1Simon Cowell on 'American Idol'
Kevin Winter//Getty ImagesThe singing reality competition, American Idol, had everyone in a tight grip in the early 2000s. A lot of that was due to Simon Cowell, the witty and very blunt judge on the show. To get his look right, you'll need a solid black t-shirt (which he was famous for wearing), a dark-colored wig, and a frown on your face. He was hard to impress!
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2Madame Leota from 'Haunted Mansion' Costume
Keiko LynnHaunted Mansion, the spooky movie from 2003, has many iconic looks and scenes, especially all of the ones including Madame Leota. Copying her look is a fun task, and you'll need a table, some cloth, and lots of crafty skills.
Get the tutorial at Keiko Lynn.
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3Lava Girl Costume
Columbia PicturesEveryone who watched Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 2005 was jealous of the powers the latter had. Who wouldn't want to shoot lava from their hands as kids? The look requires pink. Lots and lots of pink. (Even down to the hair!)
4Dwight Howard as Superman Costume
TIMOTHY A. CLARY//Getty ImagesIf you watched the NBA's Sprite Slam-Dunk Contest in 2008, you likely remember Dwight Howard's choice of attire. He went as Superman (cape and all), which is probably why he was able to catch some serious air that night! You can create this same look with a Superman t-shirt and blue basketball shorts, a cape, and of course, a basketball.
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5'Anchorman' Costume
DreamWorks PicturesWhether you agreed with his tactics or not, Ron Burgundy was one famous anchorman. A good portion of that could be attributed to his very specific appearance, with overgrown and somewhat slicked back hair, a thick mustache, and his sharp suit and tie.
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6'That's So Raven' Costume
Bob D'Amico//Getty ImagesThe theme song of this popular 2000s Disney show is enough to draw us back to simpler times! If you wanted to dress like Raven (the psychic and sassy main character), we suggest wearing some flare jeans with an embroidered design of some sort, alongside a vibrant colored shirt!
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7'Uptown Girls' Costume
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer//Getty ImagesEssentially every outfit Brittany Murphy wore for her role in Uptown Girls was perfect. But this denim overall fit (with a skirt-like bottom), designed with flowers, butterflies, and all things sweet was one of our favorites!
8'Totally Spies' Costume
Daniel Boczarski//Getty ImagesFeeling the need to save the world from its demise this Halloween? Dress as the famous trio from the 2000s animated show, Totally Spies! You could go solo, dressing as any one of them, or grab two of your best pals to complete the green, red, and yellow body-suit look!
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9'Legally Blonde' Costume
Getty ImagesChanneling your inner Elle Woods is easier than ever: Just wear pink! This look calls for a pink dress, some red-tinted shades, and a black shoulder bag!
10Taylor Swift At the American Music Awards Costume
Patrick McMullan//Getty ImagesFun fact: Taylor Swift's very first album came out in 2006. You could re-create any of her flashy award-show outfits from that year, including this one from the 34th Annual American Music Awards. All you'll need is a silver sequence dress and some golden, curly locks of hair! (Don't worry, there are plenty of wigs to match her style!)
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11The Burn Book from 'Mean Girls' Costume
Studio DIY!Anyone who has watched Mean Girls knows you can wear this on both Halloween *and* October 3rd! đ Dress up as the infamous burn book by wearing a pink t-shirt dress, and printing out letters in the appropriate font to spell out "Burn Book."
Get the tutorial at Studio DIY.
12'Bring It On' Costume
Beacon PicturesAre you on team Clovers or team Toros?! Dress up as the cheerleaders of this iconic 2000s movie starring Gabrielle Union and Kirsten Dunst this Halloween for the ultimate dose of nostalgia!
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13Destiny's Child Costume
Chris Weeks//Getty ImagesThis famous girl group (starring none other than Beyoncé herself) reigned popular from the '90s to the early 2000s. Recreate their matching look at the 2000 Billboard Music Awards by dressing in a abstract pink sequence dress.
14Rory from 'Gilmore Girls' Costume
Polka Dot ChairYou can be a student at the Chilton Preparatory School for a day by dressing up as Rory from one of our favorite 2000s shows! Use this one as an excuse to dress up as the fictional character while serving up some serious preppy vibes.
Get the tutorial at Polka Dot Chair.
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15'13 Going on 30' Costume
Columbia PicturesJennifer Garner as Jenna Rink was one big fashion statement. The dress she wore in the iconic party scene has gone on to be a staple look of the era.
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16Britney Spears Costume
Brit + CoIt's no question that Britney was one of the biggest pop stars in the 2000s with hit songs like "Toxic," "Gimme More," and "Oops!... I Did It Again." Channel your inner pop icon by dressing in her famous all denim look.
Get the tutorial at Brit + Co.
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17Gracie Hart from 'Miss Congeniality' Costume
Warner Bros.//Getty ImagesGracie Hart "from New Jersey" was the most interesting contestant in the Miss United States pageant, that's for sure! Her improper antics and less than infectious personality made it hilarious to see her show up in pink dresses and dolled-up hair in the 2000s flick. You can replicate her look easily with a sash from your state and a dress of choice!
18Willy Wonka from 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' Costume
Meaningful MamaTim Burton's take on the sweet movie came out in 2005âand you can dress up as Willy Wonka yourself by throwing on a vibrant purple coat, top hat, and a cane in hand.
Get the tutorial at Meaningful Mama.
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19'The Cheetah Girls' Costume
Disney//Getty ImagesTake it all the way back and get a group of your friends to dress up as this famous Disney girl group! Their famous sweat suits alongside their cheetah print headbands will help you complete this look.
20Dwight Schrute From 'The Office' Costume
AmazonWe got to know the sarcastic, mellow, but hilarious character that is Dwight Schrute when The Office debuted in 2005. His look is a plain one, but identifiable nonetheless!
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Josiah is the Digital Content Producer for the commerce team at Popular Mechanics, Best Products, Runnerâs World, and Bicycling Magazine. He also writes for âBIO Buysââa column on Biography.comâgiving readers the lowdown on what products their favorite celebs are using. In another life, Josiah was an editor at ThePioneerWoman.com, where he sharpened his expertise on all things lifestyle, food-news, and entertainment. Outside work related matters, heâs a fan of Studio Ghibli films, unimportant reality TV drama, and melancholy Lorde songs.Â
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