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The 00s fashion, eh? People get all misty-eyed about it now, swear it was some golden era. I was there. I saw it. Much of it, you ask me, was just plain awful. Straight up. We’re talking about a decade that birthed the low-rise jean, for crying out loud. Remember those? Where your hip bones were on full display, whether you wanted them to be or not. And the thongs peeking out over the top? Lord above. A stylistic choice, some called it. A public service announcement, I called it. Usually, “Put it away.” Some trends just need to stay buried, six feet under. This “fashion from the 00s” thing, it’s a funny beast to look back on. You think you recall it, then you see pictures, and you just stare. Did we really go out like that? Yeah, we did.
The Velour Tracksuit Problem
Everyone wore them. Every single person. Or so it felt like. You had your full-on matching sets, usually some bright colour, like a highlighter exploded. Juicy, you know?
Juicy Couture
That company, they put that velour tracksuit on the map. Pink, baby blue, canary yellow, you name it. Emblazoned with “Juicy” on the backside, in rhinestones if you were feeling extra. And they were everywhere. Super comfy, I’ll give ‘em that. Like wearing your pyjamas all day. Which, thinking on it, was probably the appeal. A certain kind of glamour, but the kind that barely left the house. Out to the grocery store, maybe. Pick up the kids from school. You saw celebs in them too, traipsing through airports. Made it feel like it was proper high fashion. But was it, really? A question some still wrestle with. Velour tracksuits, are they peak comfort or peak cringe? I reckon a bit of both, depends on the day. But for a true snapshot of “fashion from the 00s,” you can’t look past them.
The accessories were something else. Tiny little handbags. Not big enough to hold a phone, certainly not a modern one. What were we carrying in there? A lip gloss and some loose change? Madness. Then the massive belts. Wide as a dinner plate, cinched over everything. Jeans, skirts, even over those questionable dresses. No practical use, just pure declaration. Big buckle, small bag. That was the mantra.
Denim Mania and Its Horrors
Denim was king. Always is, in some form. But in the 00s, denim took on a life of its own. Distressed denim, for sure. Holes and rips that cost more than a brand new pair. And remember the denim skirt? Usually mini, sometimes with a little frill. Paired with Ugg boots, naturally. Even in summer. I’m not sure what the thought process was there. Hot feet, that’s what.
Abercrombie & Fitch
The whole experience. That’s what they sold. Dark stores, loud music, that cologne smell that hit you like a brick wall walking in. And those models, standing outside. Good grief. Like a movie set. Every teenager wanted their stuff. Polo shirts with the moose logo, cargo shorts, those tiny little skirts. You saw it everywhere. People were practically uniforming themselves in it. The casual-cool vibe, you see. It was an identity, not just clothes. It screamed “I hang out at the mall and drink frappuccinos.” Nothing wrong with that, mind you, but it was a look that defined an era for a whole lot of young people. This “fashion from the 00s” thing, it really had its own specific smell, didn’t it? Literally, in their case. The prices were a bit steep for a teen, I recall. Kids saving up their paper route money, probably.
What about all the glitter? Everything had glitter. Eye shadow, body spray, even some of the clothes themselves. A fine dust that followed you everywhere. You’d find it on your furniture, in your car, weeks later. It clung to everything. A constant sparkle, whether you wanted it or not.
The Rise of the Hip-Hop Label
Music and fashion, always intertwined. In the 00s, hip-hop artists started their own lines, big time. It was a statement. You bought into the lifestyle. Baggy jeans, oversized t-shirts, big logos. That was the look.
Sean John
P. Diddy’s venture. He made a splash, no doubt. Everyone knew the name. The velour tracksuits again, different flavour. More streetwear, less gym-luxe. It was about being seen, about showing off a certain kind of wealth, or at least the aspiration to it. You saw the ads, the music videos, it was all connected. FUBU was big too. Rocawear. These weren’t just clothes; they were cultural markers. They told you who was who, what was what. You wore these brands, you were part of that world. It had its own swagger. My kid, I remember, wanted those oversized jerseys. Didn’t matter what size he was, it had to be three sizes too big. That was the style.
Did everyone really wear low-rise jeans? You ask that like it’s a theoretical question. Yes. Yes, they did. It was almost impossible to find anything else for a while there. High-waisted jeans were for your mum, or maybe your grandma. Low-rise was all about being current, being cool. Even if it meant you had to sit very carefully. Or stand. Mostly stand. You couldn’t bend over. A real testament to human endurance, if you think about it. The discomfort for the sake of looking… what? Trendy, I suppose.
