10 Celebrities Who’ve Mastered the Art of the Early Aughts Outfit
Dressing like it’s the year 2000 is a dangerous game to play—you either end up looking chic and cool or like a hasbeen, stuck in the y2k. There have been quite a few celebrities who’ve relived early aughts style and ended up in the latter category. (Think: Naomi Campbell on the Fashion For Relief red carpet in 2019 and Selena Gomez’s The Instyle Awards red carpet moment in 2015. Cue NSYNC’s year 2000 hit, and say “Bye, Bye, Bye” to those tragic looks.) Sometimes, however, celebrities totally nail a look and make us wish we hadn’t thrown away all our treasured middle school outfits. In these cases, it’s important to take note so we get the trend right and don’t regret bringing out our low-rise jeans and crop tops.
It’s crazy that when we watch “Mean Girls” today, the clothes actually look trendy. Remember a couple of years ago, seeing the mini skirts and cardigans and thinking the outfits were great for the movie, but so passé for real life? Oh, how times have changed. Now, we’re all scrounging around for the best cardigan crop top to sport with a matching skirt—much-beloved online boutiques Verge Girl and Princess Polly have many new items that fit in this category.
Kylie Jenner has worn frameless sunglasses and tube tops. Lizzo has worn tracksuits. Imaan Hammam has brought back denim on denim. And we all know what that means—if the stars are trying it out, then it’s only a matter of time before we start copping their looks. Some celebrities are old pros, mastering outfits from the early aughts and looking ready to walk onto the set of “Bring It On” while others are new to the trend. No matter when they started reintroducing these old styles into the current day, though, one thing is clear: The y2k is back and better than ever. Now, all we can do is whip out our favorite low-rise jeans and pray we’re better at styling them today than we were 15 years ago.
1. Bella Hadid
It’s only right to put Bella Hadid (@bellahadid) first on the list. This supermodel has been serving early 2000s looks since, well, the early 2000s. Hadid is a seasoned pro at bringing back the styles we all thought we were ready to let go—patchwork patterned pants, button hats, shirts that are a size too small—and successfully giving them a second life.
2. Zendaya
The ultimate cool girl Zendaya (@zendaya) is not a y2k outfit regular. However, when she does relive the early years, she absolutely kills it. She was seen sporting a very “The Devil Wears Prada” red leather, knee-high boots ’fit in 2019. And back in 2018, she brought back the crowd favorite low-rise jeans, cardigan, cropped shirt trifecta. In our opinion, Zendaya should relive some “Shake It Up” styles more often. OK, maybe not the plaid fedora, pink fringed skirt, and glittery leggings—but you get the gist.
3. Jasmine Tookes
Model Jasmine Tookes (@jastookes) really wowed her 4 million followers one day back in January when she brought out her low-rise leather pants, tie-back flowy crop top, and strappy sandal heels. While this was one of the only times Tookes dressed in early 2000s favorites, she looked so good we all went searching for replicas.
4. Lizzo
The queen of, well, everything, Lizzo (@lizzobeeating) totally won the tracksuit trend. This video of her in a Gucci tracksuit and matching glasses is one for the ages. Lizzo doesn’t usually bring back old styles, but when she does, she comes to stunt. It’s officially time to pull out our old logo-studded sets.
5. Hailey Baldwin Bieber
It’s only natural that Hailey Baldwin Bieber (@haileybieber) wife to a 2000s-era superstar Justin Bieber, would be bound to dip her toes into the trends of the early aughts at least once in a while. In February, the supermodel donned classic light blue jeans and a cropped red cardigan, bringing us right back to the height of “One Tree Hill” fashion. Even though the red heart headband was just a Valentine’s Day gimmick, it was honestly very on par with the era to add an odd accessory.
Prone to living out the early 2000s every so often, back in 2018, Baldwin Bieber pulled out a matching blue set with a thin strapped cropped shirt and patterned slides. This makes us wish we never threw away our early 2000s staple items.
6. Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa (@dualipa) is one of those overnight sensations that we’re all obsessing over. Not only do we love her music, but we love all of the y2k styles she’s constantly bringing back. Cropped cardigans, layered colored puka necklaces, sparkly purses, patterned bandanas—the list of Lipa’s clothes goes on, all the way back to the year 2000.
7. Rihanna
It’s practically common knowledge that anything Rihanna (@badgalriri) wears, we want to copy. Even if that means trying a style we swore we’d never bring back to life—a dress over a shirt over jeans—the icon of pop is very persuasive and makes anything look good.
In 2019 Rihanna found her early 2000s groove once again, rocking the early aughts often. We recommend rewatching “Legally Blonde” for some more inspiration, because according to Rihanna, pink leather pants and pink knitted crop tops with matching pink lipstick is a look of the present.
8. Imaan Hammam
Model and Instagram star Imaan Hammam (@imaanhammam) brought 2000s style to the beach back in March. Her stretchy, patterned mini dress with big gold rings and convenient cutouts feels akin to a Britney Spears concert—in the best way possible.
Speaking of the face of 2000s style—Britney Spears—Hammam’s denim cutout shirt earns her a spot next to Spears and Justin Timerlake in their iconic denim-on-denim red carpet moment. These early aughts outfit moments have us singing, “[Hammam] Baby One More Time”—bring back these looks.
9. Paloma Elsesser
Paloma Elsesser (@palomija) is not only a model of the moment but also a staunch supporter of the y2k. In 2019 Elsesser posted two fire ’fits reminiscent of early 2000s fashion. One look included the staple cuffed jeans, tube top, and slides, while the other brought back a favorite we thought we were ready to let go of—the flip flop. Maybe it’s because she’s gorgeous so everything she wears looks good, but Elsesser has us rethinking the once-popular shoe and makes us want to buy a pair ASAP.
10. Kylie Jenner
Visiting Kylie Jenner’s (@kyliejenner) Instagram page sometimes feels like taking a time machine back to the year 2000. Clearly an avid supporter of the early aughts, Jenner frequently ropes y2k classics into her wardrobe. Frameless sunglasses, anyone? If that’s not enough of a throwback moment for you, then try denim-on-denim, a butterfly choker, and a tube top to bring you back to the decade of odd but wonderful glam. OK Kylie, you’ve convinced us, the y2k is officially back in style and here to stay.
Are you also obsessing over the early 2000s trends? Show us your looks by tagging @theedgemag on Instagram!