Blake Lively became a style icon in 2007 when she appeared on our screens as Serena van der Woodsen in Gossip Girl, and she has continued to wow with her red carpet looks ever since.
Her fashion is so revered that the actress has even become one of the Met Gala’s most anticipated winners with her old Hollywood aesthetic and ever-ready-to-dazzle silhouettes.
However, the star has recently been ditching her ’50s glamour in favor of kitschy ’00s looks, marked by playful wardrobe choices including hot pink minidresses and leather chaps à la Christina Aguilera.
Speaking to FEMAIL, stylist Rochelle White suggested Blake, 36, could be “tapping into the Y2K style” loved by Gen Z after drawing inspiration from stars including Sabrina Carpenter and Gigi Hadid.
“There is a real love for fashion, shows and Y2K trends right now,” the expert said.
However, the star has recently been ditching her 1950s glamour for kitsch 2000s looks. Pictured here, she’s wearing a dress once worn by Britney Spears in 2002.
“I think she sees that and is using that information to be relevant. I think it could also help keep her in the minds of younger audiences who may not know her or remember her from her previous shows, like Gossip Girl or movies.”
Rochelle commented on Blake’s recent eye-catching tribute to 2000s pop icon Britney Spears.
The actress wore the same neckline that the singer sported at a Versace show in Milan in 2002 for the premiere of her latest film, It Ends With Us.
“She was trending on TikTok because of the comparisons,” Rochelle said. “And I think that was a good PR move for her.”
“I think she can see the success that singer/actress Sabrina Carpenter is having with some retro fashion and that might have inspired her since it was her time.”
Stylist Lisa Talbot also thinks Blake’s style evolution is simply down to her having fun with fashion.
“I personally think Blake is now very confident in the styles and shapes she likes to wear, rather than wearing what she feels she should wear,” she said.
‘Wearing what feels true to you is empowering and sends a message to your fans that you can have individual style and embrace trends that keep your look modern.
Earlier this month, Blake sported leather pants while walking around New York City, in a nod to Y2K fashion.
Stylist Lisa Talbot also thinks Blake’s style evolution is simply her way of having fun with fashion.
And it seems Blake has been leaning into the aesthetic as well, as she was recently spotted in distressed jeans, mini dresses, and sparkly sheer tops.
Y2K fashion has taken over TikTok-style videos with everything from butterfly clips to low-rise pants. Blake pictured in a hot pink minidress earlier this month
Blake has been more playful with her fashion choices in recent months. Pictured in a chic all-denim ensemble in June
Blake has traditionally opted for a more old-Hollywood glamour (pictured here in 2014 with husband Ryan Reynolds).
“She has certainly adapted her style from the old Hollywood glamour that many actresses wore to a style that is now uniquely her own.”
Y2K fashion has taken over TikTok-style videos, with everything from butterfly clips to low-rise pants making a comeback.
And young pop stars including Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo and Tate McRae have backed him up with their crop tops, loose skirts and oversized sweaters.
And it seems Blake has been leaning into the aesthetic as well, as she was recently spotted in distressed jeans, mini dresses, and sparkly sheer tops.
Her style transformation comes amid the star’s launch of a hair care brand and her starring role in the highly-anticipated It Ends With Us.
Blake has said her new film is a story of ‘joy, pain, possibility and trauma’ and has revealed what it means to her.
And young pop stars including Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo and Tate McRae have backed it up with crop tops, loose skirts and oversized sweaters.
Sabrina Carpenter photographed backstage at Capital’s Summertime Ball in a very Y2K-inspired ensemble
Olivia Rodrigo was photographed sporting a Y2K-style outfit while performing on her world tour earlier this year.
Tate McRae has leaned into the 2000s pop star aesthetic as she makes a name for herself in the music scene.
The Gossip Girl actress plays florist Lily Bloom in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel of the same name.
She is currently on a press tour for the film ahead of its release and spoke to Christine Lampard on Friday’s episode of Lorraine! about how she interprets the story.
“I never necessarily saw it as a story about darkness or hope,” Blake said.
“I see it as a women’s story, and in life we have joy and we have pain, we have frivolity and we have trauma and we have sadness, possibilities and future, past and present. I think that’s why the story resonates with so many people.”
Blake also spoke about her relationship with co-star Isabella Ferrer, who joined her on the talk show.
Both actresses play Lily in the film, with Blake portraying her in her older years and Isabella in her younger years.
On working together to nail down a character, Isabella said: ‘We met when we did the first screen test and we had a couple of conversations. Honestly, it wasn’t much, but I think from the beginning we had a fluid conversation and the ideas we had about Lily were so concrete and so similar that it didn’t take us long to get to where we are now.
Many of the Y2K looks that are popular today are inspired by pop stars from the 2000s, including Christina Aguilera.
Low-rise outfits, crop tops and bright eye makeup were staples of music icons like Britney Spears.
“We got along really well and quickly realized we could trust each other’s processes. You (Blake) gave me a lot of freedom with this position and made it very clear from the beginning that this is as much mine as it is yours.”
It Ends With Us centers on Lily, a flower shop owner who finds herself caught in the middle of a complicated love triangle between handsome neurosurgeon Ryle (Justin Baldoni, who also directs) and her high school boyfriend, Atlas, played with downcast tenderness by Brandon Sklenar.
But when Ryle’s violent outburst leads her to fear he may be an abusive partner, she turns to Atlas for help after they are reunited when she runs into him at a restaurant she works at.
The film is based on the bestselling romance novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover, which was a hit with readers after its publication in 2016.
After being delayed several times, the film’s release date was set for August 9 of this year.