The Y2K* fashion trend is back in full swing, but should we be concerned about repeating the same harmful body image standards of the past?
With low-rise jeans, baby tee, wide legs, and the Tumblr girl 2014 aesthetic, we have a generation that ironically considers itself inclusive and body-positive while subtly glorifying thinness under the guise of inclusivity.
As someone who is a 90s baby and is active on social media following fashion trends, I’ve been noticing that the younger crowd is bringing back a lot of those trends. This is a common behaviour known as the 20-year rule, meaning that every 20 years we revisit past fashion and bring it back with a fresh twist, but there’s more to be addressed.
We are going to talk about fashion but in a more critical way.
The 90s and 00s bombarded us with distorted messages about “perfect” bodies. Remember Britney Spears being shamed for her weight and Bridget Jones being the plus-size icon?
The Pressure for Perfection
Many of our Disney stars have spoken out about the pressure they felt to have perfect bodies and the eating and mental disorders that resulted from it.
Demi Lovato, a vocal advocate for body positivity, has openly shared her struggles with eating disorders caused by the media.
And this was a generation with less internet access than today’s!
Social Media and the Thinness Obsession: A New Chapter?
The new Gens with the internet at their fingertips, might not have lived through that era firsthand. But social media is still perpetuating these unrealistic beauty standards.
Size 00 is being normalized again. The Kardashians ditched their curves and are now bordering on skeletal (Kim Kardashian at the 2022 Met Gala, anyone?). And most major influencers flaunt extremely thin bodies.
Of course, being thin isn’t a problem. The issue arises when the obsession becomes unhealthy. A 2017 study by The Atlantic found a correlation between increased suicide rates and access to social media and cyberbullying.
A Word of Caution for the Younger Gen and a Reminder for Everyone:
Y2K fashion is awesome, right? Fun, colorful, with a grunge and emo vibe for those who dig it (aka me!). But it was also a fashion trend that lacked inclusivity for years and caused serious physical and mental health problems for a whole generation.
We can’t romanticize the past and forget the negative aspects of that era.
Tips for a More Conscious Fashion Approach:
- Be critical: Question the images and videos you see online. Are they real?
- Follow diverse influencers: There are influencers for everyone, including those who promote body positivity and inclusivity.
- Remember, beauty is individual: What society deems beautiful today might not be tomorrow. But you are always you!
- Take care of your physical and mental health: Eat well, exercise, and do things that make you happy.
- Ditch the “perfect body” ideal: It doesn’t exist!
Change takes effort, but it’s up to all of us to make the internet and media a more inclusive and welcoming space.
Together, we can build a fashion world that’s more conscious, inclusive, and responsible!
