55 Nostalgic Things That Made the 2000s Super Special

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Get ready to relive the things that made Y2K and beyond so awesome

Co-authored by Daley Polner and Jennifer Vasquez, BA, MA

Last Updated: September 2, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Fashion & Makeup
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• Music
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• Movies
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• TV Shows
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• Technology
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• Toys & Games
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• School Nostalgia
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• Video

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The 2000s were a special time when the digital age was transforming, but simple childhood pleasures hadn’t disappeared. Now more than ever, a wave of 2000s nostalgia is hitting people hard, from Gen Z to millennials to Gen X. We love the 2000s, and we’re about to share some of the things that made this era amazing and memorable. We’re diving into 2000s highlights in fashion, music, movies, and more, with wikiHow-exclusive insights from vintage clothing and toy collecting experts!

A Visual Guide to 2000s Nostalgia

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Nostalgia for the 2000s centers on the rise of pop stars, the emergence of the digital age and new tech, and unforgettable fashion trends. This was the era of low-rise jeans, bubblegum pop, and flip phones. Dial-up internet, reality TV, and unique toys also defined and shaped a time that we love returning to.

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Section 1 of 7:

2000s Fashion & Makeup

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   Low-Rise Denim The 2000s saw the rise of low-rise jeans. When you think of early 2000s fashion, this jean style is no doubt one of the first things that comes to mind. You could find them bootcut or embellished, and they were typically worn with fitted tanks. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, low-rise jeans are intrinsic to the era.

   • According to vintage clothing expert Daley Polner, if you wear low-rise jeans that are bootcut or flared, you instantly tap into the 2000s look.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Daley Polner is a clothing reseller and thrifting expert who curates and resells YSK fashion pieces.

   Eireann Kanzig is a toy collecting expert whose collection features an array of vintage, retro, and modern treasures.
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   Crop Tops The jeans may have been cut low, but the tops were cut high. Cropped styles were all the rage. Think baby tees, halter tops, tube tops, cropped cardigans, and short jackets. People loved the way these tops highlighted the upper body and often paired them with low-rise bottoms or cargo pants.
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   Cargo Pants Cargo pants offered a more relaxed, chill vibe. They usually featured oversized pockets and drawstring waistbands and were worn with sneakers and fitted tops. Back in the day, Jessica Alba was one of the many celebs who sported the look.
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   Micro Mini Skirts Polner says a micro mini skirt is very 2000s. The hems of skirts came up higher to show off more leg while the waistline dropped low. Paris Hilton loved to don micro mini skirts and helped make them iconic.
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   Velour Tracksuits Velour tracksuits are another one of those hotly debated fashion trends of the early 2000s. These outfits consisted of a velour zip-up jacket and matching pants. At the time, everyone wanted a Juicy Couture tracksuit. Plenty of celebrities wore them to go for a laid-back but still stylish look. We’re looking at you, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears!
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   Chunky Platforms Polner says chunky platform sandals were definitely a thing in the 2000s. Platform footwear first became popular in the 90s, and its popularity continued into the 2000s. Platform sandals had a really thick, chunky sole and looked kind of clunky. But that’s why people loved them! And, word on the block is they’re still in.
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   JNCO Jeans JNCO Jeans first came onto the scene in the late 90s but became a 2000s trend, explains Polner. She describes them as baggy jeans with big legs. They were usually associated with skaters, ravers, and nu-metal musicians. Even though the demand for JNCO Jeans began to wane in the 2000s, they left a mark on the 00s decade.
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   Trucker Hats Trucker hats used to be so in, especially Von Dutch and Ed Hardy styles. They gave off a rural, glam aesthetic that everyone was crazy for. Ashton Kutcher and Britney Spears certainly contributed to the trucker hat’s fame.
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   Baguette Bags The baguette bag is a cute, small handbag with a short shoulder strap. They’re still around, but these bags reigned supreme during the 2000s. During this time, some of the biggest names in fashion released their own versions of baguette bags, including Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Fendi. Supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Iman were spotted toting these handbags on red carpets.
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    Frosty Eyeshadow Eyeshadow in the 2000s was bright and frosty. Shades like turquoise, mint green, lavender, and sky blue were packed on from lashline to brow bone. No blending required.
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    Thin Eyebrows How thin could you go was the question when it came to brows. Since the 80s, eyebrows gradually began to get thinner and were razor thin by the 2000s. Let’s just say tweezers were your best friend. Christina Aguilera, Pamela Anderson, and Jessica Alba loved rocking their thin brows.

