Low-waist, embellished Miss Me jeans are back, and social media can't get enough of the nostalgic revival.
The once "IT girl" jeans, synonymous with Y2K fashion, sparked a viral conversation after content creator Marissa Gardner (@marissa.geeez), 28, shared her disbelief when her husband didn't recognize the trend. Her TikTok video garnered over 6 million views and 274,000 likes. "Is this trend really niched?" she captioned the post.
The denim jeans are characterized by their low-rise fit, boot-cut silhouette, and intricately embellished back pockets.
Gardner expressed her surprise to Newsweek: "I hadn't seen a pair since their reign over my teen years. I was shocked when my husband couldn't recall what these were by their name because of how big they were during our high school years. He's only two years older than me, but we grew up in different states, so I thought, hmm, maybe this was geographical?"
"But there was just no way, and my video popularity totally proved that. They were as big as Ugg boots, in my opinion, and everyone knows what those are—including men!"
The resurgence of Miss Me jeans aligns with the broader nostalgia for 1990s and 2000s fashion, according to stylist Sydney Bass (@sydeypagebass). "Miss Me jeans may be 'back,' but, from my POV as a certified stylist, just temporarily, like any other trend," she told Newsweek.
Bass attributes the comeback to the nostalgic growing interest in Y2K aesthetics on social media, including—think JNCO jeans, Hot Topic, BeBe, spaghetti straps and butterfly hair clips.
"These brands are being popularized across social media by younger creators who are finding and purchasing vintage items (or items by brands who were popular 20-25 years ago, i.e. the 90s and early 2000s)," she said.
She explained that the brand Miss Me jeans, established in 2001, was part of the embellished denim wave.
The pricier brand True Religion popularized bejeweled back pockets, but Miss Me provided a more affordable alternative, she explained.
She added: "Seeing these jeans come back is a fun wink at the past, but I view this as a micro-trend, especially with TikTok's short attention spans. If you love the look, go for it—but know it may not be a long-term wardrobe staple."
Gardner first realized Miss Me jeans were making a comeback after spotting a high-schooler wearing them in Arizona. "I saw her walk past me in them, and it quite literally gave me pause. I was like—no way! I think they're coming back largely due to the obsession with Y2K fashion trends and the low-rise jean era," she said.
A Gen Z real estate agent, Gardner grew up in Kodiak Island, Alaska, where the jeans were a hallmark of her high school years between 2010 and 2014. "That was an 'IT' girl item to have in your closet. At the time, my entire identity at school was tied to the effort I put into dressing up. I never wore sweats or leggings; I always had my makeup done and looked put together.
"In fact, when I catch up with friends from school, they always bring up how well-dressed I was and how I kept up with the latest trends—so I definitely owned a pair!"
The viral success of Gardner's video even caught the attention of the Miss Me brand, which gifted her several garments.
"Someone tell the men that their leather seats are in jeopardy," she joked on the video while stroking the embellished pockets.
While many social media users reminisced fondly about the jeans, not everyone welcomed their return.
"A lot of women in my comments were like, 'noooo, not these again,' because they were so low-rise! We've gotten used to the 80s and 90s high-waisted denim trend, which is more flattering for a wider range of body types," Gardner explained.
Others chimed in to share their regional memories of the jeans.
"Northern California. Miss Me jeans were THE IT GIRL jeans when I was in high school 2007-2011," said Jilly.
"Central Valley California and hell YES we wore Miss Me jeans," added Gabs.
"From Colorado and yes, everyone and their mothers had Miss Me jeans," said Mklynne.
"Girl, I'm in Washington and graduated in 2014—you KNOW we were wearing Miss Me jeans!" said HailyAnn.
"Maybe it's an age thing. I'm from Florida and graduated HS in 2006. I have NO clue what Miss Me jeans are," said Sam.
For Gardner, the trend's resurgence is both nostalgic and exciting. "My 15-year-old self is in so much shock that Miss Me jeans are back! With my video reaching 6 million people and hundreds of thousands of comments, I'm thrilled to be the one to report why we should all circle back to Miss Me jeans—they're going to be big again!"
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