How To Become a Noughties Fashion Icon
History, and fashion, has a tendency to repeat itself. Cycles and recycles are a common thing in fashion, and they tend to happen every fifteen years. If we count back fifteen years from today, it would be 2004, the year of either incredible or terrible fashion, depending on your stance.
At Beyond Retro, we hold the incredible opinion of noughties fashion. And, as it is written in the stars, the trends of the early 2000s are back. Low-rise jeans, belly-button piercings, ugg boots and bedazzled mobile phones … we can’t get enough!
Join us on a trip down memory lane, as we relive some of our favourite noughties fashion moments and teach you how to become your very own noughties fashion icon.
1. Tracksuits
Tracksuits were something of a holy grail in the early 2000s. The same notoriety we now hold for a Susanne Alexandra bag was once held for the Juicy Couture tracksuit. Dare we say, iconic?
Every it-girl, socialite and ex-disney star was photographed wearing Juicy Couture tracksuits in the noughties. Paris Hilton, B ritney Spears and Lindsay Lohan were all members of the Juicy bedazzled booty crew, being something of a Noughties streetwear du jour.
Outside of Juicy, the party girls were still prone to the trakkie. Usually an adidas three-stripe paired with a teeny tiny tank top and trainers. You can get this look yourself by snagging a vintage tracksuit, and embody the spirit of the party girls of yore.
2. Low-Rise Jeans
Low-slung denim was everywhere in the noughties. While we ushered in the high-waist trend of late with open arms, as it meant we no longer had to think of our underwear choices outside of ‘its comfortable and clean’, there’s something undeniably charming about low-rise jeans.
So care-free, so youthful, so fun! Normani, former member of Fifth Harmony, has released a new single called 'Motivation' - the video is chock full of incredible hip-hop choreography and low-rise jeans, reminiscent of the video vixens of the Noughties.
You can work this look with our favourite noughties import by pairing a pair of low-rise jeans with a baby-tee and baby hairs.
3. Tiny Handbags
Handbags had the flexibility to be smaller in the noughties. We relied on our mobile phones less, and as demonstrated by Paris Hilton no many, many occasions - the flip phone could be clipped onto the waistline of your Juicy Couture tracksuit!
This meant that bags in the noughties were tiny because, well, there was nothing to carry in them except for lip gloss! You can take inspiration from this trend with our great selection of vintage bags, available in store and online. For a modern twist, try our micro-beaded pouch, big enough for your phone this time round!
4. Silver Chain mail
We are aware that we have used Paris Hilton as an example three times in a row now, but Paris Hilton was that girl in the early 2000s. Basically every trend, she started, and silver chain-mail was no exception!
Worn famously at her 21st birthday party, accessories with a cloud of smoke and a posse of friends, silver chain-mail was perhaps one of the more glamorous of the noughties. The era leaned towards casual, but with chain-mail they made an exception.
To save you from getting bored and looking at another picture of Paris Hilton, however, we instead direct your gaze to J-Lo who rocked the trend. Re-create this look with our very own chain-mail halternecks.
5. Bucket Hats
There was certainly a vibe for mixing the high with the low in the noughties, and that’s where the bucket hat came in. Now, the bucket hat is associated with Oasis wanna be’s and strangers who ask you for a spare cigarette in the park, but back then they were the peak of luxe.
They were often adorned with designer monograms and luxurious fabrics and, you guessed it, were often worn on the red carpet…
You can incorporate this spirit into your daily wardrobe with an animal print bucket hat. Glamorous, camp and chic!
6. Cargo Pants
Cargo pants were the ugly-chic trousers of the Noughties. Worn on everyone, from Britney Spears to Ashley Tisdale (aka: superstars to tweenagers), they were the skinny jean of the age!
Worn at all noughties hot spots - frozen yoghurt places, night clubs, red carpets - the cargo pant was a wardrobe assasin!
Cargo pants perhaps made up for the size of their tiny handbags, with pockets and space galore!
7. Bandannas
Bandannas were more than simply large handkerchiefs in the early 2000s. They really found their spotlight.
Bandannas moonlighted as tops, hats, skirts and jewelry during the noughties - they were everywhere and they were everything. Bandannas have certainly seen a comeback lately, with cool girls around town wearing them in their hair and everywhere else appropriate.
We have a large variety of assorted bandanna in our stores!
8. Platform Shoes
Platform shoes were a 90s import for the early 2000s - and our love for the trend has not died down.
We love to pair ours with mini-skirts and the colour pink, for a 90s inspired noughties look suitable of the platform shoe.
9. Pink (or alternatively: Lime Green)
These colours defined the early 2000s. The colours pink and lime green were everywhere, and they made an outfit.
Pink or lime green was almost like the blonde or brunette of the time, and each person's colour choice made a statement.
You can rock this look today by sporting a vintage head-to-toe look in your preferred colour, to look like the Mean Girls extra of your wildest dreams. Pair with a Frappucino for bonus points.
Mini Skirt and Pullover Co-Ord.
10. Layered Dresses
No offence if you layer dresses and skirts and dresses over jeans and trousers in 2019, but we’re throwing in this trend purely for giggles.
I dare you to look at this photograph of Ashley Tisdale and NOT laugh.
Now you’ve got the look down, head to our blog to listen to our Noughties playlist featuring all our favourite tunes from the decade!
Words Chardonnay West