From fashion to technology, music to movies, the 2000s represents a distinct cultural moment that continues to influence trends today
The early 2000s culture has captured the imagination of both those who lived through the era and younger generations discovering it for the first time. Its appeal lies partly in its position at the cusp of the digital age, the last era when analogue and digital cultures truly coexisted before smartphones and social media became ubiquitous.
Read more: Are 2000s heartthrobs having a renaissance?
For Gen Z, the early 2000s represent a time when they were too young to experience fully but could access through media and fashion. This has created a romanticised view of the era, focusing on its optimistic pop culture and colourful aesthetics while acknowledging its occasional absurdity.
The fashion of the early 2000s was marked by bold choices that might make many cringe today. Celebrities like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears popularised velour tracksuits, while brands like Juicy Couture became synonymous with the era.
Denim underwent a dramatic transformation during this period. Low-rise jeans dropped to previously unthinkable levels, often paired with crop tops that created the infamous exposed midriff look. Head-to-toe denim outfits (“denim on denim”) gained prominence after Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears’ memorable 2001 American Music Awards appearance. Katy Perry and Riff Raff later gave the outfits a “remix” at the 2015 MTV VMA red carpet, which earned praise from the Princess of Pop, who tweeted:
@britneyspears @katyperry Not for nothing, but you two look amazing but the dress looked amazing tonight Katy pic.twitter.com/Azjt27oXpY
— Crazy For Katy Perry (@CrazyForKP) August 25, 2014
Accessories defined the era’s aesthetic. Butterfly clips and zigzag headbands managed to be both decorative and functional, badge lanyards and multiple rubber charity bracelets were worn as accessories, and toe rings were legitimate jewellery choices. Platform shoes and flip-flops became year-round footwear despite their impracticality.
See also: Recreate these chic Y2K hairstyles: Spiky Bun, Mermaid Curls, and more
Makeup trends embraced frost and shine. Lip gloss reached new levels of stickiness, often layered over heavily lined lips. Eyeshadow favoured metallics and frost finishes, while body glitter became an everyday accessory. And who can forget the ultra-thin eyebrows trend? It created a generation of over-plucked brows that would take years to recover.