Newstalgic 2000s: On film

Late 1990s and 2000s fashions were influenced by the popular films and TV shows of their time. Many set standards, like how The Matrix mixed Gen X Soft Club tones with Y2K futurism to fit its sci-fi genre, inspiring John Galliano’s 1999 Fall Couture show for Christian Dior.

Others directly commented on clothing’s social role, like how Emily Gilmore, in Gilmore Girls, expresses her disapproval of Loralai by remarking about her Juicy Couture tracksuit bottoms: “You wear that in public? […] you have the word ‘Juicy’ on your rear end.”

Several iconic 2000s films are now returning. The first season of Elle, prequel to Legally Blonde (2001) and its franchise, has been released recently, The Devil Wears Prada (2006) got a sequel this year (The Devil Wears Prada 2), and Mean Girls (2004) was recreated in 2024.

In Legally Blonde … judged by her pink leather two-piece set, leopard print tops, and tinted sunglasses, Elle’s need to meet academic expectations only becomes more difficult

In Legally Blonde, Elle Woods’ intellectual qualities, combined with her bright, stand-out wardrobe – an externalisation of her personality – appear revolutionary. Judged for her pink leather two-piece set, leopard print tops, and tinted sunglasses, Elle’s need to meet academic expectations only becomes more difficult. The worst part is that Elle is criticised not only by her ex-boyfriend Warner, but also his new fiancé, Vivian, and other women in her classes.

The term ‘girl’s girl’ comes to mind. Some of the toxic culture that has existed to pit women against each other has phased out. Yet, if someone rocked up to their lecture in a vivid, all pink, and highly feminised outfit, it’s difficult to imagine that not a single person in the room would judge them. The recent ‘hating pink was never about the colour’ trend, addressing how girls growing up in the 2000s and 2010s felt a need to distance themselves from the feminine associations of wearing pink, only further proves that Elle’s character is still relevant today.

This intellect-fashion relationship is a theme. The Plastics in Mean Girls reward each other for dressing in line with their ‘preppy’ Y2K and McBling styles… and wearing pink on Wednesdays. The moment Regina George fakes liking another girl’s vintage ‘80s skirt and later shares her true judgements, “that is the ugliest fucking skirt I’ve ever seen”, represents a different kind of social power that the film held over fashion, by telling us what not to wear.

In Mean Girls … Even though Cady ‘glows up’ physically, intellect and glamour seemingly cannot coexist

In Mean Girls, Cady is influenced, but in more ways than just her fashion sense. As her style transitions from checked shirts into graphic baby tees and low-rise jeans, her morality and desire for academic achievement is dulled. She acts dumb around Aaron and betrays Janice. Even though Cady ‘glows up’ physically, intellect and glamour seemingly cannot coexist and her wardrobe changes become representative of characteristic changes – a stark contrast to Elle Woods.

Still, it’s disappointing that the 2024 Mean Girls remake seems to lack the nostalgia and timelessness of the original fashions. While exactly replicating them would have been boring, low-rise jeans with dazzling belts have been replaced by plain wide-leg trousers, and Regina’s classic bunny Halloween outfit has been substituted for a fallen angel costume that fails to scream ‘2000s’. The atmosphere that made the original film so iconic is completely absent.

Elle has perhaps done better at retaining the aesthetic of Legally Blonde. Glitter wedge heels and rhinestones are accompanied by more modern touches like square nails and suede knee-high boots, and the original pink leather two-piece’s presence is felt in Elle’s high-waisted straight pink leather trousers. Her black Nirvana t-shirt, however, isn’t particularly on brand.

Fashions in The Devil Wears Prada feel most comparable to recent trends, especially the ‘office siren’ styles that were so popular online around 2024. Andy’s clothing taste also seems more comparable to some of the statement necklaces and hobo bags worn around campus – don’t be ridiculous, everybody wants to dress like this. Although, personally, I probably relate more to her ‘before’ look of a shirt under cable knit jumper, and that’s on a good day.

What’s more noticeable is that these films don’t seem to portray how we’ve taken inspiration from those of the 2000s

Unfortunately, the destructive nature of the fashion industry that the film underlines has also remained. Andy being called ‘fat’ speaks to the same diet culture today as it did to that in the 2000s. One of her main motivations to become ‘fashionable’ therefore stands on the value of physically looking ‘more attractive’ in the eyes of the industry, as it would now to the standards of social media.

Much of the atmosphere that the characters’ polished, classy outfits created in the original film has been kept in The Devil Wears Prada 2. However, more generally, the nostalgia of films of the 2000s and the fashions they projected really haven’t been recreated in the same way, and probably never can be.

What’s more noticeable is that these films don’t seem to portray how we’ve taken inspiration from those of the 2000s. While we can’t expect such films to be entirely realistic, the scoop-neck vests, fitted full-length Henley tops, buckled shoulder bags, and mini-skirts turned micro-skirts are key elements of the return of Y2K and McBling that the remakes fail to capture.

This leaves it to us to document the 2000s, in every moment that we recreate it. Our digital footprints, online fashion journalism, Instagram reels, and Pinterest boards have, in a sense, become historic time capsules. That’s a rare win for social media.