Okay frosted tips, cargo pants and neckties as belts: we’re glad you’re gone and absent in our wardrobes (Seriously, please never come back). But not everything from the early 2000s was as unsalvageable as those flower hair clips with which we all pinned back our side bangs. Here are a few things that have been majorly upgraded since the early 2000s—and wow, are we thankful.
1. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Then:
Would we have dated him in the early 2000s? Eh, probably not… We’re not sure what’s going on with that earring, and is that a mullet we see? Whatever it is, we aren’t interested in seeing any more of it, even if it involves baby-faced JGL. Plus, our favorite man candy may be able to fill out a tank pretty smoothly nowadays (hello, Don Jon), but back in the day? Yeah, let’s just say he was a little lacking in the muscle department.
Now:
Would we date him now? Yes, yes, a million times yes! Forget dating; we’ve moved on to imaginary marriages and raven-haired babies. Haven’t you? That jawline! That style! That new-and-improved haircut. Joseph Gordon-Levitt grew into our favorite golden boy.
We guess we still loved you when you were a teenager in the early 2000s, Joey, but we can’t deny that your appearance now is an enormous upgrade.
2. Reality TV
Then:
How we felt by the end of the oh-so-obviously scripted and over-dramatic Laguna Beach:
Now:
How we feel whenever we watch Keeping Up With the Kardashians:
Though we don’t know if reality TV has actually gotten less scripted, we can say that we think it’s ten times better now. It’s me—it’s Todd Kraines!
3. Celebrities in denim
Then:
The fashion police went on vacation for this red carpet appearance. Both the outfits (and the couple) are no longer in existence, and we assume we have the style gods to thank for that. Seriously, could the early 2000s have done less to try to destroy denim as a legitimate fashion choice? We don’t think so!
Now:
Thank you, Olivia Palermo #allfixed. In the last ten years, the revival of chambray and arrival of celebrities who actually understood how to dress themselves (sans stylist) have drastically changed the face of the blue jean. Style-savvy collegiettes, rejoice!
We think we’ve all learned in the last ten years that one piece of denim per outfit is the perfect amount. At least we’ve learned from pop royalty’s mistakes.
4. The Internet
Then:
Remember when you basically had to call the Internet on the phone to just log into your Neopets account? How barbaric. Whoever thought dial-up was a good idea, anyway? (Note: anyone who wasn’t using the Internet in the early 2000s probably won’t even know what this item is—is it a space ship? The fabled “Walkman”? Only true 2000-ers will know!)
Now:
“Siri, Google a smoothie recipe, buy the ingredients online and have them delivered to my house. Thanks, doll.”
Who would have thought ten years ago that we would one day be indignant if we didn’t get free wifi wherever we desired it? Dial-up isn’t even worth a nostalgic #tbt.
5. Sneakers
Then:
We can maybe forgive Kim K for endorsing these…but maybe not. For starters, these Skechers Shape-Ups (which were designed to help wearers get toned just by walking in them) actually led to broken hips and broken ankles. For another, they were all kinds of ugly.
Now:
We aren’t sure how we could function if we couldn’t customize every possible piece of fabric in our Nikes. Really, we couldn’t own shoes without neon laces. It’s just not us.
Now, we like our sneakers the way we like our lattés: skinny, stylish, and custom. Oh, and not dangerous to our health.
6. Everything about hair
Then:
From frosted tips to pink tips, in the early 2000s we discovered exactly why hair shouldn’t look like a concoction out of Dexter’s Laboratory (you know, the original Dexter).
Now:
Thank you, Blake Lively. Thank you, Jessica Chastain, Sofia Vergara and Taylor Swift. Sometimes less really is more when it comes to neon hair dye and butterfly clips, and we can’t thank you enough for reinventing the hairstyle scene on the red carpet in recent years. Now our eyes no longer burn when we check out paparazzi shots!
7. Aéropostale
Then:
Nary a mall trip went by in the early 2000s without us making a purchase (or four) at Aéropostale, which was our one-stop shop for popped collar polos, cargo pants and adorable denim minis. Still, when we look back on the styles we rocked back in the day (read: elementary and middle school), we’re ready to admit that they’re definitely no longer worthy of our wardrobes. Styles change, and so have we!
Now:
Have you heard about the biggest transformation in retail history? Aéropostale has launched two brand-new lines, proving it’s grown up (a lot) since the early 2000s. LIVE LOVE DREAM carries adorable loungewear, and AERO NOW supplies this season’s trends.
Gone are the days of the uniform combination of graphic tees and whiskered denim minis; Aéropostale’s new lines let you embody your own style with a combination of classic pieces, recent trends and, of course, loungewear for those movie marathons. We’re certainly glad a lot has changed since our days in the early 2000s, and we’re glad Aéropostale has upgraded, too. We’re all about trading in the tired trends of yesteryear for all-new looks, and we’re drooling over the swoon-worthy, fresh and fun styles gracing the shelves of Aero stores all over!
Luckily, we never have to revisit the early 2000s again (OK, except for when we can’t help but start a Laguna Beach marathon... for the fifth time). It’s all uphill from here, and the future is looking bright!