Women’s fashion
Early 2000s (2000–2003)
Y2K fashion
Fashion in the 2000s was profoundly influenced by technology. Around this time, there was a monochromatic futuristic approach to fashion,[16] with metallics, shiny blacks, heavy use of gray, straps, and buckles becoming commonplace. Y2K fashion, as it came to be known as, aimed to reflect the sleek appearance of its era’s new technology. When the original iPod was introduced in 2001, the white earbuds, as well as the gadget itself, became something of an accessory for early adopters.[17]
Casual chic
In Africa, Europe, North America, East Asia, South America, and Oceania, the early 2000s saw the continuation of many mid and late 1990s fashions due to the continued influence of teen pop stars such as Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, such as the military look,[25] while introducing newer more vaguely dystopian post modern trends. From 2001 onwards, women wore long-sleeved shirts with bell sleeves, cowl-neck tops, crop tops, Burberry, hoodies, flare jeans, hip-huggers,[26] low rise pants,[25][27] white jeans,[28] whale tails,[29] cargo pants[30][31] (especially ones made out of silk, satin, and velvet)[32][33] hip-hop inspired sweatpants, daisy dukes, thong underwear, and solid bright-colored tights.[33]
First-wave 1980s revival
Although the 1980s fashion revival wasn’t in full swing until 2001, the first movement had started in the late 1990s and continued into the early 2000s. This first wave primarily focused on the early 1980s. Such trends that emerged during this period included denim miniskirts, ripped “distressed” jeans, denim jackets, tracksuits,[31] trench coats (often in pleather), puffy jackets (revived by Hip-Hop artists), and preppy polo shirts with popped collars. These remained popular until about 2008 when the revival of late 1980s fashions occurred.
Sex and the City
The American television series Sex and the City impacted how women cared about fashion and how they shopped. The show depicted women as empowered consumers, each with their own independent styles that shopped based on what they wanted, not what they were told to wear.[38] The main characters became fashion icons, inspiring window displays, fashion lines, magazines, and women globally. Carrie Bradshaw, the main character, is credited for making Manolo Blahnik a household name from her obsession with the Spanish designer’s high-heeled shoes.[39] Trends inspired by the show include stilettos, designer handbags (with two episodes centered around the latest “It bag”), large fabric flowers, and berets.[40]
Mid 2000s (2004–2006)
It items and 1960s revival
It items were very popular in the 2000s, particularly the early and middle years. Examples of some highly sought-after It items of the mid-2000s included Kate Spade wallets, Prada sneakers, Christian Dior saddle bags, designer-brand jeans such as True Religion low-rise boot-cut jeans and 7 for all Mankind skinny jeans, Juicy Couture velour tracksuits, Balenciaga cargo pants, Von Dutch trucker hats, and Takashi Murakami‘s collaboration with Louis Vuitton for their iconic It bag.[41]
Military influences
From 2005 until the end of the decade, more elaborate military inspired clothing became a unisex[56] trend in Britain. Due to the popularity of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, and a resurgence of interest in 1980s fashion, teen and college age women frequently wore cavalier boots,[57] Greek fisherman’s caps, jewelry with anchor motifs, leather look drainpipe trousers, frilly satin poet shirts, sashes, harem pants, braided hussar jackets, and dress uniforms with epaulets inspired by female pop stars, British indie/garage rock band The Libertines and MCR‘s The Black Parade.[58]
African clothing
Throughout the mid and late 2000s,[59] women’s clothing in Africa comprised either brightly colored kente cloth or mudcloth traditional dress such as the boubou, pagne, and doek, or secondhand Western dress donated and distributed by British and American charities.[60] Mitumba clothing had been imported into Tanzania[61] and Kenya since the economic liberalisation of the early 1990s,[62] and was more desirable than newly made Chinese textiles due to its higher quality of construction and recognizable brand labels.[63]
Late 2000s (2007–2009)
Carry over styles
Many early and mid 2000s fashions remained fashionable in 2007; This included items such as denim miniskirts, whale tail, hip-huggers, boot-cut jeans, tank-tops, ripped jeans, hoodies, cargo pants, white belts, cropped jackets, capris, infantile dresses, boho-chic, and Crocs.[29]
Second wave 1980s revival
In the late 2000s, there was a large scale 1980s revival in Europe and the US, which incorporated general items of late 1980s and early 1990s streetwear, such as neon colors, gladiator sandals,[29] boat shoes especially Sperrys, animal print or polka dot headbands, knitted sweater dresses, Nike Tempo shorts, jean skirts with tights or capri leggings, Wonderbra and sloggi underwear, sundresses, geometric pattern tops, slap bracelets, ballet flats.
Eastern and fairtrade fashion
Summer 2007 saw a resurgence of interest in ethnic fashion from India[66][67] and the Middle East, including harem pants, embroidered kurti, silk sashes, sarongs, gypsy tops, and the saree[68][69][70] as young British and American women discovered Bollywood cinema[71] and belly dancing, popularized by Shakira.[72]
Activist chic
In Britain and Australia, Middle Eastern shemaghs were worn as scarves as a protest against the Iraq War and demonstration of solidarity with the Palestinians.[79]
In 2007, Che Guevara chic was popular in Europe and Latin America, with olive green fatigue jackets, boonie hats, berets, and T-shirts featuring red stars or the face of the famous revolutionary.