By Shelby Hyde ·Updated May 10, 2024
Paris Hilton’s 21st birthday dress may be the blueprint for fast fashion retailers everywhere, but two years prior to the “original” making its debut,target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener” aria-label=”LisaRaye(opens in a new tab)”>LisaRaye McCoy wore a similar chainmail look to the 2000 Video Music Awards (micro bag, in tow). Before model Bella Hadid deemed oversized cargos and gradient sunglasses a must, famed R&B singer Aaliyah had already made them her signature look. And though Juicy Couture has certainly become a household name for velour tracksuits, the plush set was preceded bytarget=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener” aria-label=”Kimora Lee Simons’ (opens in a new tab)”>Kimora Lee Simons’s Baby Phat empire.
Sisqo with actress LisaRaye arriving at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City. 9/7/2000 Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect
With the aforementioned early 2000s fashion trends making a splash in 2020, it feels necessary to give credit where credit is due, which is black culture.
Unable to fully partake in the trends the first time around, I took this comeback in adulthood as a chance to divulge, completely. Rounding up every tube top, Kangol hat, and jersey dress that I never had the pleasure of owning, I soon realized that discussing the resurgence of trends from the early aughts without acknowledging the influence by Black culture was nearly impossible. Growing up, I remember video vixens being laced out in full denim looks that can now be seen on Instagram models, everywhere. Closely relating to the archetype of Lauren London’s character “New New” in the classic film, ATL who convinced me to invest in the pair of oversized name earrings that every Black girl owned. Long before Carrie Bradshaw popularized her beloved monogram necklace that she referenced as “ghetto gold” jewelry.
“I soon realized that discussing the resurgence of trends from the early aughts without acknowledging the influence by Black culture was nearly impossible.”
But, we all know that “Ghetto is nothing but creativity that hasn’t been stolen, yet”, a phrase coined by Ohio-based designer and philanthropist, Ron Blassingame. Of course, now, you’d be hard-pressed to scroll through your timeline and find an influencer or celebrity without their own moniker hanging proudly around their necks. Proving that trends that were considered controversial twenty years ago, are now hot commodities.
Scroll through a list of trends from the early 2000s that were undeniably made popular through its rise in the Black community.
01Gradient SunglassesIf the ‘90s gave us tiny wire frames, then the 2000s were definitively all about square-shape ombre lenses. Powerhouse icons of the era like Beyonce and Lil Kim were both notorious for wearing their go-to pink and blue acrylicsrc=”https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/shutterstock_editorial_5122907u-scaled.jpg” alt=”Early 2000's Fashion Trends That Were Made Popular By Black Culture” width=”400″ height=”592″ /> 02Etnia Barcelona Guajira Sun 
available at Etnia Barcelona $290 Shop Now 03Velour TracksuitsAfter its inception in 1999, the Baby Phat brand churned out its first velour tracksuit, which became a household staple everywhere. Everyone from Meagan Good to Alicia Keys could be found sporting a different color set. 
04Baby Phat Max Velour Jacket 
available at Baby Phat $80 Shop Now 05Baby Phat Max Velour Jogger 
available at Baby Phat $70 Shop Now 06Biker JacketsThanks to a laundry list of biker movies making waves in theatres between 2001 and 2003 , leather motocross jackets became a certified fashion trend. Biker Boyz star Meagan Good sported a personalized version to the movie premiere and similardecoding=”async” src=”https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/shutterstock_editorial_402131l.jpg” alt=”Early 2000's Fashion Trends That Were Made Popular By Black Culture” width=”400″ height=”598″ /> 07Off-White back Logo Biker Jacket 
available at Farfetch $2,393 Shop Now 08Camouflage PantsIn the era of cargo pants, camouflage motifs were typically thedecoding=”async” src=”https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/shutterstock_editorial_6058022ai.jpg” alt=”Early 2000's Fashion Trends That Were Made Popular By Black Culture” width=”400″ height=”885″ /> 09Re/done Camouflage Print Cropped Trousers 
available at Farfetch $186 Shop Now 10Nameplate JewelryNameplate jewelry was the must-have item for Black girls, everywhere. If oversized hoops aren’t really your thing, opt for a monogrammed ring or necklace instead. 
11Them Jewelers NY The Mini Classic Nameplate 
available at Them Jewelers NY $100 Shop Now 12Airbrushed Tank TopsMariah Carey’s album cover art for Heartbreaker put the airbrush tank on the map, with Joy Bryant and any member of Destiny’s Child following suit. Today, brands like O-Mighty are bringing thedecoding=”async” src=”https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/shutterstock_editorial_6054711bb-1.jpg” alt=”Early 2000's Fashion Trends That Were Made Popular By Black Culture” width=”400″ height=”600″ /> 13O Mighty Buffy Skinny Tank 
available at O Mighty $40 Shop Now 14Bra Tops + Baggy PantsThe key to pulling off a somewhat revealing look is to have a relaxed hoodie or cropped cardigan on hand for controlled coverage (plus, you can tie it around your shoulders for an instantly polished look). Aaliyah was adecoding=”async” src=”https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/shutterstock_editorial_10270518a-21-1.jpg” alt=”Early 2000's Fashion Trends That Were Made Popular By Black Culture” width=”400″ height=”597″ /> 15Proclaim Tencel Bralette In Ella Nude 
available at Proclaim $59 Shop Now 16adidas Originals by Daniëlle Cathari 
available at Ssense $80 Shop Now 17Samuel L. JacksonSamuel L. Jackson owned the role on stage in the Broadway smash from Katori Hall The Mountaintop. 
18Kangol Bermuda Casual Textured Bucket Hat 
available at Kangol $68 Shop Now TOPICS: Black creatives black designers Black fashion essence fashion house fashion gallery fashion news fashion shows nyfw
The post 2000’s Fashion Trends Made Popular By Black Culture appeared first on Essence.
