Belly chains, bandanas and Ugg boots have returned in all their noughties glory, as Y2K fashion makes a comeback. Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Lopez were the poster girls for that era, flaunting their toned stomachs in low-rise jeans and crop tops.
While some may feel like we are stuck in a time loop, as trends circulate round and round, for those who were too young – or weren't born – the early years of the new millennium is an irresistible treasure trove of fashion, and a pushback against the ultra-sleek dressing of recent times.
Those of us who lived its first iteration still feel a hot flush of regret (dresses over jeans, anyone?), but the free-wheeling experimentation Y2K fashion offers seems irresistible to millennials and Gen Z.
Here are some Y2K trends and how to wear them.
Graphic T-shirts
Once the sole reserve of heavy metal fans, the graphic tee became an object of desire 25 years ago when Ed Hardy smothered its own in rhinestones. Snapped up by It girls like Paris Hilton, it was the tee to be seen in.
Today, Ed Hardy is cool again and its tattoo motifs and crystals-on-everything approach are de rigueur for successful Y2K dressing. It even has a dedicated "Y2K" section online.
Other brands have also rolled out their own versions, including the Year of the Tiger one from Balenciaga and Gucci's with a smiling avocado on it. What's not to love?
Tie-front tops
Itsy-bitsy, tie-front cardigans were everywhere at the start of the century. While their return may trigger shudders among the older crowd, it's a breezy choice for anyone under 30 and a no-brainer for summer dressing.
While some styles are echoes of the original 2000s look – such as the cropped, sheer top by Mirror Palais that feels straight out of a TLC music video – there are also plenty of sleeveless updates by companies such as Asos, which has given its version a lingerie twist in pretty broderie anglaise.
Pro tip: update a tie-fronted top by styling it with a pair of high-waisted jeans.
Baguette bags
The original It bag, the Fendi baguette entered social consciousness thanks to Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, who wore this slimline bag with nearly everything. It spent some years in the fashion hinterland when women wanted something bigger and more practical, but now, many are once again looking at bags that are beautiful yet far down the useful scale.
Along with the original – which recently had a reimaging by Marc Jacobs for Fendi – a plethora of similar styles can be found, from Jacquemus's Le Bambino long shoulder bag to Valentino's Garavani small loco, which can be tucked under the arm.
Bandanas
Bella Hadid loves to rock a bandana and embraces it with gusto. An idea that slid off rock stadium stages and straight into everyone’s wardrobe sometime around the 1970s, the bandana reached its zenith during the Y2K days thanks to singers such as Gwen Stefani.
Today, they're back in all their glory. Think less Tupac Shakur and more Axl Rose, and go for full head coverage, preferably with logos. A Burberry scarf is ideal for this, as is Dior, so get wrapping.
Velour tracksuits
One of the defining looks of Y2K was the pink velour tracksuit by Juicy Couture.
As with all good things, unfortunately, the market was flooded with cheap knock-offs that ruined it for everyone. As they make their return, be sure to look for quality materials. Fila has a sporty version in moss green for men, Frankie Shop offers a slouchy set in grey marl and Olivia von Halle offers a different take with velvet pyjamas that are too gorgeous just for indoors.
Halter necks
Chanel gave Y2K fashion its ultimate endorsement when it sent 1990s-era halter necks down its 2024 resort runway. Paired with “supermodel big hair”, the snappy cropped top with the distinctive neckline in boucle tweed is seriously fabulous.
An ensemble doesn't have to be just a cropped top, either. A look across any store reveals a wealth of halter necks, from an all-in-one jumpsuit by Alexis, to a gradient colour, cut-out maxi dress by Kurt Geiger (both at Bloomingdale's Dubai), plus a crochet version at Casablanca. This is an easy choice for beach day dressing.
Cargo pants
Once the uniform of tomboys and girl bands, the humble cargo pant was given an upgrade by Tom Ford a few seasons ago, made in molten satin and worn with heels. Since then, the upwards trajectory has continued with all manner of choices to hand.
Dolce & Gabbana has gone for a military feel, while The Attico has faded army styles that sell out as soon as they hit stores. For ultimate evening glam, Mugler has taken it a step further, combining cargo pants with another hot trend – corseting – as a pair of high-waisted trousers with a removable corset.
Metallics
There is something seductive about glossy metallics, at least Britney thought so circa 2000. Long held as a night-time option, the Y2K dressing revolution puts everything shiny firmly in the daywear category.
Boss has made sequins into a slouchy hoodie, while Versace gives us a jean jacket in lilac metal. The kings of metal Domenico Dolce and Steffano Gabbana offer corseted, gleaming dresses that are the stuff of dreams. Their brand's tie-up with Kim Kardashian for spring/summer 2023 also resurrected plenty of archival classics for a new audience.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Series info
Test series schedule 1st Test, Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka won by 21 runs; 2nd Test, Dubai: Play starts at 2pm, Friday-Tuesday
ODI series schedule 1st ODI, Dubai: October 13; 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 16; 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 18; 4th ODI, Sharjah: October 20; 5th ODI, Sharjah: October 23
T20 series schedule 1st T20, Abu Dhabi: October 26; 2nd T20, Abu Dhabi: October 27; 3rd T20, Lahore: October 29
Tickets Available at www.q-tickets.com
Stat Fourteen Fourteen of the past 15 Test matches in the UAE have been decided on the final day. Both of the previous two Tests at Dubai International Stadium have been settled in the last session. Pakistan won with less than an hour to go against West Indies last year. Against England in 2015, there were just three balls left.
Key battle - Azhar Ali v Rangana Herath Herath may not quite be as flash as Muttiah Muralitharan, his former spin-twin who ended his career by taking his 800th wicket with his final delivery in Tests. He still has a decent sense of an ending, though. He won the Abu Dhabi match for his side with 11 wickets, the last of which was his 400th in Tests. It was not the first time he has owned Pakistan, either. A quarter of all his Test victims have been Pakistani. If Pakistan are going to avoid a first ever series defeat in the UAE, Azhar, their senior batsman, needs to stand up and show the way to blunt Herath.
England's Ashes squad
Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
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Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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