Lily From How I Met Your Mother Is Our Early Aughts Style Icon

"How I Met Your Mother" premiered in 2005 and continued to run for nearly a decade, concluding in 2014. The popular CBS sitcom garnered significant attention, earning a staggering 10 Emmy Awards. As the series developed, fans of the series fell in love with the main characters and have continued to resonate with storylines in recent years. Played by Alyson Hannigan, Lily Aldrin was one of "How I Met Your Mother" female leads. The character was known for valuing art and authenticity, given her struggle to keep any secrets. She also had an impeccable Y2K-inspired style.

In high school flashbacks, Lily's style was defined by goth fashion choices and a rebellious attitude. In adulthood, she ditched the goth, but leaned into the era's fashion. Throughout the series, Lily appeared on screen wearing layered outfits that made for unique ensembles and echoed Y2K aesthetics. During the early 2000s, an era defined by low-rise denim, micro tops, and fun accessories, her clothes throughout the show reflected the array of fashion trends that dominated the decade.

From animal prints and beanies to cowboy boots and mini skirts, Lily quickly became one of the series' most fashionable characters. With Y2K fashion coming back in style, Lily's looks on the show provide plenty of outfit inspiration.

The Y2K fashion era was dominated by layers. Lily Aldrin truly understood the assignment when she appeared in an episode wearing a look that consisted of not three but four layers. In true 2000s fashion, the character opted for an ultra-cropped sweater and a short denim skirt. Her sweater featured a deep neckline, ruffled shoulder pads, and an Aztec-inspired pattern that nodded to the cozy colder seasons. She layered her jean skirt over brown leggings, and a brown vest covered her midriff. Her look was finished with layered necklaces, another staple of the decade.

Originally a redhead, Lily Aldrin appeared in season 2 as a brunette. During this season, the character also paid more attention to her accessories, appearing on screen dressed head-to-toe in Y2K trends. This particular outfit included a strappy tank top, which featured a geometric print in shades of red, orange, and pink. She completed the look with stacked necklaces: one, a long string composed of vibrant orange beads, and the other, a simple gold chain that finished with a peace sign pendant. Lily's 2000s-inspired knitted burgundy beanie also added a fun element to her already-lively outfit.

In a different episode, Lily Aldrin embraced the cropped styles within the Y2K aesthetic. However, she did so with a sophisticated flair. While layering white tank tops was a major early aughts trend, wearing micro tops was also a major fad throughout the era. By layering her cropped cardigan with a white vest, Lily proved she could simultaneously embrace both trends. As her off-the-shoulder gray cardigan ended in delicate ruffles, her midriff was covered by her tank top, which added a grunge edge to her ensemble. Her look was completed with low-waisted jeans — also very 2000s-esque.

Throughout the series, Lily Aldrin regularly completed her outfits with statement boots. In one of her more understated looks, the character opted for a pair of brown cowboy boots — an element of country couture that helps explain how Western fashion got so feminine. Cowboy boots made a major impact in the early 2000s, and in recent years, they have made a resurgence among fashion enthusiasts. Lily completed her monochromatic brown look with a structured midi skirt and a simple brown top. Finally, her delicate open neckline softened the look.

During one of the colder seasons, Lily Aldrin embraced knitwear with full force while using a long, skinny scarf. The piece wrapped her neck and grazed her waistline, drawing attention to the rest of her color-coordinated ensemble. While matching knitwear was not a dominant fashion trend, skinny scarves dominated winter styles within the Y2K era. The character seamlessly blended the colors of her lively knitwear with her white sweater vest and sheer blue long-sleeve. Lily proved she was a 2000s fashion icon by blending knitwear with the decade's love for sheer fabrics.

For the earlier seasons of "How I Met Your Mother," Lily Aldrin had bright auburn locks that matched her use of vibrant patterns at the time. For example, the day she wore a bold leopard-print dress. Lily drew attention to the dress' daring neckline by accessorizing with a chunky, 2000s-inspired beaded necklace that ended in a glamorous gold tassel. While leopard print was an iconic style trend during the early aughts, animal print are the new neutral. Lily keeps her status as a 2000s fashion icon for rocking the print at the time.

In the later seasons of the series, Lily Aldrin opted for a more sophisticated style. While she still wore mini skirts, her love for bootcut jeans nodded to her growing maturity. Not only were flared jeans a fashion craze in the 2000s, but her pants also added a sense of practicality to her outfit. In one episode, Lily topped her denim with a tie-dye vest. This print is considered difficult to style now, but it was widely embraced during the Y2K era.

Fun headwear was trending in the early aughts, and Lily Aldrin knew it. The character appeared in one episode wearing an array of Y2K-inspired accessories, including a long beaded necklace, a pendant chain, and a patterned headband. While her headband made for a more feminine look, she completed her outfit with a graphic tee. Like many graphic tees in the early 2000s, Lily's gray piece featured bright colors and a vintage font. This T-shirt seemed edgy compared to her elegant headwear, but it made for an effortlessly trendy look.

Lily Aldrin repeatedly wore plaid shirts throughout her time on the series. However, in the series' early seasons, she gave her plaid blue shirt a distinct 2000s twist. It's safe to say an oversized belt can bring a laid-back Y2K style to any outfit, and this is exactly what Lily leaned into. Whether it was part of her kindergarten teacher wardrobe or a way to accentuate her professionalism, the character's outfit proved that style and sophistication can work together. Her statement knee-high boots, another defining 2000s fad, only reinforce this observation, giving the outfit a practical yet fashion-forward finish.