The Trucker Hat Phenomenon
Ah, the trucker hat. Von Dutch, usually. Everywhere. On everyone. From pop stars to your neighbour.
Von Dutch
They just exploded. Those hats, they were simple, but they had that ‘it’ factor. Kind of a retro-cool, but then everyone wore them, so they stopped being cool pretty quick. The irony of fashion, right? Something becomes popular, then it’s out. Quick turnaround. It was a bizarre moment. Why a trucker hat? Couldn’t tell you. But it was a thing. A huge thing. For a short, bright, obnoxious moment.
What about the accessories? Well, aside from the tiny bags and big belts, there were arm warmers, worn with t-shirts. And those big, chunky necklaces, often with a name on them. And the layered shirts. Tank top over long-sleeve. Or two tank tops. More is more, that was the motto. And the hair straighteners. Pin-straight hair, usually with a side part. Or those little crimpers for texture. Oh, the texture.
Is “fashion from the 00s” coming back for good? Look, fashion always recycles. Always. What was old is new again. But it’s never exactly the same. It’s a remix. A few bits and bobs come back, sure. But the whole kit and caboodle? Unlikely. We learned some lessons, I hope. Like, the peril of the ultra-low-rise jean. That needs to stay in the history books. Some things are best left as a cautionary tale. Trends come and go, like the tide. You grab a few seashells, but you don’t build your house on the sand.
American Apparel
They were a different kind of beast. Simple, solid colours. Made in America, that was their thing. Ethical production, they said. Basics. But they had a look. Very clean, very casual. The tight-fitting tees, the disco pants. The leggings. They sort of set the tone for that indie-sleaze look that came a bit later in the decade. Not as flashy as some of the other brands, but influential. You saw their stuff on every college campus. It was the antidote to all the logos and rhinestones, for some. A bit more understated. Or, at least, it tried to be. They had their own distinct vibe, that’s for sure.
The Bling and The Bare Midriff
So much bling. Rhinestones on everything. Your phone, your jeans, your t-shirt. Even on your glasses. Like a magpie’s nest. And the bare midriff. Oh, the bare midriff. Crop tops everywhere, even in winter. Paired with those low-rise jeans, it was a real show. You had to be brave, or freezing. Probably both. It was all about showing skin, being a bit daring. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but it was certainly a defining silhouette.
Were there any good parts to 00s fashion? I suppose so. Some of the streetwear stuff, it laid groundwork for today. The mixing of high and low. Dressing down fancy stuff. That stuck. And some of the denim washes, they were alright. Not every single thing was a disaster. There were some genuinely nice dresses that came out of it, if you looked hard enough. The boho-chic thing, that was a little more palatable. Less… exposed.
Victoria’s Secret PINK
That was a whole phenomenon. Wearing branded underwear or loungewear as outerwear. Hoodies with “PINK” across the chest, track pants, those little boy shorts. It was for a younger demographic, but it bled into everything. Everyone had a PINK hoodie. It was a badge of honour, almost. A sign you were part of that club. It cemented the idea that comfortable clothes could be worn everywhere, not just at home. Which, let’s be honest, has stayed with us. For better or worse, people still wander around in what looks like their sleeping attire. That started somewhere, didn’t it? Much of “fashion from the 00s” was about that casual comfort, taken to the absolute limit.
The influence of Pop Stars
You couldn’t talk about 00s fashion without talking about the pop stars. Britney, Christina, J. Lo, Beyoncé. They were the trendsetters. Whatever they wore, everyone wanted. The music videos were like fashion editorials. They dictated what was cool, what was next. Short tops, distressed jeans, the whole look. They pushed the boundaries, for sure. Sometimes successfully, sometimes… less so. But they had power, a serious amount of it. Their influence was massive. You wanted to look like them. Simple as that.
What about the accessories? Didn’t we already go over that? Yeah, but it bears repeating. Those charm bracelets too. Dangling little bits of everything. Your initial, a dog, a shoe. All jangling around. And the big sunglasses. Oversized, usually with some kind of gem on the side. Even indoors. Very rockstar. Or just very annoying, depending on your view.
This “fashion from the 00s” was a wild ride. A lot of experimentation, some of it ill-advised, some of it just plain peculiar. But it certainly left its mark. You can see echoes of it everywhere today, in bits and pieces. Like a ghost of trends past. Not everything should haunt us, mind you. But some bits, you can live with. Not the low-rise jeans though. Never again.
