Carbon Costume

It’s the year 2000. In Hulu’s cringe comedy Pen15, Anna Kone and Maya Ishii-Peters are two best friends navigating the trials of seventh grade at the turn of the 21st century. At the core of the show’s hilarity is the fact that actresses Anna Konkle and Maya Erskine are real-life best friends in their 30s, portraying fictionalized versions of their former selves while surrounded by a cast of actual 13-year-olds. Anna (or ‘Na!!!!’ according to Maya) is a lanky tween with a heart of gold and a mouth of metal. Like most middle schoolers, she is swayed easily by her peers. In the iconic garage scene of S1 E2, Anna dresses to impress in true Y2K fashion with choker necklace, teeny tiny purse, low-rise camo, and a generous display of midriff.

It’s the year 2000. In Hulu’s cringe comedy Pen15, Maya Ishii-Peters and Anna Kone are two best friends navigating the trials of seventh grade at the turn of the 21st century. At the core of the show’s hilarity are 30-year-old actresses Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle portraying fictionalized versions of their former selves while surrounded by a cast of actual 13-year-olds. Like most teens, Maya Ishii-Peters lacks self-awareness; but that’s what makes her perfectly endearing and oddly amusing. In the iconic garage scene of S1 E2, Maya dresses to impress in true Y2K fashion with layered choker necklaces, an embroidered tank, low-rise khakis, and a large plaid shirt (which most likely came from dad’s closet).