Lisa O
The older we grow, the more nostalgically we reflect on our youth. It may not seem that long ago, but more than two decades have passed. The good old days of the 2000s were a completely different era. Whether it was trendy fashion or popular entertainment, there were so many things lovable about the 2000s. If you, too, find yourself hit by a wave of nostalgia when you think of the 2000s, tighten your seat belts for this trip down memory lane!
Low-Rise Jeans
Who can forget the famous fashion trend (or disaster) from the 2000s—low-rise jeans? The Y2K jeans sat relatively low on the hips, revealing quite a bit of the underwear. It was an impractical trend, but it caught on like fire! Most people had at least one pair, and they jumped up to any occasion to sport them. Celebrities like Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, and Paris Hilton wore them, too! It was a disastrous fashion statement but iconic for sure!
Juicy Couture Sweatpants
Remember the Juicy Couture tracksuits with the word “Juicy” screaming at everyone you met? The tracksuit was custom-designed for Madonna but soon turned into a trend. The velour sets and matching oversized bags became a 2000s status symbol. Hot pink and baby blue were the hottest colors. Even though they cost a lot then, girls had to get their hands on at least one to fit the ‘cool’ bill.
Razr Flip Phones
Before smartphones flooded the scene, Motorola’s Razr was the coolest phone around. It was a thin, metal flip phone that looked straight out of sci-fi at the time. Owning a Razr made people take you seriously. Not only teens but even business people wanted to flaunt a Razr and appear fancy. Doing The Razr Flip was a thing of its own. People would dramatically flip the phone open and close. Mastering a smooth flip showed your love for your trendy gadget.
MP3 Players
Before Spotify and other music streaming platforms, you could only listen to your favorite music on the go on an MP3 player. Apple’s iPods, introduced in 2001, became the ultimate game-changer. They led to the demise of the Sony Walkman, which was the main choice of music player until then. CD binders suddenly became outdated as iPods let you carry thousands of songs on a sleek device for the first time.
Tiger Beat Magazine
Before the world went digital, magazines were a common source of information. Do you feel a wave of nostalgia thinking of the Tiger Beat magazine from the 2000s? Tiger was slang for ‘cute boy,’ and the beat was a reference to music. The iconic teen magazine was popular for its pullout posters of everyone’s favorite Disney stars, quizzes, advice columns, celebrities, music, and show gossip.
Playing ‘Snake’
The popular game ‘Snake’ on the good old Nokia phones was so basic that it was addictive. It instantly became a phenomenon. If you didn’t have a Nokia at the time or you are younger, the game challenges the player to control a continuously growing snake without crashing into itself. If it bumped into itself, it would bring you right back to the start. Everyone was playing against themselves, trying to beat their previous scores.
Tamagotchi
If there ever was a global hot toy fad, it was this. In the early 2000s, the Tamagotchi virtual pets were quite popular. They were egg-shaped keychains that required to be fed, played with and cared for by their owners. Ignoring your Tamagotchi could kill him, causing great trauma to younger kids. The portability made Tamagotchis a huge success, with people carrying them everywhere. Taking care of the digital pet made children feel like grown ups!
MTV’s TRL
Early 2000s’ teens couldn’t miss MTV’s Total Request Live (TRL) after school. The music video countdown declared what was hot. You could vote for your favorite artists and bands. The TRL also led to important cultural moments. Unscripted TRL events, like Punk’d celebrity pranks, had to be watched LIVE, so everyone literally glued to the screen to avoid missing the latest pop culture happenings.
Rocking Skechers
Skechers were the most popular sneakers of the early 2000s. The sneaker company came up with some chunky soles and neon accents in their D’Lites collection, collaborating with the iconic Britney Spears, who was the brand’s first international ambassador. It was a ‘must’ to show up in those clunky but stylish sneakers. You were trendy if you had the latest pair.
AOL Instant Messenger
In the days of the dial-up internet, you went to the AOL Instant Messenger to chat with friends. It felt so exciting to type in font colors and edit your away message! AOL also offered a top buddies list, and custom buddy icons felt super personal. AIM was a 2000s communication staple before texting and social media took over. It was released quietly but quickly got the world’s attention, and it acquired 52% of the online messaging market share by the mid-2000s.
Puka Shell Necklaces
Hawaiians use puka shell necklaces as good luck charms. The puka shell necklace started as beach jewelry in the 1960s but turned into a big trend in the 2000s. The chunky shells or wooden bead necklaces became the definition of effortless, laid-back, cool fashion. If you wanted something fancy but at an affordable price, you could simply buy a Puka shell necklace at the beach.
Bedazzling
What is considered a fashion faux pas today was the leading craft trend of the 2000s – Bedazzling! Tiny crystal gems or rhinestones were used to embellish everything – from denim to diaries. It took a great deal of effort to apply individual gems to your belongings, but it was the rage of the 2000s culture. Rhinestones were everywhere. From T-shirts and bandanas to your sweatpants, rhinestones were on every surface imaginable.
Burning CDs
Making mixed CDs was popular before torrenting and streaming. Burning your favorite music onto a blank disc was the ultimate exercise of choice. You could create your own playlist and set the mood or vibe. People even personalized CDs by drawing album art on a curated tracklist. Getting a burned CD from your boyfriend or girlfriend was the ultimate gift.
Von Dutch Trucker Hats
The 2000s look of low-rise jeans and bedazzled tops was incomplete without a casual, mesh-backed Von Dutch trucker hat. The name ‘Von Dutch’ comes from Kenny Howard, a.k.a. “Von Dutch,” an American artist and pinstriper of the Kustom Kulture movement. Everyone, from skaters to celebs, sported these hats. An authentic Von Dutch was important for achieving the cool-kid aesthetic.
Webkinz
Webkinz stuffed pets was a huge craze among 2000s kids and tweens. These plush animals came with a code so kids could “adopt” a virtual version. Many kids were inspired to try funky makeup colors and combinations. Taking care of your Webkinz, making space for it, feeding it, and playing games was extremely entertaining. Trading codes was also a big thing.
Crazy Bratz Makeup
Bratz dolls took over the world in the 2000s and gave Barbie a serious run for her money. But the biggest impact they made was bold makeup. From electric blue eyeshadow to hot pink lip gloss, the Bratz style inspired many children to try funky makeup colors and combinations. The Bratz look meant flushed cheeks, bright highlights, and a smooth complexion, just like the Bratz dolls.
Pottermania
When the Harry Potter books and movies were first released in the 2000s, Pottermania took the world by storm. From waiting for the next novel in the series to watching the films on repeat, everyone was mesmerized. Showing up in Harry Potter robes and wand, and geeking out over the wizarding world was unbelievably popular. Potter fans hosted midnight parties to celebrate each new release. Bookstores stayed open on the night before the date of the release.
Limewire
The only way you could get free music in the 2000s was by using a P2P downloading service like Limewire. P2P or Peer-to-Peer services connect two computers directly so you and your friends can share files. It was not legal, but everyone did it to get their favorite music. The only downside was you could accidentally download a virus instead! LimeWire was designed to be simple and easy to use. You could look for songs, preview MP3s, and share files for free.