The Clash of Grunge and Y2K

Written and directed by Natalia Cordero

Photos of Clifford Barratt, Mikayla Buneta, Preslee Crowl, and Desiree Daos taken by Rishita Nannapaneni

Individuals in Gen Z are going back to the future with the reinvigoration of the grunge and Y2K aesthetics. The grunge style first became popular in the late 80s and mid-90s, but a newfound appreciation for the style has appeared in members of Gen Z. When thinking of grunge, people often think of Kurt Cobain and the band Nirvana, as well as bands like Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. Although a popular music style, the grunge aesthetic is equally seen in clothing. From platform boots and oversized band tees to leather and silver jewelry, it takes minimal effort to achieve a grunge look. 90s and early 2000s nostalgia is common in modern youth, which explains why vintage clothing seems to have our generation in a chokehold. In an era of continuously changing fashion trends, the grunge style has stuck around, evolving and incorporating new elements with the times.

The Y2K, or year 2000, aesthetic has been particularly impactful on this generation for the past couple years. Taking inspo from 2000s celebrity fashion icons like Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, and Lindsay Lohan, this generation is heading back to an era of low-waisted pants and Juicy tracksuits. Even Gen Z celebs like Olivia Rodrigo are taking part in this style revival. It has been on the rise in today’s fashion and on the internet. In this day and age, we see the Y2K style often being achieved through editing, with collages, bright colors, unique backgrounds, and texture over the photos. These cyber, futuristic edits have landed in the social media spotlight and grabbed the attention of the generation. 

The rise of social media has led to an increase in trend cycling, for instance,  through the resurgence of these two aesthetics. If you find yourself desiring a splash of the past, take these grunge elements or this Y2K editing style for a spin!