11 '00s Shoes You Were Obsessed With

Looking back at shoes we were all obsessed with in the early 00's, I'm always filled with nostalgia. It's like when you have an old ratty tie-dye tank that you refuse to give away or stop wearing, no matter how ugly your mom finds it on you. I am the same way with my hoodies and old volleyball t-shirts or my dad's shirts. Heck, I've had the same Wallace and Grommit shirt since I was about seven. Things we once loved we always love, to a certain extent, no matter how trends change.

Footwear trends in the early '00s were not super complex. Most of what was popular on the red carpets at the time coincided with what was popular with high school and middle school students. Sneakerheads were copping Etnies, canvas Vans, and classic white Adidas. Paris Hilton was in kitten heels instead of just stilettos. Clogs weren't completely dead yet. What a time to be alive, huh?

With the return of nostalgic fashion trends, it's important to examine what made each look so popular and why style changed over time. So, with that in mind, here are eleven pairs of shoes you "Had to get, mom" in the early '00s!

1. Beaded Lace Up Sandals

Floral beaded sandals were a trend that, I too, played with in the early 2000s. Here is a picture of Christina Aguilera rocking them with a metallic two-piece on the red carpet.

2. Platform Flip Flops

Platform flip flops were always a go-to move for me. I had two-inch flamingo pink Rocket Dogs with flowers and beading on the straps. They were also an awards show favorite, which I really miss as someone who can't even wear three-inch heels for a few hours.

3. Uggs

Uggs are still, to this date, the comfiest boots and shoes in the world. Stylistically, they haven't changed all that much since the early '00s, but they have received some updates, certifying their place in the zeitgeist as a veritable shoe classic. Like Taylor Swift, they never go out of style.

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4. Crocs

I am no stranger to the rise and fall of the "Croc." As an avid AVP watcher and volleyball fanatic, when Crocs came into the world of fashion I noticed. I also noticed when they were socially ridiculed by almost everyone in the later end of the '00s.

5. Vans

If you ever went to Warped Tour growing up, I am willing to bet you $20 you owned a pair of slip-on Vans. Generally, they were the checkered black and white pattern, but sometimes they were black with pink designs or skulls or something.

6. Sneaker Boots

Sneaker boots were the ultimate shoe of hip hop in the early '00s, next to Timbs.

7. Strange Knee-High Cuffed Boots

So, these were a thing. Will society eventually feel the same way about Gigi Hadid's thigh-high boots?

8. Even Stranger Gladiator Sandals

These gladiators are definitely not what the Roman warriors battled in.

9. Pointed Kitten Heels

Pointed kitten heels were the casual awards show shoe of choice, and are probably the highest heel I am able to wear.

10. Adidas

If you were ever a Missy Elliot fan (of course you were) in the early '00s and watched her "Work It" music video, I guarantee you wanted a pair of white Adidas. Before Jeremy Scott, Missy made them so darn cool.

11. Sparkly Flats

Anything with sequins was totally Duff and teen-approved. Plus, you could attach sequins to just about anything for red carpet quality.