Is Blake Lively in her Y2K era? Fashion expert reveals how the Met Gala VIP has swapped out Old Hollywood glamour for Gen Z approved 2000s looks 'for relevancy' - from Christina Aguilera-inspired leather chaps to a vintage Britney Spears dress

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Blake Lively became a style icon in 2007 when she hit our screens as Serena van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl - and has continued to wow with her looks on the red carpet since.

So revered is her fashion, that the actress has even become one of the expected winners of the Met Gala with her old Hollywood aesthetics and silhouettes always ready to wow.

However, the star has recently been ditching her 1950s-esque glamour behind to tap into kitschy 2000s looks marked by playful wardrobe picks include hot pink minidresses and leather chaps a la Christina Aguilera. 

Speaking to FEMAIL, stylist Rochelle White suggested that Blake, 36, could be 'tapping into the Y2K look' beloved by Gen Z after being inspired by stars like Sabrina Carpenter and Gigi Hadid.

'There is a real love at the minute for Y2K fashion, shows and trends,' the expert said.

However, the star has recently been ditching her 1950s-esque glamour behind to tap into kitschy 2000s looks. Pictured wearing a dress once worn by Britney Spears in 2002

'I think she can see that and is so tapping into that for relevancy. I think it could also be playing a part of keeping in the minds of younger audiences who might not know or remember her from her previous shows like Gossip Girl or movies.'

Rochelle remarked on Blake's recent eye-catching homage to 2000s pop icon Britney Spears.

The actress wore the same cleavage-baring worn by the singer at a 2002 Versace show in Milan to the premiere of her latest movie, It Ends With Us.

'It was trending on TikTok with comparisons,' Rochelle said. 'And I feel that was a good bit of PR for her.

'I think she can see the success that singer/ actress Sabrina Carpenter is having with some throwback fashion and that could have inspired her, as it was her era.'

Elsewhere stylist Lisa Talbot also thinks that Blake's style evolution is simply her having fun with fashion.

'I personally think that Blake is now very confident in the styles and shapes that she likes to wear, rather than wearing what she felt she should be wearing,' she expressed. 

'Wearing what you feel is true to you is empowering and sends a message to her fans that you can have an individual style and include the trends that keep your look modern.

Earlier this month, Blake rocked some leather chaps as she walked around New York City, in a nod to Y2K fashion

Elsewhere stylist Lisa Talbot also thinks that Blake's style evolution is simply her having fun with fashion

And it would seem Blake has leaned into the aeshetic too, having recently been spotted in distressed jeans, mini dresses and glitzy see-through tops 

Y2K fashion has taken over TikTok style videos with everything from butterfly clips to low waist trousers making a comeback. Blake pictured in a hot pink mini dress earlier this month 

Blake has been more playful with her fashion picks in recent months. Pictured in a chic all-denim ensemble in June

Blake has traditionally opted for more Old Hollywood glamour (pictured in 2014 with husband Ryan Reynolds)

'She's certainly adapted her style from Old Hollywood Glamour which many actresses wore to that of a style that is now uniquely hers.'

Y2K fashion has taken over TikTok style videos with everything from butterfly clips to low waist trousers making a comeback.

And young pop stars including Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo and Tate McRae have been backing it with rocking crop tops, shifted skirts and oversized sweaters. 

And it would seem Blake has leaned into the aeshetic too, having recently been spotted in distressed jeans, mini dresses and glitzy see-through tops.

Her style transformation comes amid the star's launching a haircare brand, and featuring as the lead in the highly anticipated It Ends With Us.

Blake has said that her new movie is a story of 'joy, pain, possibility and trauma' as she revealed what it means to her.

And young pop stars including Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo and Tate McRae have been backing it with rocking crop tops, shifted skirts and oversized sweaters

Sabrina Carpenter pictured backstage at Capital's Summertime Ball in a very Y2K-inspired ensemble

Olivia Rodrigo pictured sporting a Y2K style outfit while performing at her world tour earlier this year 

Tate McRae has leaned into 2000s pop star aesthetics as she has carved out a name for herself in the music scene

The Gossip Girl actress plays florist Lily Bloom in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel by the same name. 

She is currently on a press tour for the movie ahead of its release and spoke to Christine Lampard on Friday's episode of Lorraine! about how she interprets the story.

'I never really looked at it as a story about darkness or hope necessarily,' Blake said.

'I look at it as a women's story and in life we have joy and we have pain and we have levity and we have trauma and we have sadness and possibility and future, past and present. I think because of that, the story resonates with so many people.' 

Blake also spoke abut her relationship with co-star Isabella Ferrer - who joined her on the talk show. 

The actresses both play Lily in the film, with Blake portraying her in her older years and Isabella her younger. 

Of working together to achieve one character, Isabella said: 'We met when we did the first camera test and we had a couple conversations. Honestly it wasn't much, but I think from the get-go we just had such a seamlessness about conversating and the ideas that we had about Lily were so concrete and so similar that it didn't take much to get to where we are now.

Many of the Y2K looks popular today are inspired by pop stars from the 2000s, including Christina Aguilera

Low-wait ensembles, crop tops and shimmery eye make-up were all staples of music icons like Britney

'We also just got along and were able to just so quickly realise we could trust both of our processes. You [Blake] gave me so much agency with this role and made it so clear to me from the get-go that this is mine just as much as it is yours.' 

It Ends With Us centres on Lily, a flower shop owner who finds herself in the middle of a complicated love triangle between hunky neurosurgeon Ryle - Justin Baldoni, who also directs - and her high school sweetheart, Atlas, played with hangdog cuteness by Brandon Sklenar. 

But when Ryle's violent outburst leads her to fear he may be an abusive partner, she turns to Atlas for help after they reconnect when she runs into him at a restaurant he works at.

The film is based on the best-selling romance novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover, which was a hit with readers after it was published in 2016.

After being pushed back multiple times, the film's release date was set for August 9 of this year.