The reboot of late nineties and aughts fashion, widely respun as Y2K dressing, is something we admit we have resisted for quite some time. For the most part we’re still on the fence, bar the odd few pieces (see below) that still manage to look muted and not too OTT.

However, the stylesphere has embraced it with open arms. At Net-a-Porter, Y2K dressing has been tipped as the biggest movement for spring summer 2022. According to the online giant it’s not so much a trend “as an opportunity to reflect new cultural moments and encourage our customers to discover new collaborations, emerging talent and product with a youthful and energetic point of view”. 

Brands are maximising the current mood for nostalgia by collaborating with some of the trend’s biggest champions, too. Mimi Cuttrell, the stylist who dresses Ariana Grande, as well as Gigi and Bella Hadid (who are more than fond of a spaghetti strap and skinny mule), collaborated on a collection of handbags and shoes with By Far. Think slingback pumps in shades of sunflower and citrus green, and knee-high leather boots with square toes (peak 00s) and vertiginous heels. 

What’s different now versus twenty years ago is that the look is super-luxurious. Polyesters have been upgraded to ultra fine blends and luxe finishes – see the Britney-inspired denim at Loewe, the nod to chain mail at Versace and the low-slung waistlines at Balmain. While the cuts are precise and the tailoring is pristine. What’s more, the reflective mood is emboldened with a sustainable ethos. See Priya Ahluwalia, the LVMH Prize winner whose label Ahluwalia borrows from her Indian-Nigerian heritage to breathe new life into deadstock and second hand pieces. Meaning, an MTV Cribs-approved one-shouldered top comes with an earth-friendly mentality. Sometimes there’s good reason to look back on the past.  

Open back satin midi-dress, Nanushka, €572; www.net-a-porter.com.

Roxanne jean, €229; www.aninebing.com.

Glossed leather shoulder bag, By Far, €294.60; www.net-a-porter.com.

Topstitched denim jacket, €1,200 and matching jeans, €850, Bottega Veneta; www.matchesfashion.com. 

Chain hobo bag, Givenchy, €1,250; www.brownthomas.com. 

Crêpe maxi skirt, Rick Owens, €475; www.net-a-porter.com.