Newsweek
Brutal observation about millennial evolution goes viral: "what changed"
"We have to remember that many millennials came of age in the early aughts, a time of economic growth," an expert told Newsweek.
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From Glitter to Grey: How Millennials' Style Shifted from Y2K Maximalism to Modern Minimalism
A recent viral video by user @lana63777 has ignited a lively discussion across social media platforms, highlighting the dramatic shift in millennial aesthetics from the vibrant, maximalist Y2K era to today's more subdued, minimalist trends. The video, which rapidly juxtaposes images of early 2000s fashion, decor, and accessories with contemporary neutral-toned interiors and understated clothing, poses the question, "Like what changed 😭😭😭😭". The transformation showcased includes everything from glittery, brightly colored accessories and heavily decorated rooms to sleek, monochrome living spaces and simple, classic attire. Commenters were quick to weigh in on the phenomenon, with many observing similar shifts in other generations. One user noted, "This has happened to every generation lol Hippies → Bigoted boomers Punk / Hard rock whatever → Karens Y2K/Emo/Scene → Basic 2020 Alt → Clean girl." Another commenter extended the observation to Gen Z, stating, "Gen Z went from the 2020 alt indie kid look to the 2025 clean girl look," and "I fear this is starting to happen to gen z." The "clean girl" aesthetic, often cited as the current minimalist trend, also drew commentary. A user explained, "It's the way that 'clean girl' when it first started trending it was just yet another renamed/rebranded style taken from Black and Latina women who have been wearing it for years. And now it's not even a legit aesthetic, just different opinions on what ppl perceive as clean." Others attributed the shift to maturity, with one user remarking, "Because they’re not teenagers anymore?" while another suggested, "Only reason is bc we got tired of the maximalism so we opted for stuff less overstimulating lol. But now I’m 31 and a lot of us are going back to the maximalism that y2k had :)." The video effectively captures a cultural conversation about fashion cycles and generational identity.
