If you’ve been on the Internet at all these past few years, you’ll know about the millennial vs. Gen Z “generation wars.” The most intense battleground? Fashion.
Before we delve into the details, let’s go over the basics. According to the Pew Research Center, millennials were born between 1981 and 1996.
Millennial fashion, then, can be defined as the popular styles in the late 90s, 2000s, and early 2010s. Basically, it’s when millennials were in their teens and twenties.
Of course, fashion trends aren’t linear — they’re cyclical. Trends always circle back to being cute twenty years later. Just look at the Y2K revival.
Now that we’ve covered the millennial side of things, let’s go over Gen Z. Born in between 1997 and 2012, their clothing tends to be a lot baggier.
As far as fashion icons go, look no further than Billie Eilish. The Gen Z pop singer’s deliberately oversized looks has always turned heads.
It’s important to remember that the younger end of this generation hasn’t even graduated middle school. We have yet to see what “Gen Zalpha” will come up with.
As of the late 2010s, skinny jeans have been declared dead. They reigned supreme in the early 2000s, but couldn’t make it past the decade.
Lately, skinny jeans have been treated like public enemy number one. And as a certified Gen Zer, I’ve gotta say: I’m with you guys on this one.
Like, they’re not that bad. Low rise skinny jeans are the devil, but I’ll never get rid of my skinny high rise Levi’s. They fit so well!
Unlike skinny jeans, athleisure is still around. The specific looks have gotten an upgrade, but the fad hasn’t fully fallen out of fashion.
According to Fashionista, what’s defined as “athleisure” has changed since the early 90s. At first, it was more about looking athletic, not working out.
Lululemon took the athleisure world by storm, with clothes you could work out, lounge, and grocery shop in. Personally, I’m not a fan. It gets boring after a while.
Minimalism isn’t an inherently millennial aesthetic. It’s been around in some form since the early 20th century, with the rise of Coco Chanel.
Compared to Gen Z, millennial aesthetics are a lot simpler and more streamlined. A simple necklace and bracelet, for example, are favored over layered jewelry.
Popularized in the 2010s, “millennial minimalism” can lend itself well to sustainability, especially if you cultivate a capsule wardrobe. It’s not as popular, but it’s definitely not outdated.
Ah, infinity scarves. You literally couldn’t escape these things in the 2000s and early 2010s, and now they’re nowhere to be found. So, what gives?
Unlike athleisure or minimalism, these scarves had no lasting power. They burned bright when they were in style, but burned out just as quickly.
I’m sure there are people out there who are super invested in their infinity scarves, but they’re not coming back any time soon. It’s time to let go.
Sure, what people wear to festivals has changed. Still, when you hear the words “festival fashion,” a certain early 2010s aesthetic comes to mind.
This was more of a younger millennial thing. It was a bohemian-esque style directly inspired by 60s hippies, with flower crowns, denim shorts, and leather tassels galore.
You might date yourself a little if you wore this to Coachella or Glastonbury, but everyone would get the reference. You definitely wouldn’t be out of place.
Brand prominence — or “logomania” — rises and falls with the times. It was popular in the 90s and early 2000s, making it an elder millennial trend.
This trend was actually deeply impacted by the economy. After the 2008 recession, people with money were a lot less inclined to show it off (per Mission Mag).
This one is a flop for me. Sure, luxury fashion brands have some nice clothes, but a logo does not an outfit make.
Rompers and jumpsuits are more of a younger millennial thing. Unlike logomania, this trend doesn’t have a set start or end date.
Generally, rompers seem to have taken more of a hit than jumpsuits. The latter are still in fashion, with sleek, solid-colored jumpsuits being a popular businesswear choice.
Let’s be honest, here: rompers and jumpsuits are really annoying to pee in. Still, they make for an undeniably cute (and easy) spring outfit. It’s win for me.
Obviously, no one millennial is the same. If you don’t jive with the whole “millennial minimalist” aesthetic, you probably favor bold colors and patterns.
Your best “going-out top” in the 2000s was probably chock-full of them. They tended to be looser and longer, often falling past your hips.
That top, with its flashy colors, was meant to draw the most attention. You could safely wear whatever pants you wanted (for the most part).
Still got your jelly shoes? Popularized in the 90s, these translucent sandals became a generation-defining shoe, though they were far from the only ones.
Pumps, particularly Steve Madden platform heels, are apparently another millennial favorite. And no, we haven’t forgotten knee-high boots. What else would you wear with skinny jeans?
