How To Live Like A 90s It-Girl In 2026
We’ve studied them, we’ve idolized them, and now it’s time to execute. How to live like a Y2K socialite in 2026.
Imagine being Kate Moss in 1995, walking for Calvin Klein and changing the world one edgy leather jacket at a time. Or Gwyneth Paltrow in 1999, sashaying down a NYC street in a perfect Oxford and jeans, dating a less emotionally-baggaged Ben Affleck. Or Paris Hilton in 2004 with her own hit show, already American royalty as the eponymous hotel heiress, and as tall, thin and blonde as any bourgeois West Coaster of her time. That must have really been something. The it-girls of the 90’s and 2000’s invented the assignment.
Nostalgia for the 90’s/early 2000’s is resurfacing in a big way. But what is it about the era that's so intriguing? For one, it was a simpler time. Cell phones were just that, portable ways to get a hold of people, to catch up, or make plans. Not tiny little computers connecting us to everyone and everything in the entire universe. Media was more straightforward. Culture was more shared. And people still did things IRL, like meeting up for lunch or spending an afternoon in the park. Life was entirely less virtual, and comfortingly more analog.
The 90’s were marked by an effortless nonchalance when it came to the style. The makeup was minimal, the fashion simple, the vibe immaculate. Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, featured in the FX show, Love Story, was the perfect example. Her aesthetic could be described as neutral, tailored and precisely curated. If we didn’t know better, we’d say she was the singular inspiration for The Row.
Gwyneth Paltrow was another poster child of impeccable 90’s style. She was the epitome of quiet luxury: silk slip dresses, column skirts and designer suits. Paltrow oozed elegance and sophistication at every appearance, including the 1999 Oscars where she wore iconic pink Ralph Lauren. The 90’s as a whole were sleek, chic and unforgettable.
The 2000’s were louder. Think peak clubbing era. The aura was bold, intentionally performative, and, arguably, more fun. Take Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie In The Simple Life, for example. The vibe was vain, obnoxious and completely watchable. They owned the screen, and they knew it. They weren’t always ideal citizens in the popular reality show, but there was a harmless naiveté about their antics, and they helped usher in a new era. One where you weren’t afraid to go full glam for a brunch, and where everyone was blonde.
The 2000’s looked like low-rise jeans, baby tees, glossy lips, and going-out tops. It seemed to be a celebration of both femininity and masculinity at the same time. The men were manly, the women were girly, and no one was apologizing for anything. (Jersey Shore is an interesting case study.)
If 2026 feels like a different world, that’s because it is. With the implosion of the internet and social media, there are as many microcultures today as there are TikTok accounts, and the ethos is fragmented accordingly. And while we love many things about our modern era, sometimes it seems like it'd be nice to go back to a simpler time. Which is why many are waxing nostalgic for the 90’s and 2000’s, and resurrecting their favorite trends. If you want to join the Y2K revival, here’s what’s in for 2026:
Platform Wedges
Starting with the best, first. One of our favorite pieces of early 2000’s fashion was the platform wedge. Seen recently on the front row at Chloé, platforms are everything the 2000’s represented: playfulness, girlhood and fun. One of the least practical shoes (second only to the stiletto), platforms are an ankle sprain waiting to happen, but are totally worth the risk. Nothing will make you feel sexier than adding a few inches to your height with a chunky, girly shoe. Here are some faves:
FP Collection Zoe Platforms, $148
Zara Wedge Heeled Sandals, $60
Steve Madden Palm Natural Raffia, $130
Soft, Shimmery Glam
The world has been embracing femininity for a while now, but Y2K did it a little differently. Unlike the soft, clean girl and cottagecore trends, the 2000’s weren’t afraid to lean into glam. The eyeshadow was shimmery, the highlighter ubiquitous, and the gloss reflected light from a mile away. The makeup was to be seen, and heard. But not in an obnoxious way; in a way that said, “I’m all girl, and proud of it.” Pass the shimmer stick, boo.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Eyeshadow Palette
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Gloss Luminizer
Side Parts And Swoopy Bangs
Yes, I know. The most blasphemous words ever to be uttered, according to Gen Z. But it’s time to face reality: side parts, and swoopy bangs, are back, and girls are ecstatic. The tyranny of the homogenous middle part is over, as is the demonization of the (very cute) swoopy side bang. Vogue, Who What Wear, and even the New York Times have all confirmed it: the side part is in, and Gen Z is about to learn the beauty of a little hairstyle versatility. But don’t worry, the middle part isn’t out, per se; it’s just that now you have options. You can part your hair on the left for work, the right for date night, and straight down the middle for church on Sunday.
Lele Sadoughi Charlotte Silk Headband
Halter Tops
Another pure delight that Gen Z is about to experience for the very first time is the inimitable halter top. Supremely feminine and flattering, the halter top instantly transforms. I’m pretty sure Katy Perry’s California Girls starts playing every time a girl puts one on. Nothing says summer, and the good kind of feminism, like a halter top and cutoffs.
ASTR The Label Meana Halter Plunge Drop-Waist Midi Dress
Minimalism (90’s)
If you lean toward the 90’s end of the Y2K aesthetic, you’re drawn to the basics: button ups, neutrals, simple silhouettes and soft, natural makeup. And there’s definitely a place for that. If Love Story has reminded us of anything, it’s that a sleek, curated look is hard to beat. To recreate the polished aesthetic for today, look to the modern champions of clean girl like Hailey Bieber and Nitsan Raiter. Sometimes less really is more.
Madewell The Signature Y-Neck Shirt in Poplin
Zara ZW Collection Satin Lace Dress
Aritizia Wilfred Henrietta Satin Skirt
And Also, Maximalism (2000’s)
And other times, more is actually more. If the 2000’s end of the Y2K spectrum calls to you, then your eyes light up with a splash of color and a very loud Pucci print. Again, the 2000’s were not meek. They were a maximalist’s heyday. Bright velvet tracksuits and bedazzled bottoms were legion, as were ombré sunnies and sequined tops. Club gear, as it were. If you, like the viral reel, “hate minimalism,” here are some ways to recreate the maximalist trend:
H&M Dress with Tie Shoulder Straps
Seven Wonders Amoree Long Sleeve Maxi Dress
Low-tech Time
They probably didn’t call it such then, because it was just normal life, but the 90’s/00’s were gloriously low-tech. With the absence of a device of perpetual distraction at your fingertips, boredom was a feature, not a bug. But the thing about being bored is that not only does it allow for actual presence, it can also lead to things we don’t otherwise make time for, like reading, journaling, or even wandering. Wandering aimlessly through your neighborhood or local downtown allows you to see things in real life (instead of through a screen), and happen upon magical finds, like a new cafe, a charming bookstore, or a secret park. Low-tech time allows you to interact with the world in analog ways, something in which our modern world is severely deficient. It leaves time for thinking, dreaming and being. And the world could use more of that.
Conclusion
Y2K had it all. Femininity, freedom and fun. The real kind; the kind that involved having experiences for experience's sake, not for likes or views. And with a culture like that, it’s easy to be nostalgic for the past. But the good news is, nothing’s ever truly gone, and 2026 is resurrecting the best parts of the 90’s/2000’s, and bringing them into the modern era. With a few simple tweaks, you can be living your best Y2K socialite life in 2026, and paving the way for a new era of it-girls, one where we know what we want, and it doesn’t involve any algorithms.