40 Pop Star Outfits That Defined the 2000s, Including Bikinis-As-Shirts, Really Bad Denim, And So, So Many Sequins

Sure, millennials didn’t begin dressing in bikinis 24/7, but clothing shrank markedly in proportion during the early aughts.

The frayed denim mini skirt was all the rage in the early aughts, and why, you ask? Christina Aguilera convinced a nation of tweens that a five-inch strip of faded, ripped denim was the most covetable thing one could possibly possess.

The Millennial sartorial history is would be desperately lacking without a mention of Avril Lavigne’s skater/punk hybrid manner of dress. The performer seemingly never left home without a wrist full of studded cuffs, a colorful sweatband, baggy parachute trousers, and a daringly loosened tie.

Though Avril Lavigne whole-heartedly embraced her skater look, Gwen Stefani was the true originator of the getup, at least as far as the style was represented by Millennium-era female singers. A plaid chapeau polished off the singer’s now-signature look.

Though other celebrities embraced the Hanes ribbed undershirt in the early aughts, Mandy Moore appeared amongst the most attached to hers. The fitted tank accompanied Moore to awards shows, on errands, and into her film appearances.

Though many rolled their eyes at Jessica Simpson’s sultry rendition of Daisy Duke in 2005’s Dukes of Hazzard remake, her barely-there jorts and ab-baring cropped tank rendered millions of men (and ladies) temporarily speechless and encouraged teenaged women everywhere that microscopic shorts were the height of chic.

Lil’ Kim may be renowned for such hits as “Thug Love” and “Lighters Up,” but sartorial followers of the singer’s career most certainly recall her omnipresent teeny triangle bikini, which accompanied Kim to nearly every public appearance for the better part of a decade.

Who could forget Pink’s (P!nk back then) nude “Party”-starting, metallic-necked crochet halter dress? The frock made such an impression on teen audiences in the early 2000s that the bohemian crochet top became de rigueur for a hot second.

A silky printed camisole was the sartorial thing in the early 2000s, a trend which arguably began when audiences noticed the look on singer Natalie Imbruglia.

Madonna is no stranger to parading onstage in her skivvies, but the early aughts were an ode to Madonna’s fishnet-and-briefs-clad pins — at least according to the singer herself.

She may not have been the first to jump aboard the crop top and low-rise jeans trend, but Shakira’s jeans were indeed the lowest rise on the market, and her top was a crop above the rest.

If the slip dress trend of the era baffled you, sartorially indict Mariah Carey: the star’s plunging black interpretation of the slip dress incited a nation of duplicates.

Though she favors more traditional silhouettes these days, Alicia Keys had a decade-long flirtation with top hats, plunging halter tops, and ultra-fitted trousers.

Jennifer Lopez’s sartorial history is peppered with ensembles which gave even the most rigorous of fashion critics pause, and this Bianca Jagger-esque earth-toned ensemble of an off-the-shoulder peasant blouse, a wide-brim camel chapeau, and thigh-high boots single-handedly assured the United States that the bohemian look was indeed back in vogue.

Perhaps this Adidas track suit is a bit more personalized than the then-ubiquitous pastel pink Juicy Couture version, but Missy Elliott certainly informed pop culture with her blingy rendition.

Corseted bustiers and shiny, shiny pants were all the rage in 2000. Why, you wonder? Ask Kylie Minogue.

Eve’s paw-print tattoos were on maximum display in a peach bustier top, which the performer paired with stone-washed denim. And thus began the bustier-and-jeans trend.

The ruffled mini took tweens by storm in the early aughts, promoted by one Brandy Norwood.

Princess Leia’s gold bikini had nothing on Brandy Norwood’s millennial rendition of the look, composed of a glistening metallic triangle top and casual trousers.

The millennium sparked a go-big-or-go-home sartorial spirit within the music industry and its faithful followers, encapsulated in this overwhelmingly flamboyant ensemble worn by Christina Aguilera. Who knew the transparent top, neon-highlighted hair, and low-slung jeans would become temporary style staples for the teen crowd?

Why the bikini top became a convention of formal attire, only celebrities like Janet Jackson truly understand. Perhaps the weather was unseasonably warm from 2000 to 2005.

Mary J. Blige rocked a chic fedora, nude turtle neck and track pants, a trim fur vest, and lace-up pointy-toe boots at an AIDS benefit, re-launching the popularity of every article of clothing in her ensemble.

Shania Twain encouraged women everywhere to embrace girls night out — and sultry evening wear — in this slim, black bustier and thigh-high boots. Iconic? Indeed, it was.

The reigning queen of grunge made waves in a greige 3/4-length tee and a carelessly knotted tie, paired with her signature, tousled blond locks.

Love attempted a glamorous look and settled for sultry in this chest-accentuating, metallic mesh gown that informed the bare-all pop trend of the early aughts.

Pink fell madly, deeply in love with cargo pants and ripped underpinnings in the early aughts, encouraging young consumers that baggy clothing could be utterly cool in the right context.

Christina Aguilera’s adoration of her toned stomach hit its peak when she arrived on the red carpet in this cropped white tee and hip-slung, faded jeans. No wonder the belly button was the most highlighted facet of the body in the year 2000.

Michelle Branch and her laid-back style were quite literally “Everywhere” in the early 2000s, though none of her teenaged fans seemed to mind. The young star single-handedly dragged colored cords back into style, and jumped aboard the blazer train as well.

Though defining exactly what Ashley Simpson’s early aughts style was is an exercise in futility, she certainly inspired youths with several Pieces of her complex wardrobe.

If you’ll take a moment to scroll back in your memory, you may recall how exciting the notion of a dress over jeans made fashion addicts everywhere in the early 2000s. Singer Liz Phair was one of the tough trend’s early proponents.

It may not have been a lasting trend, but the kimono-inspired ensemble that Hilary Duff wrought on pop culture was certainly a significant period in the early aughts.

Tweens found themselves inseparable from their Canadian tuxedos after Hilary Duff sported a dark denim version.

Alanis Morissette’s leather trench and trousers embodied one of the era’s most inexplicably dramatic trends.

If you wore an intricately patterned, draped satin top from 2000 to 2006, chances are it was because Ashanti accepted an award in her own rendition of the trend first.

Though just one of many matching ensembles worn by Destiny’s Child, the patriotic pants getup convinced the US that wearing the flag is an accepted part of being an American.

At the moment when the world began to understand the powerhouse that is Beyonce, the performer herself sported as many sparkles, sequins, and metallics as she possibly could.

Subverted prep took over the big screen and the stage in the form of cheeky berets, sweaters and tee-shirts over crisp white button-downs, combined into one totally-2000s ensemble worn by Jennifer Lopez.

When Britney Spears was still infatuated with former-love Justin Timberlake (as in, approximately a lifetime ago), she sported an ensemble that went far beyond the Canadian tuxedo by tripling up on denim. Chic, it was not, but it certainly paved the way for denim’s takeover of the 2000s.

Need I say more?