Written by Vedika Pathania, a second-year student.

In the times we live in, trends pass by faster than we can blink. From slimes to ice-buckets, dance routines, and middle-parted hair, these trends rule the online space for a couple of weeks and are quickly replaced by another in a snap.

One such trend is the Y2K one. What exactly is it? What does it mean? And why is it so famous?

What is the trend about?

It’s no secret that nostalgia drives the fashion cycle, but nostalgia is different for each generation; while Millennials cling to 1990s trends, Gen Z finds comfort in the not-so-distant fashions of the early 2000s.

The Y2K style is drastically different and was influenced by the mid-1990s and early 2000s when the internet became increasingly prominent during the dot-com boom. Shiny fabrics, chunky shoes, pleated skirts, baguette bags, and bright sunglasses are hallmarks of this style, which is futuristic with a vintage touch.

With the enormous peak in technological development, viewers were both hopeful and apprehensive about the future and how it may change our lives. Changes in music, cinema, decor, and, of course, fashion reflected this. Carrie Bradshaw, the Bratz Dolls, and films like The Matrix and Mean Girls were all major influences during this time period.

The origin of ‘Y2K’- The Bug

The Y2K bug was a software vulnerability that may have created problems when dealing with dates after December 31, 1999. The “millennium bug” was a defect that affected computer programmers and users all around the world on January 1, 2000. (The number 1,000 is frequently represented by the symbol K, which stands for kilo (a unit of 1000). The year 2000 is referred to as Y2K.) Many critics feel it was only a minor issue.

What exactly was the bug?

During the 1960s and 1980s, when complex computer programmes were being created, computer engineers utilised a two-digit identifier for the year. The number “19” was omitted. Instead of 1970, the date was written as 70. Because data storage in computers was expensive and took up a lot of space, engineers abbreviated the date.

As the year 2000 drew nearer, computer engineers recognised that computers may read 00 as 1900 instead of 2000. Activities that were scheduled on a daily or annual basis would be harmed or faulty. Computers could read December 31, 1999, as of January 1, 1900, as of December 31, 1999, became January 1, 2000.

What happened in the end?

Banks, transportation and power facilities were all at risk. Y2K was an issue with both software and hardware. The electrical programmes that teach the computer what to perform are referred to as software. Hardware refers to the computer’s internal mechanisms. Companies rushed to repair the problem and produced “Y2K compliant” applications to aid in the process. There were relatively few issues in the end. Italy, Russia, and South Korea, for example, have done almost little to prepare for the year 2000. They had no more technical issues than countries that spent millions of dollars to fight the problem, such as the United States. Many individuals rejected the Y2K problem as a hoax or an end-of-the-world cult due to the absence of results.

The resurgence of the 2000s

With the comeback of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, it seemed inevitable that the 2000s would witness a rebirth as well. There has been no shortage of Y2K resurrection in fashion, music, and beauty. The revival of early-aughts culture has infiltrated nearly every aspect of today’s media. While many people blame Gen Z for the trend, claiming it was inevitable, it’s difficult to separate the speed with which it occurred from the nature of how the younger generation spent their time in lockdown and their immediate capacity to communicate their everyday lives with the rest of the globe.

The main point being, the trend is still alive 20 years after its inception. What should be focused on, is how long it’ll last.

Key Summary

• The Y2K style is drastically different and was influenced by the mid-1990s and early 2000s
• Shiny fabrics, chunky shoes, pleated skirts, baguette bags, and bright sunglasses are hallmarks of this style
• Films like The Matrix and Mean Girls were all major influences during this time period.
• The Y2K bug was a software vulnerability that may have created problems when dealing with dates after December 31, 1999.
• There were relatively few issues in the end.
• There has been no shortage of Y2K resurrection in fashion, music, and beauty.

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