain point
Y2K was inspired by media, movies, and stars of the time, to be futuristic, exaggerated and honestly kitschy. MCBLING was inspired by the 90’s runways that slowly started to be more accessible to the general public, and was popularized by many RnB artist.
I was only 8 years old during y2k and just the optimism in the air made everything just feel so hopeful. The fall back to reality hurt, but dang if that wasn't an incredible feeling while it lasted.
“Ahh everything makes sense now”- from a 2004 born gen-z
I prefer y2k over McBling any day. I think it's cause I really love a lot of Dreamcast era games that were right at the time it was taking off (Space Channel 5, Jet Set Radio). It has some really nice inspo from 60s space aesthetics and trends from the 90s mashed together. It's not the most practical, but it feels fun. I feel the colored plastics are ugly and impractical in the best way possible. I'm eager to see if/how it will adapt to 2020s nostalgic revival in clothes, since it seems much more challenging to adapt than McBling.
i love your explanations for the rise and fall of y2k aesthetic (:
I love mcbling this video helped alot💕
I love it too I’m glad this video could help you :)
I think the Dreamcast is included in this one too. "Sonic Adventure" is so hot right now in terms of revival aesthetics.
I really appreciate you mentioning Zenon for featuring this aesthetic!! I always used to be so jealous of their clothes when I was a kid. Really cool video 😁
Yes! Thank you! Love this video so much. Fantastic job! It's frustrating watching Y2K fashion videos, etc. and they're all heavily McBling inspired. Y2K aesthetic to me has always been 1997-2003. The "Early 2000s" ended in 2003 as far as I'm concerned. McBling began in 2004 through 2008ish, which is mid-late 2000s. I have, like, zero nostalgia for McBling stuff (it was really tacky imo lol) so I hate that it's constantly overlapping with the true Early 2000s stuff.
Same goes for music! For instance, the Pop2K SiriusXM channel brands itself as music from the "Early 2000s" but you'll hear "Oops! I Did It Again" back-to-back with "Right Round" by Flo-Rida or something lol. It's so annoying. The music from the beginning of the decade is soooo different from the latter half. 2000-2003 had SUCH a different vibe, it was still very late-90s influenced and that's what I'm personally nostalgic for. That futuristic feel was everything and the coolest aesthetic EVER when I was kid. The iMac G3 will always be the most iconic thing that comes to mind.
You're so right about it being rooted in our optimism for the future. I think that's why 1997-2003 is such a special time period and will always hold a unique and highly appealing type of nostalgia. It was really the last hurrah before true internet culture started to permeate every facet of our lives and change everything forever. The "information highway" was a treat at first -- but quickly became a full-time force, providing us TOO MUCH information and access to everything, so we became jaded, disillusioned, and honestly... depressed lol. In the Late 90s/Early 2000s we had a ton of imagination and dreamed of a future far more fun.
Sorry to reply to a 1 yr old comment, but I wholeheartedly agree with you. It really irks me when I see people refer to trends and/or events that occurred in the mid to late 2000s (04-09) and label them “y2k” or “early 2000s.” This makes me suggest that they were either too young to remember the actual early 2000s or weren’t event born yet. The majority of my childhood took place in the 2000s decade and there is a night and day difference between the y2k era and the “mcbling” era of the mid 2000s. If you think about it I was entering elementary school during the y2k era and was in middle school entering high school around the mid to late 2000s. There’s a clear difference in the trends, politics, the events, music, fashion, tv shows/movies, and pop culture throughout that decade as well.
I remember the y2k era mostly by the music, the fashion, and the tv shows I watched. I liked the futuristic theme that was en vogue at the time (i.e. the capri pants, the frosted tips, and the metallic tube tops). If you notice the format of the kids TV networks (Disney channel and Nickelodeon) changed when 2004 came around; many of the 90s TV shows and cartoons that I watched ended that year (except for SpongeBob) and Disney Channel began to phase the reruns of their 90s DCOMs and TV shows out of syndication. As for the music, Euro pop (house music) bands were popular (i.e A Touch of Class and Eiffel 65) and the Hip Hop and R&B artists at the time were Aaliyah, DMX, Destiny’s Child, Ashanti, and Brandy. The early 2000s and its futuristic aesthetic really did end in 2003 and I’m only recalling this from memory alone.
