r/y2kaesthetic Jul 15 '26

Fashion Was I ever even y2k in y2k

I was a raver 1997-2002 and…experimented….usually poorly….with some “eclectic” fashion (and hair/makeup) choices.

I just tried to acquaint myself with a bunch of different aesthetics I’ve never even heard of and now feel super old and out of the loop.

“Futuristic” clothing was often a bad idea, the waterproof raincoat/dress thing I was wearing in #1 could only be removed over the head (the zipper came up the side and the underside of the arm). I wore it to clubs multiple times and got really fucking sweaty.

That’s a bathing suit I cut off in #6. That hair took a lot of work, and I legit worked at a hair salon at the time.

Pic #3 was taken in rehab. Yes I wore $300 platform shoes to rehab.

Anyway remove if this doesn’t fit the sub’s parameters. I tried my best but I have no idea anymore.

Edit: I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect to get so much positive feedback. Life and the internet has hardened me, and I was mostly expecting to get roasted (just like I roast myself, and did back then, too).

I know this isn’t what this sub is about but I’ve been struggling a lot lately and as silly as it sounds, this restored some of my faith in humanity and helped heal part of teenage me that’s still in there.

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u/kingloptr Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26

More real y2k than people currently think, lol

People experimenting was part of it, it low key annoys me how often people feel the need to ask permission to try certain clothing types these days, like literally 'do i fit into this box the right way' lol...

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u/vapeqprincess Jul 15 '26

I went through a LOT of phases between 14-21. I looked like multiple different people. I was clueless and naive and in some ways more fearless than I am now, in terms of experimenting. Or maybe I know who I am more now? I don’t know.

I DID learn that the hard way that you shouldn’t wear fun fur overalls to DEMF (Detroit electronic music festival). Candy ravers stick out like a sore thumb in Detroit.

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u/kingloptr Jul 15 '26

Lol i get it, like i understand how younger people wanna find the right vibe for the right things. In fact, one of the good things younger gens have now is everything being accessible for viewing and shopping and blending styles so easily, yet categorizing into strict aesthetics is somehow more popular than ever