The PinkPantheress Effect: Bringing Y2K Chic Back to Life
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On one fateful day in 2020, a song by the name of “Just a waste” made its debut on the TikTok rotation. The short, catchy, alt-pop song didn’t blend in with the thousands of other songs released on the platform. Instead, it blew up, and a fresh face was introduced to the industry. Who some people thought was going to be a one-hit-wonder turned out to be an enduring sensation and a fashion mogul in the making.
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PinkPantheress emerged as a fashion time capsule of the early 2000s with her flowy maxi skirts, cropped puffers, and mini shoulder bags. Her style evokes the nostalgic feeling of 2000s fashion, leaning towards the more casual and often overlooked trends from the time. Since her rise in fame in early 2020, PinkPantheress has remained true to her distinct style—a unique blend her stylist, Milena Agbaba, likes to call “PinkPantherisms.” Taking inspiration from many Y2k trends, PinkPantheress’ fashion mirrors the same nostalgic dance beats used in her tunes. In an interview with i-D, when asked about her attraction to that era’s music, PinkPantheress said, “The music was so unpolished and cool because I feel like people weren’t afraid of being a little bit cringe. It was all way more experimental.” The same can be said about the fashion trends at the time. That experimental spirit is what birthed the hidden gems of the 2000s.
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The return of Y2K fashion is undeniably here, yet PinkPantheress offers a side of the era that has rarely been explored. Collaborating with her stylist, they curated a mood board filled with chunky statement belts, flared leggings, jersey dresses, and low-rise jeans—think Ashley Tisdale on the red carpet with leggings under her flowy camisole dress. Celebrities like Beyonce and Christina Aguilera in all their Y2K fashion glory are at the forefront of the “Pain” singer's inspiration for her vamped-up style. Her style reflects the forgotten, perhaps the “uglier” side of 2000s trends, rejecting the exaggerated maximalist styles and embracing the authentic fashion choices prevalent in that era.
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In the infamous music video for her chart-topping hit, “Boys a Liar Pt II,” PinkPantheress is featured alongside the up-and-coming Bronx rapper, Ice Spice. She effortlessly pairs a distressed tank with flared leggings and chunky sneakers, all staples of her signature style—coined by the internet as “supply-teacher core.” She also weaves in animal print, layers, and sleek leather into her everyday and red carpet looks. These elements are considered some of the more niche trends derived from Y2K fashion, which PinkPantheress undoubtedly embraces.
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PinkPantheress traces a significant part of her current style back to the emo trends of the 2000s. She recalled in an interview with i-D, “I used to love My Chemical Romance and like all these emo people, so I’d start dressing really emo and I’d wear like three belts.” The emo style of the early 2000s was characterized by gothic-inspired elements taken from 90s grunge styles, underlining the cyclical nature of fashion trends that prove to remain timeless. With the combination of dark leather and metal chains, PinkPantheress seamlessly merges a medley of trends from the 2000s into her own fashion narrative, infusing them with a contemporary twist that blends the past with the present.
Strike Out,
Writer: Isabella Santiago
Editor: Cristina Angee
Tallahassee