By Kasey Dugan...

The internet has cycled through several aesthetics in just a few short years, mainly kickstarting with cottagecore in 2020: a style that romanticizes the simple, pastoral life. 

Since then, we’ve been charmed by the model off-duty, intimidated by the pink pilates princess, and lusted after the office siren. These aesthetics are indeed far removed from the rural lifestyle that fashionistas once went crazy for. But are they truly reflective of the human condition? 

That concern seems to be at the center of a new trending aesthetic, one that reminisces on elements from the 2000s that feel warm, cozy, and “real.” But what constitutes “real”? There seems to be debate on this, with some users flocking back to twee and others seeking something more akin to what Rory Gilmore might wear. Custo Barcelona, Desigual, Hayes — as well as Abercrombie, Delias, and Wet Seal — are a few brands circulating the developing discussion. 

Stylists are having a tough time putting a name to the aesthetic — and as we know, the internet needs a shared language in order to appropriately function. Some users have been tossing around “Recession Core” as a potential aesthetic name, but its dismal outlook doesn’t seem to be picking up traction. 

But perhaps the answer is right in front of us … in the form of a TikTok trend. 

Gen Z’s latest attempt to romanticize the 2000s is flourishing in photo carousels. Creators are pairing the audio track “Home Resonance” with images sourced from Flickr, Pinterest, and other raw digitals that are meant to encapsulate a distinct feeling of a near, but distant, past. 

Most carousels focus on a “2000s niche” such as Jersey girls, autumn, or even Tuscan-style kitchens. The images are wide-ranging and unfiltered, providing a glimpse into what seems like a simpler, stylish time. Ugg boots, discontinued candles, chunky highlights, coffee shops, and scoop-neck tanks are just a handful of images that have been featured in the trend. 

While many users have voiced their wistful nostalgia for this era, others are feeling rejuvenated by it. It seems that the fashion girlies are craving more than just appearing whimsical. They want to be whimsical — they want to take up hobbies, develop niche interests, and put down their phones. 

This is a shift back toward cottagecore, if anything. Our obsession with other aesthetics have been rooted in consumerism and materialism; expensive LuluLemon, Stanley Cups, and AirPods are becoming the new “cringe.”

This playfulness is not just limited to twenty somethings who are chronically online. Polka dots, for example, have resurged on the runway. Clothes featuring The Hungry Caterpillar are currently dominating the Etsy marketplace. 

But the question is how to authentically achieve what those carousels so effortlessly mastered. It’s one thing to swipe through photos from the past; it’s another to source clothing from the past. If only we could swipe piece by piece — banger by banger — and be imbued by the same, hazy nostalgia … 

… except we can, right here on Holy Thrift. Anyone can swipe through the site’s wide-ranging, curated collection of vintage gems. The sellers do the hard part, gathering flawless items that they know people would otherwise spend hours looking for on Depop (or diving through the bins at Goodwill). 

Our thrifting communities are stronger than ever. We know the importance of preserving the past — and the past, in all its nostalgia, has a lot to offer us. Clothes didn’t just seem better back then: they were better, and made to last. 

This fondness for the 2000s isn’t entirely overzealous. Yes, there were bad things going on back then (life was not, unfortunately, one big Twilight saga). But there was a lot of good, too. And clothing is one of them. 

Today, we’re unable to escape our always-pinging notifications — hyperaware of the views our Instagram story has, annoyed by the Shein ads clogging up our search results. That’s why when videos like this come up on our For You Page, we are almost paralyzed by it: struck by the realization that we can’t go back to that calmer, slower era. 

We may not be able to completely escape today’s fast-paced lifestyle, but we can slow down. We can stop buying garbage items on Amazon. We can start supporting our secondhand sellers, and breathe new life into old garments. 

Listen: it’s important to miss things. It makes us human. Just as long as we don’t spend all our free time measuring what’s already lost. 

Doing so means you might miss out on this current moment. Maybe what you’re wearing right now, as you read this, will be greatly coveted in the distant future. So treasure this — your time and your wardrobe. Hold onto it.