The “Dated” Y2K Jeans Trend Everywhere in 2026
Call me prejudiced, however I’m a company follower that every balanced wardrobe begins with a fantastic set ofjeans Whether you swear by timeless straight-leg designs or choose something somewhat more slouchy and baggy, jeans has actually held the power to make (or break) a clothing for years. So, picture my surprise when diving into the ‘enjoyable denims for fall’ hashtag on social networks, and finding myself challenged with the “outdated” design I believed we ‘d left in the Y2K archives: lace-up denims.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
This provocative shape had moms and dads clutching their pearls and teens hurrying to their nearby Baby Phat long previously “Y2K” ended up being a TikTok and Pinterest search term, and like them or hate them, lace-up denims were doing what they did finest: pressing the limitations of just how much (or little) jeans might perhaps count as clothes.
From Christina Aguilera’s Stripped period (that included that vulgar video for “Dirrty“), to ruling queen of 2000s excess Paris Hilton, we struck peak It woman style when a spirited set was styled with a common graphic T-shirt And naturally, bestie Britney Spears was never ever too far behind (both fashion-wise and spacially), with her now notorious fedora-and-denim mix ending up being shorthand for the time, however it was the low-rise lace-ups that actually made it oh soBritney And, lest we forget Destiny’s Child and Jennifer Lopez ( when she was still Jenny from the Block), who utilized tied-up denims as a styling language all of their own. Whether they were embroidered with flower information or completed with tactical cut-outs, these denims were never ever simply jeans– they were a cultural reset.
Such was the magic of lace-up denims. A grand departure from the subtle, reasonable designs of the Calvin Klein ‘90s, these unapologetically hot, somewhat outrageous low-rise denims were everything about unabashed womanhood. Which is precisely why, 20-plus years on, the design is so cherished today. Whilst summer maximalism was revealed through vibrant tones of blue, psychedelic prints, and goofy devices, turning the corner into fall indicates revealing yourself in a somewhat various method. With layering strongly at the leading edge, this season is everything about unforeseen styling options– and what, hope inform, states “I’m the celebration” louder than a set of lace-front denims?
With J.Lo when again sporting a set, and Bella Hadid styling hers with a graphic tee and pointed boots, this year it’s clear that among the style set, 2001 is formally back.
Latest Videos FromWho What Wear

