Y2K vintage and other fashion trends for 2024 - Ervolino

If, like me, you can remember when the years 1999, 2000 and 2001 were considered The Distant Future, you may be amused to learn that clothes from that era are now considered “vintage.”

Uh … seriously?

Aren’t we rushing things a bit?

I am (alas) old enough to remember when “antique” items were 100 years old (or older) and “vintage” items were at least 40.

Today, anything that wasn’t born yesterday is vintage and anyone who knows how to use a rotary phone is ready for hospice care.

Should it matter to you, I know all about this vintage stuff, because it is time, once again, for my annual spring fashion forecast — for MEN.

Although women can read it, too.

I type this out every year with my bony, arthritic, antique fingers because I want you to know what’s what in the often-overlooked world of men’s fashion.

I do this so you will have just enough time to shop, try things on, decide they’re too expensive and continue wearing the same cheap, ill-fitting, grease-stained rags you were wearing last year.

I also do this because I care. And because I have nothing else to write about.

As an award-winning journalist, investigative reporter and style icon, I spend a good 15 to 20 minutes every year studying men’s fashion trends online and on YouTube, while furiously taking notes, eating potato chips and playing with my dog.

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As is my custom, I would like to start this year’s tutorial by sharing some cool-sounding 2024 trend terms for you to file away for future reference.

These terms, purloined from men’s magazine covers, include: Laid-back Elegance! Classic Streetwear Mashups! Western Wear Comeback! The Old Money Aesthetic! ‘90s Minimalism!

And, yes, Y2K Vintage.

Now, this is where things get interesting, since Y2K Vintage is everything that ‘90s Minimalism was not.

The latter is toned tone, expensive looking and unadorned. The former is loud, logo-centric and futuristic — a style popular now with GenZ kids who think stuff from 25 years ago is futuristic. And vintage.

Apparently, Y2K-era “chunky sneakers” are making a comeback, too. Sadly, I have no idea what Y2K-era chunky sneakers are, since I’m still breaking in the Nikes I bought in 1983.

Anyway, who cares?

While watching one lengthy YouTube video on “Old Money” spring fashion — suits, jackets, vests, topcoats, etc. — I read a comment from a viewer who said, “I got a jacket I wear for funerals and interviews. And a bow tie. That’s all I need.”

Is this a real man or what?

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As you probably know, the main purpose of “fashion” is to get you to buy new stuff and discard the older styles that most people are sick of looking at.

(There was a time, believe or not, when men wore flowered bellbottoms and women found them sexy. Today, not so much.)

My primary rule of thumb when it comes to style cues is to observe famous, good-looking, younger men and take note of what they are wearing. I’m talking about actors like Austin Butler, race car driver Lewis Hamilton, soccer star Jude Bellingham and so on and so forth.

They’re attractive. Famous. Wealthy. And stylish.

Trust me: When handsome Austin Butler is on the red carpet wearing pointy patent dress shoes and a purple flower brooch on his lapel, people pay attention.

They want pointy patent dress shoes and purple flower brooches.

“I’ll have what he’s having!”

Mind you, no one ever says, “I want to wear what that short, fat, ugly guy is wearing.”

It’s just common sense.

Now that “The Bear” has made a sex symbol out of scruffy Jeremy Allen White, everyone wants to dress like him, too. Unfortunately for the fashion business, White is rarely seen in anything but sweaty white T-shirts and stained black jeans.

In his new print ads for Calvin Klein, all White is wearing is underwear! (No shirt. No socks. No brooch.)

Is high fashion back? Yes, especially if you can pair your pricey new suit with some chic contrasting accessory, like a trucker’s cap or a sexy prison tattoo climbing up the side of your neck.

Plenty of tattoo artists have learned the fine art of prison tattooing. If you can’t find one, though, you can always hold up a few gas stations and keep your fingers crossed.

Also IN: cropped shirts, graphic beanies, baggy cargo pants, ribbed sweaters and lots and lots of sunglasses.

All of this is fine with me. My one notable “NO WAY” is the dress suit consisting of jacket, a tie and — egads! — short pants.

In January, GQ magazine featured photo after photo of men wearing short pants.

Short pants with businesswear.

Short pants with oversized linen shirts.

Short pants with ragged-cut animal print tops.

The model in that last get-up looked like an extra from “The Flintstones.” But, strangely enough, I kinda liked the look.

Part fashion-forward, part caveman.

Y2K B.C.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Fashion trends 2024: Y2K vintage, 'old money' aesthetic lead way