STYLE

You already know that Y2K is back with a vengeance (we see you, Olivia Rodrigo). But take that energy and mix it with a hallmark of the teen clique scene—the Goth girl—and that's the vibe we're going for this fall. Yes, she's giving Hot Topic, all-black everything, safety-pinned within an inch of her life realness, then modernizing it by way of crop tops, corsets and clever layering. Put it all together and the 2000s punky vibes slide right into the TikTok era. In fact, we're pretty sure if you say "Beetlejuice" three times into the mirror, your closet will fill with these pieces automatically. And trust us—you will want them all.

Just a little crush(ed)

Track suit, $99, Juicy Couture | Top, $16, Marshalls | Boots, $60, Lamo | Choker, $16, Victorian Vault | Bracelet, $80, Kendra Scott

Back in the 2000s, a Goth girl never would have been caught wearing Juicy Couture...but she didn't know it could look like this. The crushed-velvet-rockstar chocolate brown is a much cooler take. Add a satin bustier, velvet choker and spice-tinted lippy and you're ready to rock out. (Oh, and the Y2K staple sheepskin boots probably make excellent mosh pit shoes.)

Slip 'n' studded

Dress, $60, PrettyLittle Thing | Jacket, $80, Zara | Boots, $89, DSW | Earrings, $14, and rings, $10 and $12, Charming Charlie | Chain and silver choker, $15 for a set, Claire's | Black choker, $6, Shein | Belt, $143, Revolve

A silky slip dress and big, silvery hoops are early aughts favorites—so give them a punky edge with an embellished oversized Army shirt, fringed studded belt and the perfect chunky combat boots. A spiky half-updo is an optional, but genius, final touch.

Heavy metal

Blazer, $198, Ann Taylor | Top, $100, Sherri Hill | Skirt, $17, Rainbow Shops | Earrings, $12, Forever 21 | Scottie brooch, $15, Bling Jewelry | H brooch, $12, and heart brooch, $6, Ethoon | Cuff, $15, Charming Charlie

Goth girls love a corset—and this one is both modern (you can layer it or wear solo) and Y2K-licious (it's velvet). A pleated pleather skirt and crushed velvet blazer (pop on some punky crystal pins for added hardware) complete the look.

The pleather principle

Bustier, $124, Delphine | Bodysuit, $34, PrettyLittleThing | Skirt, $208, Vegan Tiger | Leggings, $69, Lili Sidonio | Boots, $129, Steve Madden | Earrings, $10, Zara | Chokers, $10 for a set, Claire's

Skintight (p)leather, oversized grommets, layered chokers—this is what 2000s Goth dreams were made of. Everything about this fit flows seamlessly, from the tapestry top layered over the bodysuit to the pants that disappear into the stiletto booties. No one would dare mess with the girl wearing this.

Black and white and Goth all over

Jacket, $128, Reformation | Tee, $17, Marshalls | Shorts, $55, Lili Sidonio | Sunglasses, $545, Gucci | Earrings, $6, backpack, $40, socks, $10, flower ring, $10, strawberry ring, $10, and heart ring, $8, Claire's

Checkerboard was the pattern in early aughts mall culture, so we put it on knee-highs and a backpack. And because you can never have too much of a good thing, we threw some of our other favorite retro trends in, too: fuzzy leopard cuffs, a cutout AC/DC tee and oversized tortoise shell hoops. Look at that—all the subcultures *can* live together in harmony.

The matrix, reloaded

Jacket, $43, Stoosh by 26 International | Top, $150, Pinko | Pants, $69, Lili Sidonio | Sneakers, $100, DSW | Sunglasses, $163, Ray-Ban | Earrings, $12, Zara

Give "Chosen One" energy with a knee-length pleather coat, black Wayfarer sunglasses and cropped wide-leg pleather trousers. Furry cuffs and a jeweled cutout top bring a little early 2000s hip-hop flair to the party—the chosen one should be one of a kind, after all.

Tag us in your cutest fall fits on Instagram @girlslifemag for a chance to get featured!

Hey, girl! Just wanted to let you know that this story originally ran in our August/September 2022 issue. Want more? Read the print mag for free *today* when you click HERE.

Credits: Photographed by Sean Scheidt. Styled by Lo VonRumpf. Hair by Phillip Nathaniel. Makeup by Maurie Davidson. Edited for digital coverage by Kathleen O'Neill

by Sara Gaynes Levy | 8/10/2022