The 2000's were a kaleidoscope of iconic cultural fashion moments. In the past few years, the decade has been publicly bashed for its cringe-worthy trends, some of which I won't debate here — low rise jeans are not the hill I'm willing to die on. Putting my judgement aside, I decided to dive back into the mindset of Y2K fashion.

Most of us were in elementary and middle school when 2000s fashion was at its peak; I don't look back fondly on my middle school days. I had just discovered how to straighten my hair and had the revolutionary idea of putting a skirt over jeans for my first school dance. But honestly speaking, the 2000s were probably when I took my boldest fashion risks. My style icons were Rihanna, Gwen Stefani, and any and all JLo movies. Though I, like most of us in our pretween days, didn't have access to the major fashion labels or pricey accessories that graced magazine covers, that didn't stop me. I made do, bedazzling my own jeans with a kit from Michael's and cutting up camp t-shirts into crop tops. I couldn't be JLo, but I could get clip-in extensions from Sally Beauty, and that was good enough for me.

It's this creative, risk-taking spirit that made 2000s fashion so special. Trends were made at the corner store as much as they were on the red carpet. So I'm embracing the return of the 2000's with open arms. Here are my top picks for underrated and nostalgic ways to hop on board.

Frosted Makeup

Adwoa wears Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in the shade Cheeky.

Britney Spears in 2000.

Tyra Banks in 2004.

Rhea wears Sephora Rouge Gel Lip Liner in Molasses and clear lip gloss.

While 2000s makeup can be a Pandora's box of do’s and don'ts, it’s easy to pay homage to classic red-carpet looks in 2020.

Try clear lip gloss with subtle shimmer, and use a nude lip liner to avoid washing out your natural lip color.
Using grey, blue, or purple tones, channel your inner Britney Spears with a cool-toned smokey eye and matching eyeliner.
Update the frosted eye look with eye gloss (try Milk Makeup) or bright pastel hues.
Eyeshadow primer is a must.

Luxe Textures

Cam’ron after the Baby Phat fashion show in 2002.

Adwoa wears an i.am.gia orange velour zip top with rhinestones.

This iconic photo of rapper Cam’ron was taken in 2002 after the Baby Phat fashion show, and exemplifies the luxurious textures and fabrics of the 2000s.

Recreate the look with faux fur, velour, satin, and rhinestones on bright colors like pink and ice blue.

Not ready to cash out on an all pink faux fur jacket? Look for smaller details like headbands or fur trim.

Branded Everything

Jaevion wears a thrifted FUBU jersey.

Rhea wears a Calvin Klein top and thrifted outerwear.

Aaliyah at the soundtrack signing for Romeo Must Die in 2000.

Adwoa wears a Juicy Couture velour jacket with glitter detail.

Arguably the golden age of pop, the music industry in the 2000s offered the perfect stage to showcase brands cosigned by celebrities. Hip hop culture especially promoted branded and monogrammed looks from designer houses as well as celebrity owned businesses like Baby Phat and Apple Bottoms. Names to look out for are Juicy Couture, Baby Phat, FUBU, Ed Hardy, and Von Dutch. Recreate the look with contrast stitch denim, oversized pieces, and monochrome athleisure.

Iced Out Accessories

Adwoa carries a Coach Jacquard Sutton purse.

Rachel McAdams as Regina George in Mean Girls (2004). Regina carries a Louis Vuitton Pochette Accessoires in the Murakami Cherry Blossom print.

One of my favorite purse silhouettes, the shoulder bag, was first made popular by Fendi’s iconic baguette bag in the late 90’s. Louis Vuitton riffed on their own pochette bags through colorful and insanely popular collaborations with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. However, you don’t have to stalk the RealReal to get on this trend. Wherever you like to shop for accessories, be it thrift or department store, you’re bound to find multiple examples of this cute and versatile purse.

Lastly, you can’t step out of the house without your favorite jewelry. More is more in the 2000s, so opt for rhinestone-saturated fashion jewelry and classic gold pieces like nameplate necklaces. Don’t be afraid to mix and match gold and silver.

Adwoa wears hoops from citi trends and wrap sunglasses from Walgreens.

Rhea shows off her personal jewelry collection.

Jaevion showcases his personal jewelry collection.

There’s tons of cringeworthy 2000s fashion moments, from the red carpet to middle school dances. I challenge you to embrace the good and the bad of the early aughts and find your favorite pieces that bring nostalgia and glam into your everyday wardrobe.

Take some inspiration from our lookbook!