For me, middle school (from 2007 to 2009, to be specific) was a nightmare in many ways. To put it bluntly, I was such a loser that I wouldn’t have even made it into Las Populares from Patito Feo. Yet, I dreamed of being Antonella from Las Divinas (and, 20 years later, I still remember the choreography for “Gasolina” by heart). I think back to how much I wanted to be like the “cool kids” at school, where being popular seemed like the ultimate goal in life. Now, with many years and therapy sessions behind me, I’d love to hug my 11-year-old self and tell her to hang in there because those “aspirations” are hollow and won’t mean a thing in the future. In fact, it’s better this way. If I could, I’d also give her a pat on the back for encouragement, because the fashion of those years spared no one: cool kids, outcasts, outsiders… No one escaped unscathed. Looking back at how we dressed as teenagers in the early 2000s, I can’t help but ask myself, “Why did we hate ourselves so much?”
By the time I was in my final year of high school, I could already see a shift in how younger generations were approaching fashion, even just a few years apart—a shift that social media has since confirmed. There’s now a greater awareness, a desire to be comfortable yet still aware of what flatters us, what to avoid, and which trends are worth following. Social media has undoubtedly contributed to creating a more democratic fashion landscape (thanks to phenomena like Vinted), allowing people to explore their individuality and style while experimenting with more consciousness than we early-2000s teens ever did. Back then, we thought layering a dress over jeans was the epitome of genius.
In hindsight, you could say we were an experimental generation. Our “mistakes” laid the groundwork for the awareness younger generations now seem to exhibit. Not that there aren’t eccentric cases today, but the concentration of outright terrible taste back then was truly remarkable. Because, honestly, most of us really did walk around dressed like that: the dawn of globalization, the rise of fast fashion, and phenomena like Disney Channel—with its High School Musical soundtracks and icons like Hannah Montana, Lizzie McGuire, and the Camp Rock cast—brought America’s influence worldwide. I challenge any early-2000s teenager to sincerely say, “I wasn’t like that.” Worse yet, we desperately wanted to dress like that. We begged our parents to buy us those things to fit in. Imagine the laughs our moms must’ve had behind our backs, knowing how much we’d regret those choices—choices we can’t forget even if we wanted to because they’re immortalized in family photos or, worse yet, etched into the internet through platforms like MSN and Netlog. Remember: in our quest for conformity, it was common to take hundreds of photos of our outfits on Motorola flip phones and flood Facebook with albums titled embarrassingly, like “Crazy Day at the Park W/ My BFF <3.”
If Umberto Eco’s “On Hugliness” had a chapter on fashion, it would undoubtedly focus on the 2000s. To twist the knife further—and ensure no one repeats those mistakes—let’s take a walk down memory lane to boost our current self-confidence and laugh at our teenage selves with our moms. If nothing else, it reminds us that we can and will do better. At least, we hope so—stylistically speaking (and otherwise).
FOOTWEAR
Let’s start at the “bottom” of the look, which, perhaps, was the least tragic part. We wanted fashionable footwear like our favorite singers, but we ended up standing at the school gates like pawns on a giant chessboard. I mean this literally: Vans checkered slip-ons were on everyone’s feet, boys and girls alike. In winter, some dared to wear tall UGG boots (a trend that exploded a few years later), but comfort was generally the rule. Sneakers dominated outside of gym class: Vans, Nike Air Max Silver, Converse… And speaking of All-Stars, those lucky enough to have connections in America—or go there themselves—would wow everyone by sporting knee-high Converse, just like Antonella from Las Divinas. A girl at my school had a pair, and even 20 years later, I admit I still covet them as a historical relic. Sticking to the comfort theme, I loved Kawasaki sneakers, especially the monochrome ones, though the comic-strip or newspaper-print versions were equally fabulous (and I won’t accept criticism on this). Chunky “tank” shoes, like the SK8 styles Avril Lavigne flaunted in every music video, also gained cult status—hello, Etnies. Okay, maybe I take back my earlier claim that shoes were the “best” part of the look. The worst is yet to come…
ACCESSORIES
Today, we know that minimalism is key to elegance, even in jewelry—evident in trends like Old Money aesthetics. Back then, the more accessories you piled on, the better. It wasn’t enough to carry heavy backpacks (Eastpak) filled with books; we also had to burden ourselves with social expectations and accessorize to try to look cool. Enter the reigning queens of the time: studs. They were everywhere—on belts, backpacks, shoes… A full-on infestation of silver and colorful studs to appear edgy. Then there were belts with cartoon-character buckles; like many girls, I had one featuring The Powerpuff Girls. Hairpins, ties (worn randomly), bracelets, chunky neon earrings, mismatched necklaces, sweatbands in bizarre colors, and the ever-popular choker. Let’s not forget the skull motifs and Hello Kitty themes—more was always better! Sunglasses, too—why did we have such a thing for neon?! Aviator Ray-Bans or oversized shield shades paired with fedora or newsboy caps were basically a ticket to Camp Rock stardom. And hey, we rocked!
CLOTHING
Finally, the pièce de résistance—and the true star of this article: the clothes. Let’s start with low-rise pants so tight and low that they revealed the waistband of your underwear—a practice we should all vow never to revive. Miu Miu is trying, but the fashion world must unite against this. Once that horror is addressed, the rest is downhill—kind of. What were we thinking with bold prints and clashing patterns? Galaxy leggings, striped tops, brightly colored tartan, and the infamous total denim look (thank you, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake). Seriously, what were we trying to express? And Hollywood—why parade young stars on red carpets in this mess, complete with dresses over pants?! Add flashy brand names on jean backs, velour tracksuits that flattered almost no one, and tops that read “cute but psycho” in glitter. The cherry on top? Brands like Hollister, Abercrombie, and Victoria’s Secret—with their ridiculous beauty standards—dominated, damaging our generation’s self-esteem. Thankfully, their appeal has faded. Let’s take a final moment of silence for brands like A-Style, Playboy, Monella Vagabonda, Paul Frank, Baci & Abbracci, and Angel Devil—gone but not forgotten. Thank goodness… or not. You decide.
What do you think?