EARLY 200S
When the 2000s kicked off, the fashion was profoundly influenced by
technology. Around the year 2000, there was a monochromatic futuristic
approach to fashion, with metallics, shiny blacks, heavy use of gray,
straps, and buckles becoming commonplace. This was called "Y2K
fashion". The apparel was made to be as dark, reflective, technological,
and as sexy as possible.
Popular outfits for women in the early 2000s included mesh or
handkerchief tops, box-pleated or leather skirts, shiny pants, and sparkly
shoes. For men, Y2K looks usually involved leather jackets, a statement
dress shirt, and chunky shoes.
On the other hand, casual clothing and leisurewear were the other big
trends of the early 2000s. Denim became popular for men and women,
going beyond jeans to shirts, jackets, and hats.
The casual style for women included crop tops, hoodies, low-rise flared
jeans, cargo pants, daisy dukes, jean skirts, off the shoulder tops, ribbed
sweaters, with platform sandals, Ugg boots, or sneakers. Common looks
for men included, distressed denim, cargo pants, tracksuits, rugby or
polo shirts, flip flops, oxford shoes, and sneakers.
If you wanted to be comfortable yet fashionable in the early 2000s, all you
had to do was throw on your favorite tracksuit. Everyone from Britney
Spears to Beyoncé and Eminem to Diddy were in on the tracksuit craze.
They were often brightly colored and emblazoned with rhinestone logos
and phrases.
It was also popular to mix track pants with dress clothing and designer
shoes to elevate the look.
MID 200S
As the decade went on, 2000s fashion began to take cues from 1960s
bohemian looks. Yoga pants, low-rise jeans, cowl-neck shirts, peasant
tops, capri pants, cropped jackets, and dresses over jeans were popular
outfit choices for women. These were often paired with accessories like
chunky belts, aviator sunglasses, jelly bracelets, ties worn around the
neck or as belts, ballet flats, and platform boots.
The 1960s revival looks were also popular with men. Outfit options
included light wash bootcut jeans, cargo shorts, classic rock t-shirts,
fitted cowboy shirts, henleys, polos with popped collars, and seersucker
suits.
The middle of the decade was also defined by the latest "it" items, like
Von Dutch trucker hats, Juicy Couture tracksuits, and Louis Vuitton
bags. Another example of some highly sought-after It items of the mid-
2000s included Kate Spade wallets. Popular mid 2000s trends for
women were embroidered low-rise jeans, yoga pants, cowl-neck
tops, tube tops, denim jackets, bell-sleeved shirts, jean shorts, crop tops,
whale tails and tracksuits.
Emo fashion trickled into the mainstream in the mid-2000s and took cues
from goth and punk styles. Outfits were often all or mostly black with skinny
jeans, band t-shirts, studded belts, and checkered Vans. No emo outfit was
complete without the right hairstyle, most common were choppy cuts with
long side-swept bangs dyed black, platinum blonde, or a bright color.
Late 2000s (2007–2009)
Many styles from the early and mid-2000s carried over to the latter part of
the decade, with a few exceptions. For women, crop tops were replaced
with camisoles and miniskirts gave way to babydoll, bubble skirt, and
sweater dresses. There was also a 1980s and 1990s revival that
reintroduced neon colors, animal prints, geometric shapes, light denim
jeggings, and ripped acid washed jeans that were worn with gladiator
sandals, ballet flats, and headbands. An oversized look started to gain
popularity, but it was subtler than the traditional ’80s fit.
Men’s late 2000s fashion was a mix of 1950s and 1980s throwbacks, with
letterman and black leather jackets, overcoats, slim cut jeans, Ed Hardy t-
shirts, flannel shirts, and V-neck sweaters. These were often paired with
dad hats, wayfarers or aviators, motorcycle boots, Converse, Vans, or
sneakers. The men’s power suit was also updated from the ’80s to have
more a slim tailored cut.
In the late 2000s, popular streetwear styles included distressed skinny
jeans, loose fitting tops, loose or fitted tracksuits, track pants, hoodies,
graphic t-shirts, vintage thrift shop tees, and Tommy Hilfiger and U.S. Polo
brands. Sneakers were an important part of the look, especially retro Nike
Air Jordan’s and Adidas Yeezys. Shoulder bags were also a popular
accessory for men.
Scene styles became popular at the end of the decade and were influenced
by indie, rave, and punk fashion. This look often included skinny black biker
jeans, bright t-shirts and hoodies, band shirts, tutus, and studded belts.
Like with emo styles, hair was a big part of the look. A popular scene
hairstyle was bright neon dyed hair teased and swept to the side and
accessorized with tiaras and bows.
