There is a lot more noise and less signal these days.

Circa 1980, we teen girls wore high-waisted wide legged dark wash jeans - SF Riding Gear and the like (or in my case, cheaper knock offs). They became narrower at the ankle just after that, and Levis 501's were always okay, but hip huggers from 1972? No. fucking. way.

Now, it seems that there's more flexibility in the jeans department - a greater variety in cuts and washes seems acceptable to Gen Z. I may be wrong, but they seem less hung up on a single gotta-have-it look.

WRT comments about how distinctive the early 2000's were - I just don't see it, except for the low-rise jeans and whale tail.