Zip up your tracksuits and charge your bedazzled BlackBerry — We’re wearing the 2022 version of McBling
If you’ve been searching “Y2K” on Depop or scouring thrift stores looking for Von Dutch trucker hats, Juicy Couture tracksuits with “Juicy” stamped on the back, or tight baby tees with the bedazzled, cursive “Baby Phat” logo, you’re actually searching for the McBling aesthetic.
Still unsure of the difference? McBling is a grainy song ringtone blaring out of your Motorola’s speaker. It’s unwrapping your headphones from around your pink metallic iPod nano. It’s spraying your Viva la Juicy perfume around your chunky highlights.
Y2K, meanwhile, landed a tad earlier on the fashion history timeline, teetering between the late ’90s and early 2000s with the dominating trends of lower waist lines and relaxed glam. The era slowly morphed into something more defined; think of McBling as Y2K’s teched-out, more splashy sister.
Anything colorful—preferably pink—and sparkling became your best friend during the rise of McBling. The mini skirt became shorter, and velour and streetwear became the uniform of the red carpet. Many staples born from the McBling era include graphic tees with sassy phrases, bedazzled tracksuits and jeans, and sequined accessories.
Who Started McBling?
The aesthetic rose in popularity between 2003 and 2008. Artists like Missy Elliot, LL Cool J, and Eve are some of the few icons who brought aspects of the trend to life, like tracksuits, matching sets, blinged-out accessories, and colorful streetwear. Stars like Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie also popularized the aesthetic, wearing graphic tees and tracksuits on the street and on-screen in their show The Simple Life.
What Are Some McBling Brands?
Labels like Baby Phat, Von Dutch, Juicy Couture, Playboy, Victoria’s Secret, and PINK rose in popularity during the McBling era. Capitalizing on the It factor of the 2000s, these brands embraced the modern take on confidence defined by the 2000s boss, unafraid to draw attention to themselves while indulging in a healthy dose of self-obsession.
Phrases like “phat” and “juicy” adorned jeans and sweatpants, shamelessly drawing attention to the backside. Paris Hilton owned the McBling graphic tee trend, sporting shirts that read “Queen of the Universe!” “Don’t be jealous” and “I heart shoes bags & boys” to name a few. Luxury items like the Louis Vuitton Multicolor handbag—which hit the runway at the brand’s Spring/Summer 2003 show—and the Balenciaga Motorcycle Bag were also popular.
VOGUE WORLD: NEW YORK
JOIN NOW
FASHION
What Is McBling and How Is it Different From Y2K?
BY ABRIGAIL WILLIAMS
August 15, 2022
Eve and Cam’ron at the Baby Phat Fall 2003 show.
Eve and Cam’ron at the Baby Phat Fall 2003 show.Djamilla Rosa Cochran
Zip up your tracksuits and charge your bedazzled BlackBerry—we’re wearing the 2022 version of McBling. If you’ve been searching “Y2K” on Depop or scouring thrift stores looking for Von Dutch trucker hats, Juicy Couture tracksuits with “Juicy” stamped on the back, or tight baby tees with the bedazzled, cursive “Baby Phat” logo, you’re actually searching for the McBling aesthetic.
Still unsure of the difference? McBling is a grainy song ringtone blaring out of your Motorola’s speaker. It’s unwrapping your headphones from around your pink metallic iPod nano. It’s spraying your Viva la Juicy perfume around your chunky highlights.
Y2K, meanwhile, landed a tad earlier on the fashion history timeline, teetering between the late ’90s and early 2000s with the dominating trends of lower waist lines and relaxed glam. The era slowly morphed into something more defined; think of McBling as Y2K’s teched-out, more splashy sister.
nbspSinger Sandra Pepa Denton rapper Rah Digga and singer Dena Cali attend the First Annual Billboard RBHipHop Awards on…
Singer Sandra “Pepa” Denton, rapper Rah Digga, and singer Dena Cali attend the First Annual Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards on August 30, 2001 in New York City. Ron Galella/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT
What Is the McBling Aesthetic?
