Millennial Woman Rediscovers Old Clothes, Now Fit for Gen Alpha

What goes around comes around is certainly true when it comes to fashion, and now it’s the early 2000s’ time to shine again.

This sentiment is perfectly captured by Josie Hardin (@josiehardin), a millennial woman who recently unearthed a collection of clothes she left at her parents’ house over a decade ago. Far from being outdated, the low-rise shorts, Victoria’s Secret sweatpants paired with Ugg boots that she rediscovered are now coveted by elder Gen Alpha—those born between 2010 and 2024.

Her video trying on the nostalgic outfits went viral, amassing 1.2 million views in just 24 hours since it was posted on December 30.

Compliments flooded in from viewers, with one commenting, “That’s ‘vintage’ now—worth big money!” Another added, “The VS sweatpants are ADORABLE.”

Many users shared their own love for the era’s styles, revealing they’d never let go of similar pieces. “When I wear skirts, they’re almost exclusively skater skirts—they’re so flattering,” wrote one commenter, while another confessed, “This might sound crazy to you, but I love me a good pair of low-rise shorts.”

The items of clothing are now described as Y2K fashion, and they’ve taken many back to the early 2000s.

“The low-rise shorts brought back so many memories…” said a fifth commenter.

In recent years, Y2K fashion has experienced a revival, particularly among Gen Z. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have facilitated this resurgence, with young fashion enthusiasts embracing and reinterpreting early 2000s styles to express individuality and nostalgia, according to The Trend Spotter.

Y2K fashion includes wide-leg jeans, shiny jackets, baby tees, and velour tracksuits such as Juicy Couture, once worn by celebrities like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

While the comeback has made many millennials feel nostalgic, it can also be a rude awakening for others.

Newsweek previously spoke to Astrid Aschenbrenner, 35, who was out shopping with her friend Sophie Förster-Vogelsberger, 32, when they spotted their childhood garments back on sale. From faux fur bucket hats and Ed Hardy low-cut jeans to Paul Frank tees, it was a complete throwback to the nineties and aughts.

Aschenbrenner told Newsweek that she thought “it must be some sort of prank” at first. Many of these trends went out of style in the late noughties, but now that they’re back en vogue, Aschenbrenner realized she’s come full circle and lived through “a whole fashion cycle.”

But, like Hardin, it’s hard to resist temptation, and she too has embraced the fashion.

She said: “It’s like feeling that freedom and playfulness again when you embrace your old teenage self. The fun part is getting to wear all those things that you didn’t get your hands on back then, or couldn’t afford as a teenager, or maybe your parents wouldn’t let you wear.”

Newsweek reached out to @josiehardin for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.

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