The 50 Craziest, Most Cringe-Worthy Outfits Celebrities Wore In The Early 2000s
When it comes to the decades of fashion's past, it's easy to get inspired by the elegant silhouettes of the '50s, the platform shoes of the '70s, or even the distinct denim of the '90s. When it comes to the early 2000s, however, we're a little less inclined to bring back the major trends of the decade. From ultra low-rise jeans and belly chains to velour tracksuits, dresses over pants, and Uggs paired with denim mini skirts, the aughts were a time of truly questionable trends. Led by the stylish A-list of the time—Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and even NSYNC to Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan—the 2000s were unlike any other time in fashion. Take a look back at the "trendy" celebrity outfits of the fashion era you forgot existed.
Ultra low-rise patchwork jeans, a belly chain, a cropped top, and a denim newsboy hat—Christina Aguilera combined all the major trends of 2001 into one hard-to-forget look.
Tube tops and boho skirts were an unexpected combination that everyone including Cameron Diaz embraced.
Nobody could forget this iconic moment in fashion history. The It couple of the time went for full-on denim and blinged out accessories in a look that could only belong to the early 2000s.
There's a lot to unpack here but, metallic going out top, distressed low-rise jeans, and floor-length fur jacket all in one? Pink wasn't afraid to go for it (though it's unclear what "it" was).
NSYNC served up some truly interesting boyband looks on the red carpet as well. With bandanas, colorful fedoras, and a whole lot of bad denim, "eclectic" was one way to describe their style.
Gwen Stefani rocked boxers peeking out of low-rise jeans, trucker hats, and a nameplate belt all in one for a red carpet look all the cool girls wanted to copy.
Proving there was never such thing as too much pleather, Jessica Simpson really went for it in a head-to-toe red hot look.
Queens of coordinating outfits, Destiny's Child, embraced lace-up jeans, belly shirts, and rhinestone belts in looks that Beyoncé probably wouldn't be caught dead in today.
Pulling together some of the biggest micro trends of 2001, this Mya outfit is the definition of "doing the most."
A studded corset worn with white pants and a silver hip chain was the dream going out look in 2000, as proven by Denise Richards.
Though this look (thankfully) never went mainstream, Bj?rk's infamous swan dress at the 2001 Oscars became one of the most buzzed-about fashion moments of the decade.
When wearing anything but actual shirts as shirts was a thing, Xtina embraced the trend with a scarf "top" and an ultra-mini denim skirt. (Don't forget the signature newsboy cap.)
Let's not forget the shipwrecked look whose pioneers were Tara Reid and Paris Hilton. The It girls brought their ripped skirts and baby tops to countless red carpets.
J.Lo made the It item of the decade—a velour tracksuit—even more 2000s by rolling up the leg to show off her high heels and throwing on a newsboy cap.
At a Crossroads premiere, Britney embraced color coordination to the max in a matching pale pink hat, ruffled dress, and knee-high boots.
As Paris Hilton emerged on the scene, she brought with her the shipwrecked asymmetrical skirts, belly shirts, and an abundance of pink.
Fresh off her American Idol win, Kelly Clarkson frequented belted dresses over boot-cut jeans.
When graphic tees ruled all, Christina Milian decided to pair her "Queen of the Universe" t-shirt with a pink mini skirt, pink fishnets, a wrist sweatband, and pointed toe boots because why not?
The signature 2000s look: a colorful velour tracksuit with a camisole, and It bag.
We all couldn't get enough of ponchos in every color, pattern, and with fringed bottoms. Eve brought the look to the red carpet with a pair of denim capris and hobo bag, really cementing its status.
Boot-cut jeans, stylish flats, and camisole-inspired tops? Mary-Kate and Ashley doubled the trends in coordinating outfits.
Further embracing the shipwrecked skirt look, Paris Hilton hit the 2003 MTV Movie Awards showing off another major staple of the early aughts: the belly-button ring.
Denim skirt? Check. Platform flip flops? Check. Belly shirt? Check. Just in case you needed a reminder as to why we chose Kelly Clarkson as our American Idol.
Even if it wasn't cold, wearing a scarf with your look was essential. Ashlee Simpson went for it with her silky camisole top, cropped trousers, and pink velvet boots.
