It’s circa 2005 and teenage girls everywhere are strolling through the mall. What do they see? Color (and lots of it.) From celebrities covering their eyelids in bright blue shadows to Juicy Couture’s infamous tracksuits, there was color everywhere in the early aughts. Almost every little girl begged for their bedroom walls to be a blinding shade of hot pink.
What happened to all the color?
In 2023, beige was all the rage, and it doesn’t look like the trend is going anywhere any time soon. So buckle up, and throw out any piece of fashion that even comes close to neon. There’s a beige breakout and it seems like everyone has been bitten by the bug.
This breakout could also be defined as minimalism, which is the opposite of everything the aughts stood for. For those who have been living under a large brightly colored 2000s rock, here are some examples of the beige changes that have taken our society by storm.
Minimalist Makeup
This is arguably the biggest change from the aughts to now. “Makeupless makeup” has been the biggest fad of the last few years, ditching the glittery colored eyeshadows seen in the previous decades. Now, celebrities like Hailey Bieber are marketing their everyday essentials or “natural enhancers.” This focuses on highlighting what features a person already has and elevating them for the perfect daytime glow.
A big feature has been tinted moisturizer instead of a thick foundation. The difference? Although marketed as a natural enhancer, the aughts maximalism could have provided a creative outlet through makeup that minimalist looks might not provide. Remember, you do you, honey! Whether maximalist or minimalist, you are the piece that shines!
Minimalist Branding
This goes hand in hand with minimalist makeup, telling consumers that less (although you seem to be spending the same amount) is more. The most obvious example of this is the Victoria’s Secret bags. The old bright pink stripes seen on the checkout bags have been replaced with the internet’s newest obsession, a sweet, clean pink.
Additional branding changes have been seen on magazine covers. Old headlines in bright and bold lettering have been swapped with new chic logos. Everything is clean, clean, clean! Simple is all the rage.
Beige Moms
Maybe TikTok presents some individuals with strange feeds, but beige moms seem to be showing up more and more. These women are known for presenting their children with beige or neutral-colored toys to create a calm environment for them to play. Arguably, the environment is more for the parent than their toddler, but this article is not incorporating science so maybe these mothers are on to something. These same mothers are usually the culprits of a beige home, incorporating as little color into their rooms as possible. Those hot pink walls would surely send these families into a spiral. Their little girls can choose from a nice variety of off-whites.
The Quiet Rich
The quiet rich love a beige moment. Their monochromatic looks are the pinnacle to the beige empire. In the aughts, our favorite rich people loved telling others how rich they were. Think of the aughts legend Paris Hilton. Her style consisted of color, sparkles and showing skin. Now, rich people are meticulously dressing “quiet.”
Clean, monochromatic neutral looks are a staple in the quiet rich’s closets. The slick back bun and clean gold jewelry show their wealth through their ability to look put together. These people could go through a tornado and their beige sweater and slick back bun would look as sharp as ever. Now that’s money, honey!
As we lay to rest the glitz and glamor of the aughts, it is important to appreciate the expressionism it gifted to those lucky enough to live through that crazy time. It’s been proven true, fashion only hibernates, so keep that hot pink paint close by – you never know when you might need it!
What are your thoughts on the beige breakout? Are you a fan of neutral colors? Let VALLEY know by messaging @VALLEYmag on X!
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