The Covid-19 Vaccine and the Future of Travel

IS Y2K FASHION HERE TO STAY?

Resurging 2000s Trends

Y2K nostalgia started brewing last year, but 2021 has already brought the 2000s here in full force. Perhaps it was sparked by reboots of our favorite early 2000s TV shows (Gossip Girl, anybody?), but now the fashion world has been fully infltrated by the Y2K trend. While it may seem like yesterday we were throwing out our low-rise jeans and Juicy tracksuits, Gen Z wants it all back. Scroll through the feeds of any infuencer on Instagram or TikTok, and you are sure to see them in one of the forgotten trends. Read on for some of the hottest Y2K trends dominating right now.

written by Melony Forcier | graphic by Emily Snisarenko | designed by Solana Chatfeld

PLAYFUL ACCESSORIES

Minimalist gold jewelry took over in 2019, but now the early 2000s costume-esque jewelry is all the rage. Chunky acrylic rings are current favorites for some of the biggest fashion icons, from Bella Hadid to Emma Chamberlain. The best part is that these rings are pretty inexpensive. Hop onto Etsy, and you will fnd hundreds of options—all around $10-15.

THE SHOULDER BAG

The crossbody dominated the handbag world in recent years, but everybody is pulling their shoulder bags out from the depths of their closets. The Dior saddle bag’s resurgence has fueled the shoulder bag craze, but now it seems like every brand is ditching the crossbody for shoulder bag designs.

BABY TEE’S

The crop top has been no stranger to the fashion community in recent years, but more specifcally, the baby tee is the current cropped must-have. Scour Depop, and you are sure to fnd old Juicy Couture or BEBE bedazzled teenie tee’s. Pair it with some low-rise jeans and butterfy clips, and suddenly you’ll fnd yourself bursting out every line to “Oops!… I Did It Again.”

MINISKIRTS

Perfect for the upcoming warmer months, miniskirts are a must-have. Popularized by every Y2K Icon (thank you, Paris Hilton), miniskirts are a foolproof way to spice up your look. For the ultimate nostalgic outft, sift through thrift stores for pleated miniskirts.

THE COVID-19 VACCINE AND THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL

Learning How to Live in the Aftermath

written by Amille Bottom | photographed by Chika Okoye | designed by Emily Snisarenko

From the dissipation of smog over cities in China to the crystal clear waters of Venice’s canals, the global halt of travel in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic has revived much of Earth’s environments. While the environmental benefts of travel stalls are a gift, the economic detriments of travel’s cessation are astronomical. From hundreds of thousands of lost jobs, a soaring unemployment rate, and millions of people confned to their homes, it’s safe to say that both travelers and those employed by the travel industry have been bitten by the travel bug.

As the Covid-19 vaccine rolls out across the world, experts and travelers have begun to speculate about the future of travel. The travel industry, forced to adapt, has made decisions in the light of the pandemic that will hopefully open doors for summer vacations.

“People are tired of being at home,” said Kendra Thornton, owner of Royal Travel and Tours, in an interview with NPR. “We hear that over and over when we speak to clients. They want something to look forward to.”

With the presence of the vaccine, the future of travel is looking more optimistic. “Most of the experts who watch the travel markets anticipate that business travel may commence as early as the summer, and leisure travel in the fall,” stated Karl Minges, chair of health administration and policy at the University of New Haven, in an interview with Conde Nast Traveler.

This sentiment is echoed by travelers across the nation; a report by the American Society of Travel Advisors showed that about 87% of Americans plan to travel in the summer months. If 100% of travelers are able to get vaccinated come summer, the return of the travel industry will be achieved quicker than expected.

The higher levels of vaccinations will make the rush of travel return more quickly, as herd immunity can be reached. Herd immunity, according to the Mayo Clinic, “occurs when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected—not just those who are immune.” This global immunity can be achieved in one of two ways: either from the overwhelming spread of the virus, leading to a greater amount of deaths and a decreased likelihood of re-infection, or through the widespread distribution of the vaccine.

“Based on past experiences with vaccines, once we reach higher levels of vaccinations—70 to 80%—the virus can no longer fnd enough hosts to create an outbreak,” said Dr. Thomas Kennyon, employee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in an interview with Travel + Leisure.

While the worldwide distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine is the key towards the reinvigoration of the travel industry, there are still strict measures that must take place to ensure the safety of global communities, as the vaccines currently available are not 100% effective—especially in regards to the new strains of the virus. “Both the vaccines suggest they have 95% effcacy against severe disease, but that doesn’t mean they have 95% effcacy against infection,” Kenyon said to Travel + Leisure.