Continuing her campaign to restore model-off-duty style to its former glory, Kaia Gerber proves once again that quintessential 2000s fashion still has a place in 2024.
Spotted in a casual ensemble while out and about in Los Angeles (see here), Gerber’s look epitomised a golden age of supermodels when grungey minimalism ruled, and everyone wanted one bag: the Balenciaga City bag.
Starting with low-rise trousers—a controversial trend we’ve reluctantly welcomed back—the model opted for a head-to-toe Y2k nostalgia hit with a navy V-neck cropped knit and black ballet flats, which have also enjoyed a glorious return to the fashion zeitgeist. Most notable was the modern re-edition of the iconic Balenciaga City Bag hanging from the crook of her arm.
Once revered as the ‘It’ accessory of the decade, the bag’s soft leather, bold hardware, and slouchy structure made it a ubiquitous staple of the noughties. Celebrities like Nicole Richie, the Olsen twins, and Kate Moss were often photographed toting it in many colourways, even.
First designed under the creative direction of Nicolas Ghesquière in 2001—the same year Gerber was born, we might add—the brand re-launched the silhouette this year after demand for its vintage iterations began booming amid the Indie Sleeze revival.
During this time, models became the ultimate sartorial icons, with snaps of them effortlessly flitting between runway shows in distressed denim, oversized jackets and weathered accessories flooding our Tumblr feeds. Fashion has become a little more polished since then, with ‘Clean Girl’ this and ‘Old Money’ that, but the return of these trends signals a deep desire for the unvarnished glamour that characterised the 2000s.
And though some trends might be better left in the past (we’re still on the fence with skinny jeans), Gerber serves as an excellent arbiter of era-bridging style, reminding us of fashion’s cyclical nature and the enduring allure of pieces that exude a sense of lived-in charm.
Shop the Balenciaga City bag below.