In the sneaker department, there’s a lot of overlap with Gen Z. Skate shoes, like Vans, and Converse have stood the test of time.
If skinny jeans are dying, then what’s rising to replace them? There’s a few contenders. Wide-legged jeans, straight-legged jeans, and cargo pants are all in style.
These three all have one thing in common: a loose fit. The now-popular “small shirt, big pants” combo is basically the inverse of millennial fashion.
I like this in theory, but as someone who’s just under 5’3”, it never works in practice. I’d rather not have my pants drag in the mud, thanks.
Fast fashion is nothing new. Millennial favorites, like Forever 21 and H&M, are fast fashion pioneers. Ultra fast fashion is a whole new monster.
Have you ever heard the term “microtrend”? Even if you haven’t, you’ve probably stumbled across them. They’re short-lived aesthetics that die out much faster than typical trend cycles.
To keep up, companies like Shein and Temu make super cheap clothing, both in cost and quality. Though they’re known for mistreating their workers, their popularity continues to skyrocket.
By “retro,” we’re mainly talking about Y2K looks. Yes, Y2K is retro now. It’s okay. Breathe. Did you do it? Alright, let’s continue.
Bright pink Juicy Couture track suits, whale tails, and platform flip-flops have all come back with a vengeance. Basically, everyone wants to be Paris Hilton again.
However, thanks to the internet, trends are more divided now than ever before. Gen Zers who don’t vibe with baggy clothes might prefer Y2K’s more form-fitting silhouettes.
If there was ever a time to experiment with gender fluidity in your fashion choices, it’s now. More than ever, people’s outfits have blurred the lines between genders.
Lil Nas X is one such example. He’s an older Gen Zer, singer, and all-around fashion icon, who experiments with bright colors, patterns, and the occasional dress.
Really, there’s a lot of overlap between men and women’s fashion. Lots of Gen Z women prefer to shop in the men’s section, for boxier fits.
Maybe this is just me, but I need sunglasses to cover half of my face, or else they’re virtually useless. Fashionable and functional — who would’ve thought?
This is not the case for skinny sunglasses, beloved by Gen Z. While they can look good, they just don’t work as well.
It seems like these are preferred because they show your eyes. Even normal-sized sunglasses are worn lower on the nose. Thanks, but no thanks. I’m blocking out the sun.
Body positivity, in some form, has been around for as long as beauty standards have. However, body positivity as we know it gained traction in the 2010s.
Gen Z fashion trends and brands have been heavily influenced by it. More pressure is put on brands to take curvy women’s fashion into account.
The trends don’t necessarily differ from size to size. It’s more about making sure that people of all sizes and shapes can participate.
Ever seen a teen with dyed hair wearing ripped fishnets, a plaid skirt, a black choker, and a graphic tee? You encountered an e-girl.
E-girl and e-boy fashion took off in 2020. It took TikTok by storm during the pandemic, and before we knew it, everyone was this new kind of emo.
It’s an eclectic mix of alternative aesthetics, like mall goth, emo, scene, and harajuku style. Like other Gen Z aesthetics, it has its roots in millennial fashion.
Streetwear occupies a wholly unique space in the whole millennial vs. Gen Z fashion debate. It’s popular among both generations, though it’s currently enjoying the spotlight.
This style doesn’t just flow between generations. It’s increasingly blurred the lines between high and low fashion, with fashion houses like Gucci incorporating streetwear into their designs.
There’s many ways to do streetwear and customize it to your liking. Chain necklaces or pants chains, for example, can give you an edgier look.
If the 2010 Silly Bandz craze taught us anything, it’s that Gen Z loves their accessories. Now that Gen Z’s reaching adulthood, they’re showing no signs of changing.
There’s really no limit to the amount of accessories. Layered chain necklaces, chunky rings, dangly cross earrings — all are worn, often simultaneously.
As for hair, scrunchies, jersey headbands, and colorful clips are all enjoying a bit of a renaissance. A Gen Z girl doesn’t go anywhere without her butterfly clips.
Ultimately, I’m declaring a tie. When two generations are so close, and fashion trends are already fluid as is, it can be hard to pick a definite winner.
Plus, it’s no secret that lots of Gen Z styles are directly influenced by millennials. Just take a look at e-girls or Y2K revivalists.
Mixing and matching is your best bet. Confine yourself to a specific set of trends, set by your generation or otherwise, and your fashion inspiration will immediately run dry.
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