PinkPantheress and Latto Wore These Controversial Y2K Fashion Trends at NikeSKIMS Launch

Leg warmers originated as a purely functional garment in the world of dance; it was common to see them on your favorite ballerinas as they made their way to rehearsals. It was a means to keep leg muscles warm and prevent injury; they were made from wool or other knits and were never intended as a mainstream fashion item. However, during the balletcore era, it made sense for the style to return to the sartorial center stage, with ballet flats and brands like Miu Miu adopting the dancer aesthetic. Leg warmers also gained popularity during the 1980s, when aerobics culture, dance-inspired workout videos, and films like Flashdance helped catapult leg warmers into pop culture. Now, it feels like a full circle to see a celebrity like Latto wearing leg warmers to attend an athletic brand clothing launch.

Similar to leg warmers, one of the most defining and sometimes divisive style trends in the early 2000s was layering dresses over jeans or pants. Popularized by Disney Channel stars like Ashley Tisdale, Miley Cyrus, and Hilary Duff, the look embodied the playful experimentation of Y2K fashion, characterized by the obsessive nature of double layering that was often featured in our favorite teen shows. Whether it was a sequined mini dress layered over bootcut jeans or a flowy tunic paired with skinny pants, the combination became synonymous with mid-2000s teen pop culture.

Though the trend faded by the 2010s, it has found fresh life in 2025 amid the Y2K renaissance. Fashion’s cyclical nature, fueled by TikTok nostalgia and runway revivals, has reframed the look as both ironic and innovative — something that makes total sense for PinkPantheress, who has been dubbed one of the Y2K style leaders of this current generation.