    • For more on trendy looks in the 2000s, check out our guide to iconic early 2000s hairstyles.
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Section 2 of 7:

2000s Music

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   CD Binders Before music went digital, you kept your CDs organized by placing them carefully in CD binders. They came in different sizes and were a testament to your music collection. They held a mix of store-bought and burned CDs, and there was even a pocket to hold CD booklets.

   • In the Reddit thread Binders Full of CDs, users reminisce about their CD binder collections.
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   Burning CDs Before you could just look up and play songs on Spotify, you downloaded music and burned it onto a CD. Who remembers the familiar buzzing sound of a CD burner writing a disc or the pop-up message that said, “Burn process completed successfully”? Then came the part where you labeled the CD and placed it into your binder. Good times.
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   Band Posters Many music stores in malls had big poster racks that you could flip through like a book. The exciting part was going through the sleeves, seeing if the next poster featured your favored band. Even better was if you could find your favorite band’s poster in the cubby holes below.
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   iTunes Apple launched the iTunes store in 2003 and revolutionized how people could access music. The digital store contained about 200,000 songs you could download for just 99¢ each. In six days, more than a million songs were purchased and downloaded. The rest is history.
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   Pop Icons The 2000s were the era of the pop star, says Polner, like Britney Spears and the Disney Channel stars of the time. You also saw the popularity of icons like Christina Aguilera soar. Pink released her debut album Can’t Take Me Home in 2000, and Justin Timberlake went solo with his 2002 album Justified. Other pop star favorites from the era include:

   • Destiny’s Child
   • Pussycat Dolls
   • Fergie
   • Shakira
   • Lady Gaga
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   Boy Bands Boy bands were still a thing during the early 2000s. While their popularity began to fade as the decade went on, you could still hear tracks by Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync on the radio. This was also the time of the next generation of boy bands, like The Jonas Brothers and V Factory.
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   Emo Bands Things also got dark and emotional in the 2000s with the emergence of emo music. The raw, punk rock sound and melancholy vibes defined the emo subculture and music. Bands like My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, and Dashboard Confessional dominated the scene.
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   Hip-Hop Hits OutKast, Missy Elliot, Eminem, and 50 Cent were just a few of the artists slaying the hip-hop scene in the 00s. Who’s guilty of singing along to Eminem’s “Without Me”? This was also the time of hip-hop producers, like Dr. Dre and Timbaland, who redefined the hip-hop sound and image.
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   Nu-metal Nu-metal merged the worlds of metal and rap in interesting ways. While the genre had already begun to take shape in the 90s, the 2000s were when it really got big. Linkin Park’s album Hybrid Theory is a prime example of the nu-metal sound. Other bands like System of a Down, Limp Bizkit, and Papa Roach also made the genre popular.

   • Learn about the rise of the nu-metal pose.
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Section 3 of 7:

2000s Movies

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   Harry Potter Everyone wanted to attend Hogwarts when Harry Potter hit the big screen in 2001. That was the year that began the magical journey into the Wizarding World with Harry, Hermione, and Ron. It was also a time when people got excited for midnight showings and literally pitched tents outside the movie theater to be first in line to snag good seats!

   • How well do you know Harry Potter? Take our Harry Potter trivia quiz to find out!
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   The Lord of the Rings The Lord of the Rings was another successful film adaptation of a book series. Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy went wild when The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring came out in 2001. The movie delivered an amazing adventure and awesome cinematography and visuals that weren’t seen as often at the time.

