Are millennials finding it hard to keep up with Gen-Z’s Euphoria-like style?

As dressing up witnesses a radical change among under-25-year-olds, we look at whether their older counterparts are struggling to keep up with this revised sartorial aesthetic

If you were to compare the style preferences of Zoomers (or Gen-Z) and millennials, it wouldn’t take a fashion expert to identify the differences. They are conspicuous for everyone to see, whether you’re sipping coffee at a neighbourhood café or scrolling through your Instagram feed. These young ’uns (born between 1997-2012) are not just thinking and behaving differently but dressing differently too; more audacious and provocative than ever before.

Leather corsets, cut-outs and bodycon dresses are worn just as casually as baggy jeans and sneakers. The hemlines are shorter, the crop tops tinier and necklines deeper. Attribute it to the sartorial impact of television series Euphoria or the looks championed by the coterie of Gen-Z style icons like Bella Hadid, Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber and Olivia Rodrigo; or closer home, Ananya Panday, Shanaya Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor. Gen-Z’s brazen confidence—which almost seems like it’s collectively possessed—reflects in their wardrobe choices as well. And while millennial predecessor Julia Fox—spotted grocery-shopping in a bra-and-underwear set — may not have much trouble keeping up, the same everything-goes attitude is not as widespread among the rest of her generation (born between 1981-1996). Is it one the latter is now trying to cultivate? Or are they left confused, towing the line and struggling to keep up in the wake of this less-is-more aesthetic?

Gen-Z versus millennials: are they dressing differently?

According to designer Surmai Jain of streetwear-inspired unisex power-dressing label Polite Society, “Gen-Z have developed their own style, and don't want trends straight off the runway. They are willing to take more risks, and are more interesting in how they style their pieces. Millennials have the tendency of playing it safer in comparison.”

Shweta Kapur, of contemporary womenswear brand 431-88, agrees. “We grew up on a steady diet of Britney Spears during the Baby One More Time era (think low- waist baggy jeans and crop tops) but there was a certain innocence and nerdiness attached to how we dressed. Gen-Z—with so much access and connectivity on their fingertips—has grown up too fast,” she feels. “There is only a fine line between dressing for yourself and going to an extreme just to prove a point.”

Is Gen-Z changing how millennials dress?

On the one hand, while Gen-Z has inspired body positivity and confidence in the previous generations, has it also changed how their predecessors (want to) dress? “I think so. Not drastically, but even I see myself reaching out for pieces I probably wouldn’t three years back,” admits designer and style curator Amrita Thakur. Jain has noticed that there is a section of millennials more enthusiastic about these changing trends than others. “It’s not necessarily coming from a place of mirroring what a 21-year-old is wearing. But so much of pop culture and fashion content is dictated by Gen-Z today, that it was bound to seep in.” Thakur still feels there remains an element of ‘trying too hard’ among some of her generation. “In some cases, the adoption of a younger aesthetic comes without an understanding of how everything can be tweaked to suit your personal style. I’m all for baring it all, but not for following the herd,” she adds. Her pro tip? Take what feels like you and discard what doesn’t.

Kapur believes that millennials are at an age where they are financially and sartorially secure. “They are definitely comfortable with who they are.” In fact, she sees the real change in Gen X (born between 1965-1980) instead. “The age group is fitter than ever before, and want to dress sexier. They did not grow up with access to clothes high on sex appeal. So they want to be experimental and show more skin now,” reveals Kapur.

What is in the shopping carts of both generations?

Gen-Z uses fashion as a means to express their sexuality, the boundaries of which are not as binary as they were for previous generations. “They want their garments to be empowering,” says Jain. “They will pick up the sexiest piece on the rack without questions on how to style it. They’ll know exactly what they want to do with it.” Millennials, on the other hand, seem to have more boundaries. “They may not buy it because it’s too sexy. Or they will want some handholding on how and where to wear it,” she adds. So while corsets, bodysuits and snug everything may be Gen-Z’s go-to, their millennial counterparts are more likely to reach out for co-ord sets, silk shirts and investment pieces.

Kapur, whose label is all about sophisticated sexy, does attract a Gen-Z clientele, but they ask to take the ensembles a notch edgier. “The slits are higher and the necklines lower with them. They will want to wear our high-waist skirts lower on their waists to bare more midriff. Or will ask to make the blouse really tiny,” she notes. “There is no doubt that they are more confident at a younger age. We grew up being more conscious of what we wore.” It’s simply reflective of the mindset of this generation. As Thakur points out, “There’s a need to co-exist. There’s acceptance for people and their choices, and it trickles into how this generation is expressing themselves through their clothes.”

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