The resurgence of leg warmers hit around 2003 (as spotted on fashion icon Mischa Barton). Once reserved for workouts, the '80s essential came back as a "fashion accessory" worn with flats and paired with mini skirts.
In an outfit that many of us probably tried to recreate, Lindsay Lohan styled her faded boot-cut jeans with a corset top layered over a button-down. Bonus points for the cool, J.Lo-inspired shades.
As Uggs became the must-have footwear choice, it only made sense to pair the winter boot with ultra-short denim skirts à la Nicole Richie.
Bringing back the fedora, Britney stepped out in a ripped Page Six cropped top and mini skirt that let her diamond belly-button ring shine. And let's not forget the printed Patricia Field leggings that were necessary to wear underneath.
Booty shorts, rhinestone belts, and trucker hats, oh my.
Gwen Stefani became the unofficial poster-child for cropped pirate pants and fishnets.
Rachel Bilson went for some of the tamer trends of the decade in an asymmetrical skirt, spaghetti strap top, and knee-high boots.
Nicole Richie donned a hot pink scarf with a strapless tube dress, just in case a cool breeze came along, of course.
In a confusing combination, Jessica Simpson rocked a denim blazer with cropped pink army pants that showed off her brown leather boots.
Not even Beyoncé was safe from the look that was Ugg boots and mini skirts.
The decade's "punk" inspiration, Avril Lavigne and Kelly Osbourne, donned matching pin stripes to the 2003 VMA's. While Avril went for a corset top and neon pink shoelaces, Kelly opted for a "Young, Willing, And Eager," t-shirt.
Anne Hathaway took the boho dress over boot-cut jeans trend a step further with a jacket on top and pointed-toe pumps.
In the perfect 2004 outfit, Hilary Duff matched her baby blue graphic t-shirt with her baby blue Uggs and carried a chihuahua in a baby blue bag just for extra measure.
Before Taraji P. Henson became Cookie Lyon, she was on the red carpet wearing the boots—and bags—with the fur.
In a myriad of 2004's biggest trends, the most iconic duo of the decade combined t-shirts over long-sleeved shirts with puffer vests, Juicy Couture sweatpants, and Ugg boots.
Raven Symone took one of the biggest It bags of the early 2000s—Louis Vuitton's white rainbow monogram bag—and wore it on her shoes, headscarf, and bag because too much matching was never enough in 2004.
Mischa Barton helped make sparkly going-out dresses over jeans look like the ultimate cool girl combo.
Rihanna emerged on the scene keeping the exposed thong and low-rise jeans look alive in 2005.
Though this was a trend exclusively reserved for Lindsay Lohan, ankle monitors with bikinis did, in fact, become a thing in the years of A-list It girls gone bad.
Even trousers became low-rise in 2005, with Fergie adding a studded leather belt to hers for some extra "flair."
In which Ashley Tisdale wore an outfit that definitely didn't need a pair of boot-cut jeans worn underneath, but she wore them anyway.
The only way to properly cover up a dress in 2005 was with a tied-up cardigan sweater.
In 2005, Rihanna paired a printed going out top with pin-stripe pants and Converse for an on-trend look.
Embracing the Ed Hardy trend, Fergie stepped out in a graphic t-shirt with shorts and knee-high socks for an early Black Eyed Peas appearance.
Debuting a new best friend, Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian donned matching metallic Louis Vuitton bathing suits and oversized bags.
And as the early 2000s were coming to an end (circa 2006), Kim Kardashian hit the scene in her wide leather belts worn around the waist, white boots, and oversized handbags.
The 50 Craziest, Most Cringe-Worthy Outfits Celebrities Wore In The Early 2000s
When it comes to the decades of fashion's past, it's easy to get inspired by the elegant silhouettes of the '50s, the platform shoes of the '70s, or even the distinct denim of the '90s. When it comes to the early 2000s, however, we're a little less inclined to bring back the major trends of the decade. From ultra low-rise jeans and belly chains to velour tracksuits, dresses over pants, and Uggs paired with denim mini skirts, the aughts were a time of truly questionable trends. Led by the stylish A-list of the time—Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and even NSYNC to Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan—the 2000s were unlike any other time in fashion. Take a look back at the "trendy" celebrity outfits of the fashion era you forgot existed.
A look back at the fashion trends and celebrity outfits that ruled the early 2000s.
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