Ready to relive some serious Y2K vibes? The early 2000s weren’t just about frosted lip gloss, flip phones, and MySpace—it was an era when celebrity style ruled the world. From red carpet risks to mall-ready trends, the biggest stars of the decade turned fashion into pop culture moments we’re still talking about today. Here’s a reverse countdown of the stars who made the 2000s one of the most unforgettable eras in fashion.
10. The Plastics and Their Pink Revolution
Mean Girls provided us with more than merely infinitesimally quotable dialogue—it provided us with style moments that never cease to end. Regina George and her friends made pink Wednesdays a standard, made pleated skirts de rigueur, and showed that coordinated snark could dominate both high school corridors and pop culture. To this day, their look continues to inspire TikToks, Broadway musicals, and Halloween getups across the globe.
9. Paris Hilton & Kim Kardashian: Red Carpet Queens of Old
Before influencers dominated Instagram, Paris Hilton and her former assistant-turned-best friend, Kim Kardashian, established the blueprint for 2000s glamour. From Paris’s glittery minis and pint-sized pooches to Kim’s bodycon ensembles, they rebranded what it was to be “seen” in Hollywood. Their influence on fashion and beauty still lasts, so their early red carpet reign wasn’t an accident.
8. Avril Lavigne, the Pop-Punk Princess
Studded belts, plaid skirts, and hot-pink streaks in her hair—Avril Lavigne turned mall-punk into a revolution. She outfitted teen anarchy, and her skater swagger mixed with pop-star glamour made her stand out from a sea of bubblegum pop. If you ever wore a necktie tied around your waist for no apparent reason, you know from where.
7. Sarah Jessica Parker and the Carrie Bradshaw Effect
Carrie Bradshaw’s closet was virtually as famous as the character herself, with tulle skirts, Manolos, and infinite experimentation. Sarah Jessica Parker erased the boundary between character and real life and became just as fearless and fashion-forward off-screen. If you ever had the nerve to combine something unexpected and label it chic, Carrie was your guide.
6. Destiny’s Child and Their Coordinated Power Looks
Beyoncé, Kelly, and Michelle not only performed together, ddresstogether, and they also made it fashionable. Metallics, feathers, sequins—each coordinated outfit was a statement, and it established what girl group glamour might be. Their outfits are still iconic representations of how fashion inspires music and vice versa.
5. Jennifer Lopez: From Versace to Velour
J.Lo didn’t merely put on clothes—she turned them into cultural touchstones. Her Grammys jungle-print Versace dress spawned Google Image Search, essentially. Her Juicy Couture sweatpant suits turned even us casualites into glamazons. Whether in red-carpet couture or streetwear, J.Lo’s versatility was unstoppable and taught us all how to shine on and off the red carpet.
4. Rachel McAdams and Her Style Evolution
From her Mean Girls moment to her red-carpet high-fashion moments, Rachel McAdams was a style chameleon. She’s worn everything from swoony vintage-era gowns to edgy, playful ensembles, always keeping fashion observers on their toes. Her seamless ability to move between sweet and savage landed her on the list of the decade’s most iconic dressers.
3. Anne Hathaway: A Devil Wears Prada Glow-Up
Anne Hathaway’s on-screen fashion trajectory replicated Andy Sachs’ makeover in The Devil Wears Prada. While her career rose, so did her style—glamorous gowns, streamlined jumpsuits, and high-fashion gambles that cemented her as a favorite among designers. She demonstrated that one could be both elegant and experimental.
2. Beyoncé: Queen Bey Takes the Throne
Beyoncé’s solo career set not only the era of music ascendancy but also one of fashion electricity. From blinding stage bodysuits to show-stopping gowns, each look was more, more, MORE than the previous one. She didn’t merely wear fashion—she demanded it, dictating the terms of what it was to dress like a global icon.
1. Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen: Minimalist Mavens
The Olsens remade fashion quietly with oversized silhouettes, muted tones, and a sophisticated approach to basics. Years before “quiet luxury” became a trend, they started The Row and recalibrated how we conceptualize wardrobe essentials. Their own style—overshaded sunglasses, layers, and casual cool—established them as the originators of understated chic.
The 2000s gave us fashion that was fearless, experimental, and sometimes chaotic—but it was never boring. These celebrities didn’t just wear the trends; they created them, leaving a style legacy we’re still borrowing from today. Y2K fashion may come and go, but these icons made it unforgettable.