Fashion trends inspired by the early aughts have repeatedly returned in recent years, proving that the 2000s just can’t be shaken. As Millennials and Gen Z satisfy their craving for nostalgia, styles not seen for decades have bubbled up on social media and, in many cases, the catwalk.
Last year, Google‘s latest data further proved that the 2000s craze hasn’t cratered — in fact, searches for Y2K-related trends reached record highs in 2023.
Here, 15 noughties trends that are back in style.
Ballet flats
Alexa Chung in 2009.
FilmMagic
The emergence of balletcore naturally revived one of the Millennium’s favorite footwear trends. Brands like Sandy Liang and Miu Miu have released ballet flats in recent seasons, with mary jane styles spurring a dancer-off-duty craze.
Puka shell necklaces
Keira Knightley in 2005.
Getty Images
Puka shell necklaces have made a triumphant return thanks to the popularity of the “island girl” aesthetic, which took off on TikTok and Instagram.
Low-rise waistlines
Destiny’s Child in 2001.
WireImage
Low-rise pants and skirts had a chokehold on the 2000s, with celebrities favoring belly-baring bottoms. The controversial trend has been revived two decades later as labels including Stella McCartney, Versace and Diesel sent low-rise designs down the runway for the spring 2023 season.
Uggs
Sienna Miller in 2005.
WireImage
Uggs took the 2000s by storm, with stars pairing the comfy shearling slippers with everything from velour tracksuits to bedazzled microminis. Calf-length Ugg boots were the most popular style of the decade, but these days, shorter styles are in. Ugg minis and the brand’s Tazz slippers are current bestsellers.
Leg warmers
Geri Halliwell in 2001.
Getty Images
The balletcore fad has also spawned a resurgence in leg warmers. The knit stockings that first took off in the ’80s briefly came back in the 2000s before returning once again in the 2020s.
Trucker hats
Lindsay Lohan in 2003.
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Trucker hats were the celebrity set’s go-to chapeau in the early 2000s, with Von Dutch and Ed Hardy thriving on mesh-backed caps featuring patches and edgy graphics.
Nameplate necklaces
Amber Rose in 2009.
FilmMagic
Thanks in part to Carrie Bradshaw of HBO’s “Sex and the City”, nameplate necklaces had a major moment in the new Millennium. Last year, they were among the top trending Y2K accessories on Google.
Bell-bottoms
Jessica Alba in 2004.
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Bell-bottoms first became trendy in the 1970s, but they were brought back in the 2000s. Today, brands including Gucci and Veronica Beard have gotten in on the retro-inspired fad.
Cargo pants
Ciara in 2006.
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Cargo pants became a style staple in the 2000s. As it turns out, baggy trousers featuring plenty of pockets were also a major runway trend during the spring 2023 season, with LaQuan Smith, Isabel Marant and Givenchy reviving the cargo craze.
Denim skirts
Paris Hilton in 2004.
WireImage
Denim skirts of all lengths were popular in the 2000s, with stars favoring mini, midi and maxi styles. In 2023, the ever-popular indigo textile appeared on the runways of Bottega Veneta, Blumarine and Givenchy, while Courrèges and Alberta Ferretti channeled the 2000s by debuting microminis on the catwalk.
Platform flip flops
Hilary Duff in 2002.
WireImage
Flip-flops were taken to new heights in the ’90s, with platform sandals becoming a staple piece by the early 2000s. Today, labels including Coperni, Gia Borghini and Loewe have released their own versions of platform flip-flops, while flat variations of the casual beach sandal populated the runways of Miu Miu and Chanel during the spring 2024 season.
Rimless frames
Eve in 2003.
WireImage
Rimless sunglasses were popular among star singers like Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears and Eve in the early aughts. These sleek shades have now made a comeback thanks to brands like Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Gentle Monster, who recently debuted similar styles.
Butterflies
Mariah Carey in 2000.
Getty Images
Mariah Carey’s iconic Emanuel Ungaro butterfly top has spawned knock-offs for decades. Today, the fashion legacy of the colorful insect lives on, with Versace and Blumarine releasing recent collections featuring butterfly motifs.
Skirts and dresses over pants
Britney Spears in 2002.
WireImage
Wearing skirts or dresses over pants was particularly en vogue in the new millennium. While the controversial fad was eventually labeled a fashion faux pas, it’s now back in style as designers like Peter Do, Chopova Lowena and Connor Ives make the case for layered bottoms.
Capris
Rihanna in 2005.
Getty Images
As shorter hemlines became fashionable in the noughties, so too did capris. Cropped pants of varied fabrics and patterns are stylish once more in 2024, with Jacquemus, Sandy Liang and 3.1 Phillip Lim, to name a few, setting the updated trend.
