And they all have one thing in common: Generation Z has taken great pleasure in putting them back in the fashion spotlight, even propelling them to the top of the trend list over the past two years.

And that’s something that only the under-20s could do… After all, they didn’t have the privilege – or the trauma – of experimenting with the supposedly futuristic – or outlandish – fashions of this decade the first time around.

Just when you thought that young people were (finally) turning away from all things Y2K, in favour of the ’90s, it seems they’re diving back in headfirst.

And not just with any trend: it’s the ‘skirt-over-pants’ combo, one of the most reviled pairings of the 2000s, which is now the focus of their unwavering passion for that decade.

It’s a trend that reflects not only a certain taste for non-conformist fashion, but also a renewed interest in layering.

More than 10 million views

The combination of skirt and pants – layered one over the other, of course – seems to be particularly appealing to younger people.

The proof can be seen on TikTok, where the hashtags #skirtoverpants and #skirtsoverpants have already racked up 8.8 million and 2.8 million views respectively.

And that’s without counting their variants, such as #skirtoverjeans, which has passed the five million views mark.

The trend is confirmed by the global fashion search engine Stylight, which reports a 37% increase in searches for the terms ‘skirt over pants’ on Google in just one month, between December and November 2023.

There are no rules to this trend, other than wearing a skirt over pants. Whether with pleated or straight skirts, mini or maxi skirts, or even asymmetrical pieces – anything goes.

When it comes to pants, it’s best to avoid leggings – let’s stick to one Y2K inspiration at a time – but you can wear cargo pants, jeans or tailored pants, for example.

However, the revival of this Y2K trend seems to favour loose-fitting pants, whatever the style.