The Promised, Pastel Future: Millennial Optimism, by Riley Loftus
It’s currently being said online that Gen Z is now the age that Millennials were during the “Millennial Optimism” era. They were between 14-29 in 2010, and now Gen Z shares that same range in 2026. Subsequently, the aesthetic and trend has garnered popularity on TikTok. More and more people are clamoring to share either their own photos from the time, or shout about h
ow desperately we need the era to come back. Collages of popular trends are popping up and users are attempting to recreate the look of social media from the era. The coveted “Unicorn Frapaccino” also made a limited time comeback in August of this year. There is a demand for a 2016 comeback.
Millennial optimism is characterized by twee/hipster fashion, indie-pop, and increasing social media use. It was alright to be cringy or weird – the quirkier the better. Compared to now, being goofy online was embraced, rather than shunned. In fact, it was entirely the goal. Tattoo that mustache on your finger, wear that wide brimmed hat, post on your Tumblr feed twenty times a day, be as carefree as possible. Local coffeeshops thrived and galaxy print wasn't seen as gauche. Personally, the closest I ever got to achieving this aesthetic during its peak, was by shopping at Justice for a sequin owl print top. For those who don’t know, Justice was a store for tween girls in the 2010s. Let me tell you, Justice had all the heat. Unfortunately, Justice shut their doors by 2021, a tragic day in American history.
It’s no wonder that the resurgence of millennial optimism is occurring during a period of fear and instability in the USA. Millennial optimism arose during the Obama administration. Barack Obama’s presidency brought hope and positivity to the public. With the affordable healthcare and promotion of embracing diversity, it makes sense for people to now look back with nostalgia. At a UN general assembly in 2014, President Obama stated that “we choose hope over fear. We see the future…as something we can shape for the better through concerted and collective effort.” By comparison, President Donald Trump led his address to the UN General Assembly by saying that “America is Back.” Americans believe otherwise, with optimism for the future reaching the lowest it’s been in the past 20 years. Back then, the future looked bright. Now, each new day is charged with an undercurrent of anxiety and fear.
Of course, the era has been romanticized. It can be easy to look back on the past with rose-colored glasses, especially when every photo from the time had a hazy and pastel overlay. On the heels of the 2008 financial crisis and Iraq war, this era wasn’t without its hardships. However, many millennials today believe that millennial optimism was a real thing. At least, if they were young, white, and well-off enough to buy the unicorn frappuccino from Starbucks back in its heyday. Not every person was in the position to wear a “keep calm, and carry on” shirt, and it can be easy to forget that. The entire millennial generation was not celebratory and worry-free during the 2010s, the fallout from The Great Recession had severe effects on everyone. Additionally, Obama’s presidency did not banish racism, in fact the country was still largely divided and full of racist controversies. Minorities during this time were in no way secure enough to reap the benefits of millennial optimism.
Despite this, many members of Gen Z now yearn to achieve peak millennial optimism. Users on Tiktok lament the future they were promised and are leaning toward the 2010s once more. Certain elements of the time are beginning to get muddled together, but the current vibe of the trend can be summed up in the song "Tongue Tied” by GROUPLOVE. The song has a nostalgic, overwhelming joyous tone to it, which very much encompasses what people are trying to get out of millennial optimism. They want to feel excited and carefree. The revival has its own unique context, and a slightly different “look,” but at its core there is still the desire to be hopeful. No matter the period, people want to believe that gloom isn't waiting for them over the horizon. I’m in no way aiming to filter my Instagram posts like it’s 2014 again, but I think that by living, laughing, and loving, a little positivity can go a long way in surviving a world that feels scary. Go ahead and be as cringe as you can, it just might free us yet.
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