10 Unforgettable Outfits That Defined Early-Aughts Red Carpets

When looking back at the red carpets of the 2000s, it's hard to believe that they even happened during this century. The maximalist fashion of the Y2K period, especially early on, seems to be in direct contrast with the much more refined aesthetic that rose to popularity through the 2010s and 2020s. Though we were styling some aspects of Y2K fashion back in 2022, society has come such a long way from the era of ruffled mini skirts and leather hip huggers. It all seems like a distant dream that may not have actually happened. Luckily, we have the receipts to prove it did. The most iconic, definitive, and unforgettable gala outfits from the time exist to remind us that Hollywood fashion really was once that brazen.

These prolific looks of the early aughts were mostly worn by the it-girls of the time. Britney Spears, Mischa Barton, and Pamela Anderson all played a part in popularizing the key elements of a standard Y2K outfit, which usually featured leather, denim, and unlikely silhouettes. But sometimes, the most memorable red carpet moments came at the hands of lesser-known stars, who rocketed to fame with their unignorable fashion choices.

Red carpets today are almost always super-formal affairs with stars dressed to the nines, but things were much more casual at the turn of the millennium. At the time, red-carpet looks and street style were interchangeable. Regardless of formality, those who witnessed the early aughts will remember high-energy outfits that were often in-your-face sexy. And for the younglings scratching their heads at noughties shameless fashion, all we can say is: You had to be there.

As far as definitive 2000s red carpet dresses go, there's one that has stood the test of time like no other: Jennifer Lopez's Versace palm dress. The "Jenny from the Block" singer wore this resort-style daring number at the 2000 Grammys, and it helped her cross the bridge from hopeful newbie to industry powerhouse. This look, which was the inspiration behind Google Images, is draped in so much '00s nostalgia that it continues to evoke the era each time someone re-wears it. J.Lo herself rocked another iteration of the dress in 2019, while Tyra Banks and Lisa Rinna have also donned their own versions.

Millennials need no reminders of how iconic Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake were as a 2000s couple. These two hit their peak at the American Music Awards in 2001, when they twinned in matching denim. While Timberlake went for a Canadian tuxedo look with a fedora, Spears accessorized her strapless denim gown with a Y2K chain belt, a sparkly choker and arm cuff, and a denim mini handbag. Though their aesthetic has been parodied multiple times since, it's widely considered an iconic moment in '00s fashion moment in hindsight. It definitely helped the Y2K double denim trend to flourish.

The vampy aesthetic arose in the '90s as a softer answer to the goth movement that was huge at the time, and the chokers, moody lips, and dark clothing survived into the 2000s. Angelina Jolie embraced this style at the June 2005 premiere of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," with a leather Versace number. The 'fit established her as a silver screen bombshell with its overtly sexy silhouette, while still maintaining the mysterious and alluring energy she'd been carrying since the '90s. Many areas of Y2K fashion prioritized leather, and Jolie didn't miss a beat as she brought her vampy vibe into the 21st century.

One thing we don't miss about the early aughts? Low-rise pants. It-girls like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera popularized the look on the world stage. Then, in a turning point in the style transformation of Pamela Anderson, the "Baywatch" star took it to a whole new level at the 2001 Video Music Awards. Arm in arm with Kid Rock, she paired her netted crop top with a pair of dangerously low hip huggers that featured cutouts just below the flimsy string holding them up. Finished off by her platinum-blond hair and platform naked shoes, this look was classic Pam, and classic early aughts.

"The O.C." premiered in 2003, making Y2K stars of its core cast members. Mischa Barton, who portrayed Marissa Cooper on the show, rose to the top of the fashion hot list, playing a huge role in promoting a typical noughties style: jeans under dresses. It's hard to explain to a modern audience how badly we all wanted to look like Barton at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in 2004, when she draped a sequin-trimmed ruched mini over dirty-denim jeans and pointy kitten heels. If you weren't there, just know that this single look summed up the early aughts aesthetic.

Icelandic singer Björk catapulted herself to the global stage when she appeared at the 2001 Academy Awards in a dress that has gone down in history. The swan dress, which was later spoofed to oblivion, was handmade by Marjan Pejoski and debuted at London Fashion Week that year. The transparent bodysuit featured a white tulle tutu and a swan's head wrapped around the neck. Björk was committed to the swan role, dropping eggs down the carpet as she made her way before the press. After such a splash, no early aughts red carpet roundup would be complete, for better or worse, without the swan dress.

Leather pants were a Y2K staple, channeling the bad-girl energy that seemed so alluring in cult classics like 2000's "Coyote Ugly." And since leather jackets were also commonplace at the time, Eva Longoria hit the nail on the head by combining them at the 2001 "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" premiere in Los Angeles, California. Well before she was a household name on "Desperate Housewives," Longoria embodied the in-your-face sexy style of the noughties by wearing absolutely nothing under her jacket, making this one of the most unforgettable looks from the era. Longoria is among the many celebs who regret some of her red carpet outfits, but we doubt she'd take this scorcher back if she could.

Butterfly tops fluttered back into style in 2023, but this iconic piece was quintessentially late '90s and early '00s. Mariah Carey, one of the decade's most influential pop stars, rocked the trend at the "VH1 Divas 2000: A Tribute to Diana Ross" show in New York City. Between the bedazzled butterfly top, the straight-leg denim, the strappy sandals, and the waterfall haircut, this look just couldn't have come about in any other era. Audiences today might not believe how common it was for celebrities to don jeans on red carpets back then, but Carey certainly wasn't in the minority. 

Before Kim Kardashian was LA's top reality-star-turned-influencer, there was Paris Hilton. The hotel heiress embodied the beachy style that was huge in the early aughts. In fact, each element of her look at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards was pulled directly from this aesthetic. The bright crop top, chain shoulder bag, low-rise, ruffled mini skirt, and strappy sandals all scream Y2K, but then she also served up the belly ring, platinum-blond hair pouf, and orange-toned shade of tan. This ensemble wouldn't have flown in any other decade, but the early aughts welcomed it with open arms and put it on a pedestal. 

Naomi Campbell has been a fashion icon since the '90s, but she continued her sartorial reign into the Y2K period and beyond, slaying red carpet after red carpet. She updated her minimalism from the previous decade for the Vogue Italia Party in 2005, reaching for a bedazzled and daringly plunging gown. The sequined metallic number was the perfect choice in an era where bling was a must. Teamed with her ashy blond highlights, the dress had the supermodel looking like an illuminated new millenium goddess.