Wearing Liz Claiborne through a Tech Apocalypse
Y2K (dir. Kyle Mooney) hilariously toys with an alternate reality without sacrificing authentic '00s style
Going to see the disaster horror comedy Y2K this past weekend, I knew the possibility of '90s / early ‘00s fashion being equally imagined as its alternate timeline. If you were remotely conscious during those years, you knew the comforting ugliness of most clothing and the sheer audacity of the rest. So, upon immediately seeing Alicia Silverstone in a dark wash denim button-down with the Liz Claiborne name embroidered on the pocket, I was borderline euphoric.
Period accurate costumes anchor you in the film, no matter how much disbelief you have to suspend otherwise. Because it didn’t actually happen, we forget just how scared the general public was over a potential tech apocalypse. Kyle Mooney’s directorial debut captures the reality of that terror while going exhilaratingly apeshit playing out a worst-case scenario. The lead-up to the house party scene utilizes costumes to calm us before the storm, throwing off the scent of just how far the film is willing to commit to the bit. Here are some of my favorite style elements from Y2K should you want to legitimately emulate the look.
Robin (Alicia Silverstone) - anything Liz Claiborne
Despite her limited screen time, Robin perfectly captures the essence of ‘00s mom style with a single denim shirt and its visible brand name. Liz Claiborne redefined department store shopping with its “coordinated separates,” priding itself on quality, everyday, budget-friendly pieces. It was a woman-led fashion revolution by the late ‘80s, maintaining the chokehold on “upscale women’s sportswear” until the mid-'00s.
Finding anything Liz while thrifting excites me more than most men because, as long as they weren’t put through hell, those pieces maintained their promise of quality. And the resale value of these styles has maintained a budget-friendly price point. They’re a go-to for basics like denim and knits, as well as classic ‘90s mom faves like vests and longline shorts.
90s Liz Claiborne Denim Pearl Snap Shirt via bringinitbackvintage
‘90s Liz Claiborne Paisley Cotton Vest via nocarnations
90s Liz Claiborne Floral Knit Cardigan via Lostboysvintage
Laura (Rachel Zegler) - delicate mesh layering
Laura’s style prior to the killing spree shit show (iykyk) pays homage to Delia's catalog models and how badly we all wanted to be one. Mesh fabric was pivotal to dressy Y2K style, and Laura’s party outfit also incorporates a spaghetti strap tank top, a precursor to the ‘00s top-layering trend that would solidify its impact on teen style via the red carpet looks of young stars like Ashely Tisdale and Kelly Clarkson.
To keep this style from skewing more modern, add your mesh piece as the top layer. Many dresses from the late ‘90s were also designed with a mesh outer panel, giving off a similar effect of wearing multiple pieces.
'00s Heart Mesh Tank via Junkkyard
'90s Paisley Mesh Mini Dress via alitatheangel
'00s Long Sleeve Spiderweb Mesh Top via godiva61
Danny (Julian Dennison) - graphic short sleeve shirts
The short sleeve button ups of the ‘00s to me are the lovechild of the ‘70s disco shirt and the midcentury bowling shirt. Bowling shirts—boxier cuts of short sleeve shirts with solild, two-tone, or striped variations—were seen on ‘90s characters like Chandler Bing from Friends and Kramer from Seinfeld. But with the ‘00s circling back to the ‘70s, we also see Danny’s shirt mirror one worn by Kelso (Ashton Kutcher), emulating the vibrant novelty prints defining the disco style. Later in the decade, the look would most famously become affiliated with Guy Fieri and his Food Network show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives (2007-present).
The incorporation of trending tribal, flame, and op-art graphics from brands like JNCO and Dragonfly Clothing made these pieces significantly more youthful. Instead of tailored pants or chinos, 00s graphic button-downs were paired with jeans or shorts. Another styling option that set the piece apart was wearing it unbuttoned with a t-shirt underneath.
00s Flame Print Bowling Shirt via Vintagerz
00s JNCO Tribal Print Bowling Shirt via gusepeim-0
00s South Pole Geometric Print Shirt via JB Vintage Plus
Laura (Rachel Zegler) - ‘Penny Lane’ coat
Another piece worn by Laura, this fur-trimmed jacket once again parallels the ‘90s obsession with the ‘70s seen worn by Jackie/Mila Kunis in That ‘70s Show (1998-2006) and Penny Lane/Kate Hudson in Almost Famous (2000). Unlike the original styles, ‘00s iterations were more commonly designed with faux fur instead of the real thing and came in shorter lengths.
The style has become so affiliated with Hudson’s character that you’re more likely to find what you’re looking for by literally searching “Penny Lane coat.” A key element that distinguishes the Y2K version from the rest is the more commonly used “shaggy” faux fur (closer to Penny Lane’s) instead of a shorter piling (closer to Jackie’s). There were also jackets with their bodies made from denim and corduroy, which work great for transitional outfits between seasons and warmer weather.
'00s Wet Seal Suede Jacket via TheCharmingVintage
00s Light Blue Leather Jacket via Re_fashioned_fashion
'00s Corduroy Penny Lane Jacket via vixxen_vintage