In one of the rare instances where I left my apartment for something other than the office, a work event, or a birthday dinner, I went bar-hopping and dancing with friends last weekend—and I couldn’t stop noticing what everyone was wearing. It felt like one out of every 10 girls in New York City (not a real statistic, just one I made up for dramatic effect) was in a pair of denim capris.
As a 29-year-old zillennial, I couldn't decide whether I was excited or horrified. But it almost didn't matter. Standing there, it was obvious a trend was brewing right before my eyes, and there was no ignoring it. People are loving the nostalgic, cropped jeans from street style to celebrities.
The Y2K aesthetic is by no means new to the fashion landscape. If anything, I’d argue it has taken over, with low-rise silhouettes, micro-mini skirts, and jelly shoes making an unexpected return. And now, our favorite stars are leaning all the way into the revival. In recent months, celebrities like Tyla and Quenlin Blackwell have been spotted wearing denim capris, proving that the once-cringey trend has been quietly bubbling back up in the style world. It was only a matter of time before it made its way from nostalgic throwback to full-blown comeback.
Lately, I’ve been seeing them styled with a very early-2000s feel: baby tees, cool graphic shirts, and punchy-colored tops. But I’ve also seen them dressed up in a more elevated way with button-up tops, blouses, and strappy heels for an office siren vibe. I personally love that they can so easily transition from day to night, which is honestly so clutch for someone who rarely has time to change in between plans. Just swap out the shoes or switch up the top, and boom, you’ve got a completely different look.
After seeing them everywhere, I feel like I’m crazy for saying this, but I’ve officially hopped on the bandwagon—and I get the vision. So, I’ve been on the hunt for a pair, and I fell in love with this one from Old Navy. The under-$30 price tag definitely won me over, but I’m also loving the light wash, which feels perfect for summer. And with over 700 rave reviews and a near five-star rating, I’m officially sold on the “comfortable fit” and “stretchy fabric” shoppers are raving about.
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Megan Uy is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, where she searches for the best products in all things fashion, home, beauty, sex, gifts, and more, so you don’t have to. When she’s not writing for the site, she’s whipping up some cool and trendy content for the fashion section of the print magazine. She’s been with the brand since 2019 (when she was an itty-bitty editorial fellow), and she's also written for Delish, House Beautiful, and People. Follow her on Instagram to get some BTS of the editor life and chaotic NYC content. Also, feel free to hit her up if you ever wanna discuss the madness that is TikTok.
