There’s no denying it: the early ‘00s were a rough time for us all. From formulating AIM away messages, to learning the lyrics to the latest Britney song, we had a lot to keep up with. But perhaps the most memorable fads were those that had to do with style. Little compared to the thrill of being dropped off at the mall and having the freedom to walk around with friends for a few hours. What we bought was important, because we wanted to fit in. Let’s take a moment to reminisce with these five totally relatable phases that we all went through growing up.
1. Limited Too
Limited Too was all the rage during our pre-teen years. We got the catalogues in the mail and eagerly flipped through the pages. The bright colors and shiny sequins beckoned to us from the storefront windows, and we just had to go in. Everything was pink and sparkly, and it was the epitome of cool. We could even buy the latest CD at the check out counter. What didn’t Limited Too have? The one downside to shopping there was the abundance of creepy mannequins. Sadly, the store no longer exists. In 2008, it was rebranded as Justice. Do you feel old yet?
2. Hollister and Abercrombie
Once we were “too mature” for Limited Too, we moved on to Hollister and Abercrombie. The clothes in the front were always too expensive, so our moms dragged us to the back of the store. That was where the clearance section was, complete with a heaping pile of marked down t-shirts. Sporting a tight tee with the Hollister or Abercrombie logo in huge lettering was the best way to show our unique style, so we spent the time rummaging through the disorganized mess until we found the ones we liked. Then it was time to try them on in the small, heavily perfumed dressing rooms. Not that there was really a point, because the lighting was so dim that we could barely see our own reflection.
3. Claire’s
No shopping spree was complete without a trip to Claire’s. Once our ears were pierced, we were unstoppable. We had to have dozens of pairs of earrings, even though we only really rotated between two or three. What could be cooler than wearing tiny plastic animals in our ears? Wearing tiny plastic fruit in our ears, that’s what. Claire’s always had those buy two, get one free sales, and you could purchase a pack with nine pairs of the exact same earrings, except in different colors. From dangling feathers, to those spiky-looking studs that felt squishy to the touch, Claire’s truly had it all.
4. Livestrong Bracelets
It all started with a yellow bracelet. We wore that piece of rubber around our wrists to show our support, though to us it was more of a fashion statement. Then Target released a pink one for breast cancer, and we had to have that too. For the sake of the cause, of course. Our collection grew, and soon we had wrists full of bracelets in all different colors and designs, from tie-dye to camo. It was a great way to raise awareness, at least until we got in trouble at school for wearing the “I Heart Boobies” bands. Now that was scandalous.
5. Lip Smackers
We were introduced to the world of Lip Smacker at an early age. Perhaps we got the colored chapstick for our birthday, or bought it with our allowance. From there, the opportunities opened up. We quickly moved on to the clear lip gloss, in flavors like watermelon and cotton candy. Not to mention the excitement brought on by the release of Skittles Lip Smackers. How great was it to put that deliciously sweet, sticky shine on our lips all day long? We carried it around in our pencil case, and were sure to reapply before seeing our crush.
Though our middle school pictures are far from flattering, hopefully now that we’re in college we can look back on these fashion choices with nostalgia, rather than humiliation. After all, in a few years someone will write a similar article to this one, only about Victoria’s Secret Pink yoga pants and Uggs. We just can’t win.