Who didn’t love the 2000s? Y2K was on everyone’s mind, Lindsay Lohan was in her prime, and fashion went through a major transition phase. Some people look at the time of bedazzled boot cut jeans and baggy white tees as something to be embarrassed by, but we at StockX see it as a pivotal point for fashion. From sneakers to handbags, the early 2000s provided styles that have been adopted by some of today’s most popular trends.
Nike Dunks have dominated the sneaker landscape for the past year and a half. If you’ve been on Instagram and follow any “mood board” curated streetwear accounts, you will see the Dunks are a part of the current ubiquitous “cool kid” uniform. The basketball shoe was first created in 1985 and introduced to the public through a deal with the NCAA as the official footwear of eight major schools. Dubbed the “Be True To Your School” pack, these colorways jump started the popularity of the silhouette and lead to another retro release in 1998, bringing in fresh eyes to the shoe for the new millenium. Soon, the 2000s were filled with Nike Dunks in styles that are considered grails today, such as Nike’s collaboration with rap group The Wu-Tang Clan. As the years progressed and fashion moved toward slimmer cuts, it seemed as though the padded basketball Dunks weren’t to be heard from again. But now, with chunky shoes back in the mix, Nike Dunks have made an unexpected comeback. Kylie Jenner and LeBron James are a few examples of celebrities showing love to the shoe, putting them into their daily sneaker rotations. With the addition of streetwear designer Virgil Abloh offering his spin on the shoe at the end of 2019, the Dunk is not slowing down any time soon. And the data is there to back it up, as various colorways from the original ‘Be True To Your School’ pack are selling for $799 already this year.
Quintessential to the early 2000s uniform were windbreakers, cargo pants, and denim. Remember when you would see your dad wear his old light washed jeans he found buried in the closet? Or the countless pockets on the baggy cargo pants that he would wear to the supermarket with sandals? Those pants are everyday wear for today’s tastemakers Kanye West and Travis Scott. Brands like Supreme and Levi’s have all introduced these pants into their latest lookbooks and drops for the top trends. Many moodboards and influencers on Instagram, such as @oldmanalan and @anyabocharov pairing them with shoes like Nike Dunks or New Balance 990v4s to complete the look of today’s millennials. As far as jackets go, you can thank Tommy Hilfiger for bringing windbreakers to the forefront of early 2000s fashion. Think about every hip hop music video on MTV’s TRL, without fail, you would see the top artists like Aaliyah and Raekwon rocking Hilfiger’s designs from head to toe. The early 2000 styles of Tommy Hilfiger are still alive thanks in part to the 2018 collaboration with fashion boutique KITH and founder Ronnie Fieg. The collection brought in a slew of familiar garments with the Reversible Colorblack Jacket giving off real vintage vibes. When it comes to streetwear, look to the 2000s as your guide staying on trend.
There was a time when everything was transparent. For some reason, people felt compelled to show off what they had in their backpacks, were fascinated with seeing the inner mechanics of their Gameboy Colors, and even wore transparent clothes (cue Marquis Houston’s suit at the VMAs). Thankfully, everyone is dressing in opaque clothing today, but the trend still lives on with watches. Casio has been leading the pack in transparent watch wear ever since 1994 when they released the “Baby-G”. The watches carried over into the 2000s and were a status symbol for elementary school cool kids. Today, those watches are still popular after Casio celebrated the model’s 25th anniversary and the transparent styles are carried onto their sister brand, G-Shock. Even Harlem rapper A$AP Ferg utilized transparent materials on his G-Shock collaboration. Transparent design and watches are something we at StockX can get behind, just be careful with clothing.
Handbags aren’t immune to the 2000s revival. The early 2000s gave a platform to handbags in the media that was once only limited to the runway. 2000s It Girls like Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, and Nicole Richie showed off their Louis Vuitton luggage, Dior bags, and Chanel clutches whenever they made public appearances. Some of those same bags are back and considered the hottest accessories of 2020. Thanks to today’s influencers like Hailey Bieber and Sophia Richie, such bags as the Dior Saddle and Prada Nylon have all resurfaced into the mainstream spotlight. Look to these bags and more to up your handbag game in this new decade!
