Iconic 2000s Fashion Trends That Were Totally Off The Chain
For better or for worse, 2000s fashion trends have made a major comeback in the past few years. Back in the day, we all wore some pretty cringe-worthy outfits (particularly those of us who hit puberty between the years 2000 and 2010). But in an era of low-rise jeans, Ugg boots, and bedazzled flare yoga pants, we barely stood a chance.
To reminisce on our favorite y2k outfits, we thought we'd highlight a few of the best fashion trends from the Noughties.
These 2000s fashion trends: mega.
The modern alternatives you can still wear today: totally off the chain.
Uggs with Literally Everything
Nicole Riche
If you didn't beg your mom for a pair of Uggs for Christmas, then you clearly didn't have your priorities straight as a preteen. Here are three rules of wearing Uggs as shown by Nicole Richie:
Uggs could—and should— be worn with mini skirts and cutoffs.
Despite making your feet sweat like none other, Uggs were perfectly acceptable summer footwear.
Clean Uggs were overrated. Dirty Uggs were a sign of your unwavering dedication to your favorite shoe choice.
Wear Today: Ugg x Telfar Shopping Bag
Low-Rise Jeans That Always Showed Your Butt Crack
Heidi Klum at the 2001 VMAs
Before Heidi Klum was everyone's favorite judge on Project Runway, she was killing it on the red carpet in the early 2000s. Like every other supermodel of the era, Heidi was no stranger to sporting an exposed torso. Clearly, Bella Hadid has been taking notes.
While we'll pass on her low-rise jeans, we'll definitely be copying this crop top and headscarf lewk this summer... and Googling Heidi's ab workout.
Wear Today: Vintage Levi’s jeans
Tube Tops (Preferably Bedazzled)
Fergie at the 2004 VMAs
Where do we even begin?? Fergie's 2004 VMAs look features a laundry list of questionable 00s trends, but the one we're really buggin over is this bedazzled tube top. In the 2000s, it was all about the bling bling.
Remember how often you wore strapless bras that nearly cut off your circulation and inevitably gave you back rolls? Yeah, us too. Despite the popularity of strapless bras, rarely did anyone wear them with tube tops. You either went braless and prayed you wouldn't have a nip slip or showed off the straps of your rhinestone Victoria Secret bra.
Hold up though. Can we just take a moment to appreciate that these strappy sandals are actually cute as hell?
Wear Today: Cropped tank
Dresses & Skirts Over Jeans
Rachel Bilson
Dresses over jeans? That's a no from me dawg. Rachel Bilson— aka Summer Roberts on the O.C.— giving us major Cali girl vibes with this 'fit? Worthy of a golden ticket from our girl Paula Abdul.
Before high-rise jeans became a thing, layering a dress over your denim was the only feasible way to wear low-rise jeans during your period. Though we'll fully admit that a handful of designers and street style stars can still pull this look off, this trend hasn't exactly aged well. Maybe it's for the best that it hasn't made a major comeback....yet.
Wear Today: Oversized graphic tee & jeans
Newsboy Caps
Christina Aguilera at the 2002 VMAs
Over-accessorizing was another unfortunate part of 00s style. And as evident in her 2002 VMA look, no one did over-accessorizing quite like Christina Aguilera did. One thing we know for sure: Xtina's newsboys caps were major. What we're still trying to figure out: how exactly she kept her ta tas in this top.
If you didn't own a newsboy cap or a trucker hat in the 2000s then you really missed out. The two were the perfect accessory for literally any outfit and were great at hiding unwashed hair.
Wear Today: Fisherman cap
Button-Up Vests
Rihanna
There's no denying it. Rihanna is, was, and always will be a style icon. But as this look is proof, even style icons make some regrettable outfit choices from time to time. As if the sequin button-up vest wasn't bad enough on its own, the cuffed capris, peep-toe platforms, and boho earrings really seal the deal.
Button-up vests were a favorite in the 2000s thanks to their versatility. The most popular way to wear them was layered over a tee, but it was equally as stylish when worn solo as a top. Why exactly this became a trend is still a bit of a mystery to us tbh.
Wear Today: Corset top
Unbuttoned Jeans
Mariah Carey
While we'd like to thank 90's fashion for giving us our favorite Mariah Carey looks, we'll admit that her 2000s style was arguable just as good. Exhibit A: This color-coordinated Canadian tuxedo. The styling choice of these pink sunglasses, tied graphic tee, and this shoe-sock combo are too good to go unappreciated.
We have two theories about why unbuttoned jeans became a thing in the 2000s:
No muffin tops, even when you were bloated
Comfy AF after eating a big meal
Wear Today: Buttoned jeans
Gauchos
Ashley Tisdale
Sharpay Evans had some of the most enviable early 2000s outfits, especially if you watched High School as often as we did. Off-screen, Ashley Tisdale had equally as good of style. Her miniskirt-over-gauchos pairing— though painful to look at today— was all the rage during her peak Disney years.
Stretchy black gauchos were every preteen's precursor to yoga pants. They were comfortable like yoga pants, but unflattering enough on your backside that your parents approved. They somehow always showed your underwear lines despite how saggy they were in the butt. That's whack.
Wear Today: Yoga pants
Halter Tops
Britney Spears
The lace-up halter top. The belt. The baggy low-rise jeans. Nobody did early 2000s style quite like Britney Spears did.
Halter tops were a pain in the neck—literally. The strap always dug into the back of your neck. If you did wear a bra, it always showed. If you stuck to the built-in bra, your boobs were guaranteed to look saggy AF.
While this neckline continues to come in and out of style, we're fine with them staying in the past.
Wear Today: Asymmetrical neckline
Babydoll Dresses
Kim Kardashian
We get a bit emo when we see early 2000s Kim Kardashian outfits like this. Her style has certainly come a long way since the early seasons of Keeping Up with The Kardashians. We can't blame her though on this one. In the 2000s, babydoll dresses were all the rage.
In the Noughties, babydoll dresses were always worn with your push-up-iest Victoria Secret bra. You know, the one that added two cup sizes (unfortunately mainly in armpit fat). These days, babydoll dresses should be reserved for two things: hiding a food baby and hiding a real baby.