   • Are you a big Lord of the Rings fan? Test your knowledge with our The Lord of the Rings trivia quiz!
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   Mean Girls Mean Girls captured the cliquey and catty world of teenage girls, and we were here for it. Witnessing Lindsay Lohan’s character Cady infiltrate The Plastics and gradually turn into one of them herself was hilarious and fun. Plus, the movie gave us a ton of quotable lines: “You can’t sit with us!”
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   Monster House Monster House pulled at the heartstrings of spooky kids and adults. The animated horror-comedy gave us a suburban neighborhood Halloween setting and a creepy house. All the more endearing were the three kids at the center of the story who were brave enough to take on a spine-tingling quest.
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   Legally Blonde Legally Blonde has gone on to become a cult classic from the early 00s. From the all-pink fashion to Elle Woods’ perky personality, you can’t help but smile and giggle. And who wasn’t rooting for Elle as she challenged the “dumb blonde stereotype" and captured the spirit of female empowerment?
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   Twilight The Twilight saga introduced a new type of vampire, one that glittered. It also featured an interesting love triangle between a human girl, vampire, and werewolf. Were you Team Edward or Team Jacob? It was one of those late 2000s movies that you couldn’t stop hearing about.

   • Take our quiz to find out once and for all whether you’re Team Edward or Team Jacob.
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   The Devil Wears Prada The Devil Wears Prada gave us a peek at what the fashion world was like. It also captured what was trending in pop culture at the time. Who could forget all the chic outfits? Plus, the film gave us unforgettable characters like Andy, Miranda Priestly, Emily, and Nigel.
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   Knocked Up Judd Apatow’s films introduced a new age of comedy. Knocked Up was one of those. The movie is filled with raunchy moments, potty humor, and bong hits. The main characters, Alison and Ben, are a mess, and that’s why audiences still love the movie.
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Section 4 of 7:

2000s TV Shows

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   Lost Who wasn’t talking about the latest episode of Lost during the early 2000s? A plane crash leaves a group of survivors on a deserted island who must now fend for themselves. The series had adventure, cliffhangers, and plenty of emotional moments. And the series finale??? We won’t go there.
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   The O.C. The O.C. had drama and became super popular with high school kids. It centered on family, friendships, and first loves. It put Mischa Barton on the map, and even Paris Hilton had a cameo.
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   Gilmore Girls Gilmore Girls was a heartwarming TV show that centered on a mother-daughter relationship. It also spotlighted the travails of being a high schooler through the eyes of Rory. The show developed such a loyal fanbase that it got a Netflix reboot.
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   Sabrina, The Teenage Witch No, we’re not talking about Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. We’re taking it back to the ABC show starring Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina. Many millennials can probably remember looking forward to Friday nights when new episodes would air. Sabrina, her aunts, and her witty cat Salem made the show fun!
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   Buffy The Vampire Slayer This series debuted during the late 90s and continued through the early 2000s. At the center was a strong, teenage girl named Buffy who slayed vampires and demons. The series nicely blended horror elements and teenage drama.
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   Veronica Mars For a teenager, the character Veronica took on a pretty insane mission—trying to find out who murdered her classmate. High school student by day and private detective by night, the series led you down a rabbit hole of intriguing clues and plot twists.
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   One Tree Hill This was the reigning teen soap opera of the time. The plot followed two half-brothers living in a small town in North Carolina. One Tree Hill delivered melodrama while also delivering moments that viewers could relate to.
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   That’s So Raven That’s So Raven was one of the popular shows on the Disney Channel. It starred Raven-Symoné as Raven Baxter, a teen who had a passion for fashion and could see into the future. Besides its supernatural storyline, there were also funny and relatable moments sprinkled across the series.

   • If you’re nostalgic for cartoons, see our guide to the best cartoons of the early 2000s.
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   Reality TV Reality TV shows of the 2000s need their own list, but there are a few that must be mentioned here! Reality TV really gained traction during this time, with networks like MTV, VH1, and E! airing a lineup of different series. Shows like The Osbournes, The Simple Life, and Rock of Love introduced a new side of reality, and as viewers, we couldn’t get enough!
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Section 5 of 7:

