FASHION
Charlotte Russe: The Mother of 2024 Microtrends
A candid breakdown of viral vintage items by the experts— featuring an interview with Dylana Baez
By: Rezi Ubogu Edited by: Mams Jagha
Charlotte is the embodiment of what everyone aspires to be. Picture her: the effortlessly stylish “cool girl” sitting next to you in class. But here’s the twist—she’s not real. It’s time to put aside the fast-fashion dupes from Shein, DollsKill, and BooHoo, and let the original icon take center stage.
To everyone’s surprise, a brand that declared bankruptcy five years ago is now trending in today’s fashion scene. Charlotte Russe, owned by YM Inc., has successfully captured the attention of the “2024 It Girl.” With pieces like the viral cheetah micro shorts and eye-catching backless beaded halter tops, Charlotte Russe is bringing back the iconic styles of the 2000s—especially among students at Syracuse University. Yet, the allure of these vintage items is shadowed by two significant issues: the price hike for early 2000s pieces, making them less accessible to eager fans, and these vintage items becoming unappreciated microtrends, as fast fashion brands replicate them to supply the masses.
As the owner of Releigh Freya, a vintage store specializing in 90s and 2000s fashion, I find myself wearing vintage Charlotte Russe on the regular. Vintage selling is a competitive world, often driven by high turnaround and profit margins making Charlotte Russe a trendy target. And let’s be honest—if I could score a $300+ profit on a pair of shorts from my childhood, I’d do so in a heartbeat. Just recently, I snagged two of the coveted backless halter tops, one of which became an instant sensation after being spotted on Bella Hadid. That single top sold for $120 at a campus clothing sale, and the buyer was thrilled to have a piece that echoed Bella’s celebrity style.
As someone who keeps a close eye on fashion trends, I know that anything associated with Charlotte Russe has the potential to fly off the shelves. My audience? Everyone craving that retro look reminiscent of Bella Hadid in 2024 and Paris Hilton in 2006. But the sad reality is that the price of being an “It Girl” keeps escalating, as vintage Charlotte Russe items from 20 to 25 years ago become microtrends, often exceeding what the market is willing to pay.
To explore this topic further, I spoke with fellow vintage fashion expert I’ve known for some time, Dylana Baez, the “Original 2000s It Girl” and founder of Vintage Hotties, a well-known vintage store known for its vibrant online and in person presence. Dylana and I talked about her vintage selling mindset, the trend of wearing 2000s fashion, the challenges of price gouging in the resale market, and, of course, our shared love for vintage Charlotte Russe.
Q: To get us started, tell me a little bit about your best thrift find of all time:
A: “My staple all-time favorite thrift finds are the iconic sheer beaded halter tops!!! They’re just so form flattering and you can style them in many different ways! My favorite way to style them is the iconic 2000s clubwear way. Low-rise jeans and a hot chunky heel and you’re all set!”
Q: What do you love most about these unique tops?
A: "I love that you can find different variations of the beaded halter tops, there are so many colors and different designs. They were made so perfect with the sequins & beaded detailing.”
Q: Do you think it’s wrong that people are selling 2000s beaded halter tops for $100+?
A: “For some colors or designs like baby pink or the ones with butterflies/flowers, I feel like that’s okay since those are rare to come by but on black ones, it’s definitely a reach because those are the most seen! I price mine $60-90 depending on condition & color.”
After a quick chat about those drool-worthy halter tops—of which Dylana has a collection of five—we dove into the phenomenon that is Charlotte Russe. Specifically, we couldn't ignore the 2010s Charlotte Russe Leopard Sequin Micro Shorts that took the summer by storm (and in typical microtrend fashion, haven’t talked about or worn since). Just look at the numbers: over 5.3 million Tiktok posts referencing “Charlotte Russe Leopard Print Sequin Shorts,” including one that highlights their skyrocketing resale prices. This is a testament to how these eye-catching pieces are making waves in the fashion world once again while basking in their month of fame.
Q: Why do you think vintage Charlotte Russe is so iconic?
A: “It was such a worn brand back in the day and now it’s just simply cheap SHEIN fast fashion, so like nostalgia, we’re all obsessed with it, it brings us back.”
Q: How do you feel about the price point of 2010s Charlotte Russe leopard micro shorts?
A: “If there’s someone willing to pay that much, go for it but like most things fast fashion has to come and dupe them so I feel the value has gone down since they’re being seen as a microtrend. If there were only a few people out there styling them and they were super sought after I for sure think the high price is expected, they’re hot!”
Q: How do you feel about vintage sellers that price gouge when it comes to vintage Charlotte Russe pieces, specifically beaded halter tops and micro mini shorts?
A: “I feel like it’s a valid opinion. I personally am not a huge fan of resellers who sell modern things– for example, the modern juicy couture bags. I feel like greed has a foot in the door in many instances. Some sellers on Depop also aren’t super educated on what exactly they’re selling and just price based on if an item is trendy. I’m also not a fan of price gouging on kids' clothing. So I think there are many new sellers on the app ruining the reputation of the other sellers and I can totally see how it can seem like we’re all just scamming but at the end of the day, there is so much more work that goes behind each item listed!”
Charlotte Russe has transformed from a mall staple to a vintage sensation, especially among today’s fashion-forward crowd. The nostalgia for early 2000s styles is something we all want to create, especially in our going-out outfits and day-to-day looks.
As expected, Dylana’s take on the vintage market is spot on. While demand can push prices up, sellers need to balance that with fairness and respect for the brand's history. The conversation around price gouging highlights a growing need for education and transparency in the resale space. We as students should not have to break the bank for a beaded top or micro shorts!
The vintage mall brand resurgence seen in the rise of Charlotte Russe is about more than just fashion, it’s about wearing what makes you feel hot and authentically you. After all, hotties wear vintage, regardless of how much is spent.
: Fash10nBeautySU!
