Last year, for my Edge debut I wrote an article about how Y2k fashion was making an unexpected comeback. While Y2K is definitely still trending, there is one aspect I wish I had included— the erasure of black influence when it comes to the Y2k aesthetic. Who comes to mind when you think “quintessential early 2000s?” Most likely, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, and Lindsey Lohan. While I agree these ladies were huge influences around this time, it can be harmful to not give credit where credit is due as we begin to appreciate this fashion era.

First off, the reason why I wanted to revisit this topic was because I came across a Tumblr post that had been reposted on Instagram, titled “THE PROBLEM WITH THE Y2K FASHION.” I could not find the original post, so here’s the link to a reddit thread. The first interesting point that was brought up was the difference in Y2K fashion throughout the years. What’s trending now is the early 2000s look that still had some influence from the 90s. It doesn’t get too questionable until the mid 2000s, and that’s where we start to see weird fashion combos like skirts over jeans. The former was heavily influenced by black culture.

This is not an article saying if you wear y2k inspired fashion you are appropriating black culture. However, there is a widespread issue within the fashion community where when black people wear something it’s seen as “ghetto,” but when those same trends are white washed they become acceptable and edgy. There’s a quote by Ron Blassingame, “ghetto is nothing creativity that hasn’t been stolen yet.”

So here is a roundup of our favorite y2k trends that were popularized by black creators:

Baby Phat

Baby Phat was a popular clothing brand established in 1999 by Kimora Lee Simmons. The brand had a cool way of blending high fashion with streetwear. The company was at the forefront of early 2000s fashion leading Kimora Lee Simmons to become the first ever black woman to lead a billion dollar company.

Apple Bottoms

Yes, this is not just a catchy lyric from Flo Rida’s “Low.” This was an actual fashion brand launched by rapper Nelly. It started as strictly a denim line but then expanded into other women’s clothing and accessories. They have also been mentioned in numerous rap songs such as “Shake That” by Eminem, and probably most famously “Low” as I mentioned before.

Tracksuits

Athletic wear became a staple of hip hop fashion heavily in the 80s thanks to Run DMC and their Adidas tracksuits. The trend continued to be popularized by the women of hip hop, like Missy Elliot and Salt-N-Pepa in the 90s and early 2000s. Brands like FUBU and P. Diddy’s Sean John streetwear collection further pushed the narrative that tracksuits were a prominent fashion trend.

Moesha

Before there was Sex and the City there was Moesha. While I admire Carrie Bradshaw’s as a style icon, people overlook my girl Moesha played by Brandy. Moesha has a more attainable fashion sense rocking the sweater vest over a tee, single tie cardigans, and leather blazers.

Gradient Sunglasses

Extra points if they are oversized. I have vivid memories of my mom rocking these sunglasses everytime we went out, and I’m sure she still has a couple pairs lying around. For a while, the tiny sunglasses were all the rage, but I’m starting to see oversized sunglasses making their way back to being trendy.

Bonus: The Ladies of the Noughties

Destiny’s Child, Meagan Good, and Aaliyah do not get enough credit for their contributions to early 2000s fashion. So here are my favorite looks from them.

Bottom line is it’s ok to praise Paris Hilton or Britney Spears for their style, but also recognize there is a whole other world of y2k fashion that crazily underappreciated.

Send us your favorite Y2k looks by tagging @theedgemag on Instagram!

Revisiting the Y2k Fashion Trend