Get 1 year of American Vogue + a limited edition tote. Subscribe now.
McBling style was all about, well, bling. Trend-setters sparkled in bedazzled outerwear and jewelry, with tech becoming the newest and shiniest accessory.
RELATED VIDEO
Everything You Need to Know About the Corset
Anything colorful—preferably pink—and sparkling became your best friend during the rise of McBling. The mini skirt became shorter, and velour and streetwear became the uniform of the red carpet. Many staples born from the McBling era include graphic tees with sassy phrases, bedazzled tracksuits and jeans, and sequined accessories.
Image may contain Human Person Footwear Clothing Shoe Apparel Vehicle Transportation Automobile Car and Wheel
Alicia Keys wearing Baby Phat on July 24, 2003 at Soho in New York, NY. Bill Davila
ADVERTISEMENT
Rapper Lil’ Kim in 1996.nbsp
Rapper Lil’ Kim in 1996. New York Daily News Archive/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT
Who Started McBling?
The aesthetic rose in popularity between 2003 and 2008. Artists like Missy Elliot, LL Cool J, and Eve are some of the few icons who brought aspects of the trend to life, like tracksuits, matching sets, blinged-out accessories, and colorful streetwear. Stars like Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie also popularized the aesthetic, wearing graphic tees and tracksuits on the street and on-screen in their show The Simple Life.
What Are Some McBling Brands?
Labels like Baby Phat, Von Dutch, Juicy Couture, Playboy, Victoria’s Secret, and PINK rose in popularity during the McBling era. Capitalizing on the It factor of the 2000s, these brands embraced the modern take on confidence defined by the 2000s boss, unafraid to draw attention to themselves while indulging in a healthy dose of self-obsession.
Phrases like “phat” and “juicy” adorned jeans and sweatpants, shamelessly drawing attention to the backside. Paris Hilton owned the McBling graphic tee trend, sporting shirts that read “Queen of the Universe!” “Don’t be jealous” and “I heart shoes bags & boys” to name a few. Luxury items like the Louis Vuitton Multicolor handbag—which hit the runway at the brand’s Spring/Summer 2003 show—and the Balenciaga Motorcycle Bag were also popular.
ADVERTISEMENT
Image may contain Human Person Paris Hilton Sunglasses Accessories Accessory Clothing and Apparel
Paris Hilton in New York City on November 13, 2007. James Devaney
ADVERTISEMENT
How Did the McBling Aesthetic Come About?
Like many style aesthetics, McBling marked an era of new and emerging culture.
The shimmery promise of easy-to-use technology finally came into full fruition, with the BlackBerry becoming one of the first mobile phones marketed towards consumers with full keyboard functionality between 2002 and 2003; the iPod, released in 2001, broke records with its ability to hold 1,000 songs. Myspace was released in 2003 and became the first social media network. Users posted about their personal lives and discussed everything from music to pop culture.
The era was also the beginning of celebrity culture as we know it. Digital photography and the desire to access the biggest names in Hollywood birthed celebrity magazines and paparazzi craze. Hit tv-show MTV Cribs offered insight into celebrity life.
McBling reflected the shining early stages of the digital revolution and the interconnected world we live in now. Mobile phones became more popular, texting became easier, and with celebrities becoming more and more accessible with the rise of entertainment-focused journalism, the possibility of an interconnected world soared to new heights. McBling was all about mixing glamor with ease, drawing attention with color and shine.
How to Wear McBling
With the rise of thrifting, many shoppers have found vintage stores stacked with the staple McBling pieces. Even celebs like Bella Hadid and Devon Lee Carlson spurring McBling back into revival.
Search for matching tracksuits, sparkly accessories, and shimmery stand-out pieces. If you’re looking to shop McBling brands now, many of them are making a comeback, like Baby Phat and Juicy Couture. Culled from Vogue.
