This summer, wide-leg ankle-skimming pants, off-the-shoulder tops, and '90s throwback high school looks are very much in. And while the majority of us are enjoying these playful trends, it's fun to look back and see what early 2000s fashion was actually popular this time 10 years ago. Or, more accurately, the styles of our high school years.
If you're a 20-something right now, then a decade ago today you were probably wearing jeans without pockets and baguette-shaped shoulder bags, deciding which of your flip flops to rock to that summer house party. You were done with tween fashion, but still couldn't quite peg how to dress like a grownup, so your wardrobe was stuck walking the line somewhere in the middle.
And in that void, you found layered tank tops, woven belts, and a plethora of pointy shoes and bucket handbags. No matter your particular style, chances are that you owned more than a couple of those prevailing trends that made the summer of '06 so hot, especially if you shopped fast fashion. Want to relive them in all their glory? Below are 11 2006 trends that were insanely in vogue back in the day. Do you still own any of them? You never know when they might come back in style.
1. Capri Jeans
I don't like generalizations, but everyone owned capri jeans this time 10 years ago. They were impossible to escape, since they were shimmied onto every mannequin, crammed onto every rack, and tossed onto every store shelf possible.
You could wear them while headed to the beach with your friends, going to a summer keggar at someone's house, or while out on a date with black, pointy heels. They were the workhorse staple of the naughties, and for good reason.
2. Goddess-Inspired Clothes
With free-flowing dresses, guilded belts, gold, wreath-like headbands, and drapy materials, 2006 was all about the goddess. We channeled our inner Aphrodite's with every sequined belt and empire waist tunic, topping it all off with the ever-popular gold gladiator sandal.
3. Strange Nut Bead Necklaces
Hawaiian Lei Necklace of Dark Brown Kukui Nuts, $13, Amazon
Remember the kukui nut beads? They usually hung low to your bellybutton and were just the thing to spice up a layered tank. Sometimes they came jazzed up with crochet covers, mixed with ribbons, or covered with fabrics, but no matter how you wore them, chances are this was one of your go-to accessories.
4. Pilgrim Belts Underneath Your Bust
With the wave of Greek goddess influences and styles, we also started wearing thick waisted belts cinched right underneath our busts. That way even if you didn't own a Grecian-style dress, you could still have the illusion of an empire waist.
5. Pointy Going-Out Boots
Any club kid worth their salt had a sassy pair of calf-skimming heeled boots in their repertoire. They looked ever-so-perfect paired with miniskirts and short shorts, bringing a Friday night look together.
6. Handkerchief Dresses
2006 was all about that asymmetrical, ragged-cut hem, and halter dresses took on a handkerchief, silk scarf-like quality. Sporting overly-girly prints with varying motifs of flowers and butterflies, the look was equal parts hippie and ladylike.
7. Belts Over Tanks
Say hello to my high school uniform — day after day, I wore denim skirts, cotton tanks, and a big statement belt cinched low on my hips over my shirt. I was so avant garde.
8. Fedoras
Not just for the World Of Warcraft-loving, neckbeard-rocking among us, fedoras were part of a lot of fashionistas' wardrobes 10 years back. They added a slightly punkish look to lacy tops and beachy dresses.
9. Tunics With Shrunken Sweaters
If you had any kind of layering game, you probably paired your flirty tunics with a shrunken sweater that would button right underneath your bra. Just looking at this gives me flashbacks to grass-scented perfume and Paris Hilton sunglasses.
10. Bolero Jackets
Whether you wore yours with a special occasion dress or shrugged it on to give your graphic tee and denim shorts combo some class, the teeny tiny bolero was super in that summer.
11. Skull Motifs
Ah, skull motifs. They were Hot Topic without the edge, whereby those of us who managed to cop fake IDs and save enough for Ed Hardy shirts wore them out while experimenting with the bar scene. Crossbones were no longer just for angsty goths, but for anyone who wanted to add some punk to their look.
While a lot of these styles may induce cringing, at least you can be comfortable in the knowledge that, 10 years from now, you'll probably be laughing at your 2016 threads. Let the comedy continue.
Images: Disney (2); HBO (2); Amazon (1)