So I came back to the two videos that you did and wow views have jumped up. I like to refer people to these videos so therefore they know the difference between early Y2K futurism vs mcbling era. I seriously feel like either the new generation has it confused or is not looking into the history of Y2K
I haven't seen the whole video yet but watching that small intro with Cinderella made me subscribe immediately
In Singapore, we also referred y2k style as ‘cyber’. Haha
It was a time of optimism and excitement for the new century, and all the possibilities it could bring. Sadly, all nothing good lasts forever. For those of us who remember the bright colors, shiny clothes, and bubble plastic, it was a special time to be alive.
THANK YOU since about a year ago it has begun so difficult to actually find y2k fashion and aesthetics because everything is labelled/tagged “y2k”
Someone else mentioned how euro music was influential, but also this was the era when Japanese pop culture (rather than traditional/historical culture) found its way into the west. The Sega Dreamcast's titles, not just technology, is filled with this - Jet Set Radio is a huge one. Dance Dance Revolution was huge - a Japanese game that featured loads of music that just drips Y2K. wipEout for the PS1 is also iconic in its design, as is Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere. And on the non-interactive media side, Digimon spawned off the digital pet trend and is intrinsically linked to the fascination with "digital" that infuses so much of Y2K.
Point being, this really was a global phenomenon and for probably the first time in history, most every major economic zone was sharing this to some degree _without_ some sort of major war being the catalyst.
I also will somewhat disagree with you in saying that Y2K isn't having a resurgence. It's just not hit the mainstream yet. There's creators such as Joel G with his ENA character and the whole "webcore" genre that has been spawning off of it, related to but distinct from the 90s-inspired vaporwave. Froyo Tam et. al. are cataloguing loads of old stuff in the Y2KAestheticInstitute spaces on different social media sites. And if you missed it, at E3 there was a trailer for a company called Virtuoso Neomedia that just drips Y2K.
I don't know if any of this will stick to the greater culture, but the memory of Y2K is spawning new creations that bring different emotions to the table compared to what else has been trendy. It's honestly never been a better time to go looking for whatever aesthetic you want to experience.
oh my god, thank you!!!!! you're the ONLY person who could pinpoint the difference on youtube. i always noticed that what people called Y2K (which is what mcbling is) felt more late 2000s, thanks for explaining the difference, i couldn't really put my finger on it
what is that video at 6:31 ?
Yes!! finally someone cleared this up. I kept seeing both grouped together
I didn't know these two styles were called this, but I remember them very well growing up. I didn't even know people confused these things that much! I guess it's because those that are into it and starting a somewhat revival of it today were either too young to remember it or weren't born yet, not just because they were so close together in time.
As someone whose late childhood and early teens were between these eras, you are so right about them being totally different. I remember just about everything you mentioned in this video, but I still learned about it because I was at that age that didn't really follow things into too much detail and thus not understand how and why Y2K style became a thing. I just saw everything as it was. Thanks for this ☺️
As a Gen Xer this video is so confusing to me. Y2K never referred to fashion back then and I don’t know what “mcbling” is. Pretty sure these terms were invented by zoomers.
I'm so glad to come across this video because Y2K is so dear to me and I get really defensive when people assimilate it with the McBling aesthetic. Now I have an excellent example depicting both aesthetics on their own!
Can't wait to see more of your future content, subscribed immediately!
Thank you so much for this video!! When people started throwing out y2k to describe their fashion, it annoyed me to no end; when I would talk about it ppl would just pass it off as 'definitions change over time'.
u deserve way more views this vid is amazing
Left eye could’ve really led y2k culture if she was given more times to shine with tlc
Thank you. I grew up in Pakistan, but the Y2K aesthetic is still a part of my life because I really liked computers and American cartoons. All of this stuff was in English.
FANTASTIC ANALYSIS. Thankyou!!! Gotta love Y2K as a late 90’s baby 😂
here when the video has 5k+ views, can't wait for this to blow up!! great content girl