2000s Technology

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   Y2K Panic While the Y2K frenzy started before the year 2000 hit, it revealed how curious we all were about how technology would transform in the coming century. People thought a Y2K bug would derail technology systems and that doomsday was approaching. While all was well when the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2000, it was a hell of a way to kick off the 2000s.
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   Dial-Up Internet Do you hear that screeching, beeping noise? It’s the sound of your internet trying to connect to the digital world. The internet was starting to take off in the 2000s, and we all wanted to be online. But boy, did it suck if someone answered the phone while you were on the net. IYKYK.
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   AOL Instant Messenger Known as AIM for short, AOL Instant Messenger changed the way you communicated online. As soon as you heard the creaking door sound, you knew a friend was joining you. Creating your Buddy List and screen name made AIM all the more fun.
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   Flip Phones Before smartphones, there was the flip phone. People talked on their BlackBerry or Motorola RAZR. Phones offered new advanced features that wowed people, like text messaging and built-in cameras. It was a time.
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   Music Players CDs and CD players have joined the ranks of vintage music novelties like cassettes, vinyls, and record players. Portable CD players, like the Sony CD Walkman, were a precious item to music lovers. If you hit a bump, the CD skipped, which is why you looked for a CD player with Electronic Skip Protection (ESP).
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   Gaming Computer gaming experienced an upgrade with a slew of new games entering the scene. These games introduced new worlds and adventures. Some popular ones included Club Penguin, AdventureQuest, and FusionFall.
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   MySpace Before Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, there was MySpace. MySpace was the premier social media website that connected you to friends. While it was a way for bands and musicians to share their work, other people started using it as a form of self-expression. There’s no doubt MySpace influenced social media as we know it today.
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   Apple iPods When Apple introduced the iPod in 2001, it changed the way you experienced music. You could download songs to this small device and shuffle through your playlists. The device seemed so advanced and cool, and even now, people want to get their hands on one again.
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Section 6 of 7:

2000s Toys & Games

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   Pop Star Dolls According to toy collecting expert Eireann Kanzig, hot pop stars of the early 2000s, like Britney Spears and ‘N Sync, were popular dolls that kids wanted to have. This was the era of celebrity dolls, and they became a hot collector’s item. Some even sang!
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   Bratz Dolls Bratz Dolls were another group of coveted fashion dolls in the early 2000s, says Kanzig. They looked cool and had an edgy sense of fashion. Kids went crazy for the makeup, hair, over-the-top features, and clothing pieces. Move over, Barbie.
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   Nintendo DS The Nintendo DS was released in 2004 and transformed handheld gaming. It had advanced features, like a camera, a touch pen, and the ability to go online. It was like carrying a mini computer around in your pocket, and young gamers went crazy for it.
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   WWE Action Figures Kanzig shares that WWE action figures experienced massive popularity during the 2000s. They were a way for kids to bring the ring into their bedroom and recreate the wrestling matches they saw on TV. A few popular figures included John Cena, Chris Jericho, Jeff Hardy, The Undertaker, and Kurt Angle.
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   Razor Scooter Razor Scooters were different from traditional scooters because they just looked cooler. They were like a combination of a skateboard and roller blades. They were compact and portable, and kids loved the speed.

   • See our guide for more nostalgic early 2000s toys!
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Section 7 of 7:

2000s School Nostalgia

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   Lunchables The cool kids didn’t get their lunch from the cafeteria; they brought a Lunchable. The small compartments with crackers, cheese, and deli meat gave you the munchies and made lunchtime all the more enjoyable. Who didn’t love stacking their lunch together with one of these?
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   Scented Markers You couldn’t just have plain markers; they needed to be scented. Scented markers were quite popular in classrooms in the 2000s. Some favorite scents were cherry red, blueberry blue, and cinnamon brown. Who remembers passing their markers around for friends to sniff?
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   TV Cart Ah, the good ‘ol TV cart. When you saw your teacher rolling this into class, you jumped for joy because it meant you got to watch TV at school! Whether it was a movie or something educational, the TV cart was welcomed with open arms by students.
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   Push-Point Pencils Do you remember the pencils with cartridges? They were a step up from traditional pencils. They were filled with pre-sharpened lead, and when the tip wore down, you pushed for more lead. It was one of those school supplies you made sure to have in your arsenal.
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   School Book Fairs Before tablets and e-readers, you read physical copies of books. School book fairs were exciting because you got to browse through colorful book covers and get your hands on popular titles at the time. Some iconic 2000s books you could probably find were Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney, Judy Moody by Megan McDonald, and Guinness World Records annual editions.

   • If you still want more 2000s nostalgia, see our guide on how to relive the 2000s.
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