Halloween
Paris Hilton (Photo by Steve Granitz Archive/WireImage)
These Y2K Halloween Costumes Are The Ultimate Blasts From The Past

You’ll be saying “that’s hot” to all of these costumes.

by Margaret Blatz
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
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Y2K fashion has officially come back in full force. Crop tops, mini skirts, and Couture tracksuits have all become must-have, trendy items once more. When it comes to having a fashionable Halloween costume that’ll get you all the compliments, and maybe even an award for best costume of the night, try a Y2K-inspired Halloween costume. You don’t even have to mentally prepare yourself to break out the low-rise jeans because these easy Y2K Halloween costumes don’t require you to relive that particular fashion nightmare.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than 20 years since the turn of the millennium. If you want to go back to the days when Ross and Rachel were on a break or when you took all your fashion tips from Lizzie McGuire, you’ll want to try out one of these early aughts looks. It takes more than just whale-tailing à la Manny in Degrassi to really pull it off, but with a few key details and accessories added to your costume, you’ll embody the ultimate blasts from the past. Since throwing it all the way back is enough of a challenge, most of these Y2K Halloween costumes are already in your wardrobe.

Keep reading below for the early 2000s pop-culture moments and figures that make for the Y2K Halloween costume of your dreams. With the era’s fashion renaissance, you might just keep this look going well past spooky season.

01

Britney Spears’ Canadian Tuxedo

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Grab all the denim you own to recreate Britney Spears’ iconic jean dress (or dress, if you’re daring) from the 2001 American Music Awards. You may have to go vintage shopping to find a sweeping denim skirt, but it’ll be well worth it. All you need is a Justin Timberlake to complete the look.

02

Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi” Style

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You can’t go wrong by channeling Avril Lavigne’s early aughts skater energy. The “Sk8er Boi” singer’s looks are pretty easy to copy. All you need is a pair of baggy pants, a tank top that shows a little skin, and a tie. If you’re really trying to get in on the Lavigne fantasy, add in some chunky leather bracelets to really sell the look.

03

Paris Hilton In Her Signature Color

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images

When it comes to Y2K icons, there are none that loom as large as Paris Hilton. She had a ton of iconic looks throughout the early aughts, but if you want to recreate a Hilton costume from your own closet, an all-pink look is your best bet. A low-rise pink skirt and a slightly cropped pink top are an ideal combo. Add in a frosted lip, blue eyeshadow, and a baguette bag, and you’ll be saying, “that’s hot,” in no time.

04

Ashley Tisdale In Layers

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Let's not forget the wonderful, head-scratching looks that graced the early 2000s red carpets. If you ever looked at your jeans and thought, “What if I added a skirt?” You were right. Make sure you include plenty of statement accessories in this Halloween costume.

05

The Plastics From Mean Girls

Paramount

Grab a few friends to transform into the coolest clique of the early aughts: The Plastics from Mean Girls. This fiendish trio is still a favorite, almost two decades later, so you can’t go wrong mimicking their looks. You and your pals will need lots of pink to pull these costumes off, but there’s plenty of range. An oversized pink polo, a matching pink skirt and sweater set, or the iconic “a little bit dramatic” tank top all work.

06

Destiny’s Child In Crop Tops And Denim

Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images

Show off your midriff with a pair of low-rise jeans, a floral crop top, and a very sparkly belt. If it’s good enough for the goddesses of Destiny’s Child, it’s definitely good enough for you.

07

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen In New York Minute

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Team up with your bestie to become the most famous twins of the early ‘00s. My favorite of the twos’ looks definitely comes from New York Minute, and there are a ton of looks you can pull from just that singular movie. The easiest way to pull off the twins' fashion is to create two looks: a long-sleeved shirt under a graphic T-shirt along with a blazer and mini skirt combo.

08

Missy Elliott In Her Vest Era

Kevin Winter/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Vest lovers, this costume is for you. Missy Elliott spent the ‘00s in vests, denim, and distressed T-shirts. Her look from this 2001 concert is definitely one of the easiest to recreate. Grab some hair gel to get her iconic, spikey hair, layer a slashed T-shirt over a plain one, and add a denim vest, bedazzling optional.

09

Hilary Duff As Lizzie McGuire With Baby Hair Clips

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

You’ll need to bring your A-game when it comes to your hair accessories to successfully pull off a Y2K Halloween costume. From Hilary Duff as Lizzie McGuire to Sarah Michelle Gellar to Jennifer Aniston, butterfly clips were a favorite of many major darlings of the era.

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