The sartorial landscape of 2025 has become a battleground for generational taste, with Gen Z's embrace of nostalgic Y2K and 'ugly-cute' trends facing sharp critique from a Boomer perspective. This year's defining looks, from hip-hugging denim to furry accessories, have ignited a lively debate about what truly constitutes style.
The Return of Y2K Denim and Generational Flashbacks
At the heart of the debate are low-rise flared jeans, which the Gen Z trend tracker YPulse ranked as the ninth biggest trend of the year. For younger fashion fans, the revival is a celebration of early-2000s aesthetics, powerfully showcased in Gap's Y2K-inspired campaign featuring global girl group Katseye. The advert, noted for its super low-cut denim, became the year's most-viewed campaign, amassing a staggering eight billion impressions.
For many Boomers, however, the trend triggers less-than-fond memories. One recalls wearing flares to a Blondie gig in 1978, only to have them caught in a bicycle chain on the way home, leading to a near-miss with "indecent exposure." The practicality and body-conscious fit of today's iterations are frequently questioned from an older viewpoint.
Accessories: From 'Ugly-Cute' Labubu to Blister-Inducing Jellies
The accessory scene has proven equally divisive. Gen Z has enthusiastically adopted Labubu, the fuzzy character toys from Pop Mart, as must-have bag charms. Their popularity is backed by hard data: Pop Mart's profit soared by 400 per cent this year, largely driven by Labubu sales, with the Business of Fashion labelling them 'perfectly ugly-cute'. Celebrities like Rihanna and Lizzo have been spotted with them, cementing their status.
Yet to a critical Boomer eye, they resemble "something you'd find under a bridge demanding a riddle." The generational split extends to footwear, with jelly shoes making a controversial comeback. Hailed by Vogue as summer's 'unlikely It-shoe', they are, for others, laden with painful memories of blisters from seaside holidays past.
Office Sirens and the Ultimate Truce in Brown Knitwear
Another key 2025 trend identified by trend-tracking website Hyphen is the 'office siren' look—corporate attire with a sexy twist, featuring skinny glasses, loafers, and miniskirts. While Gen Z sees it as a powerful fashion statement, the Boomer response often highlights potential HR departments' concerns and the perils of impractical layering.
Amidst the clashing opinions, one trend has emerged as an unexpected peace offering: mocha brown knitwear. Championed by Gen Z platforms like Who What Wear as the 'most elegant winter shade', it's a colour Boomers have confidently worn since the 1970s. This subtle, earthy tone stands as a rare point of sartorial agreement, proving that even in a year of maximalist chaos, some classics transcend generational divides.
