'Having war flashbacks to 5th grade': Millennial and Gen Z fashionistas freak out over the return of Y2K style at Urban Outfitters

JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor

Apr 26, 2024 4:00 PM EDT

What goes around most definitely comes around. Especially when it comes to fashion. I remember showing my mom a pair of acid-washed shorts and a neon pink tank top I wanted to wear to a birthday party in 8th grade and being confused when she responded with shock and horror. To me, it was trendy and fun. To her, it was a reminder of the ugly styles of her youth.

Now, that very phenomenon is happening to those with strong core memories from the late 2000s and early 2010s: the land of Ugg boots, gauchos, newsboy hats, and wearing pants under a dress. To me, that was peak 5th-grade party attire. To the fashion-minded consumers at Urban Outfitters, it's 2024's finest. And it's sending a certain generation into a panic, causing us to buy wrinkle cream and think about retirement plans. It's hard to be confronted by your past. Or is it just another wave of fashion excitement?