The early 2000s had their charm, but fashion has moved on. More importantly, so have we. Our clothes should support the person we are now, not just remind us of who we used to be.
A few weeks back, I went over to a friend’s house to help her with some decluttering.
She was struggling with it, and she knew I’d done several closet cleanouts over the years, so she asked for my help. We decided to make an afternoon of it.
Anyway, when we opened her wardrobe—it took me back to say the least. It was like stepping straight into the early 2000s. Capri pants, studded belts, and more than one Von Dutch hat stared back at me.
It got me thinking: we all hold onto things for longer than we should, especially clothes. Sometimes it’s nostalgia, sometimes it’s the “just in case I need it again” excuse. But often, these items weigh us down more than they lift us up.
So if you’ve been wondering whether your closet is keeping you stuck in the past, here are seven items that might be the giveaway.
1. Rhinestone-studded jeans
When I pulled a pair of jeans with rhinestones across the back pockets out of the closet, we both burst out laughing. She admitted she hadn’t worn them in over a decade but couldn’t quite let go. They reminded her of nights out dancing in her twenties.
The problem is, those jeans were more costume than clothing at this point. They didn’t fit quite right anymore, and they didn’t match anything else in her wardrobe.
Holding onto them was more about holding onto a memory.
2. Cropped cardigans
Next came a little cardigan that tied in the front. I remembered those—I had at least three myself back in the day. They were cute at the time, worn over camisoles to make a basic outfit feel a little more polished.
But now? They felt flimsy, dated, and a little awkward.
She held it up and shook her head, saying it reminded her of her first job where she wore one to every staff meeting. Funny how clothes can bring us right back to a specific chapter of life.
3. Cargo pants with endless pockets
Digging further, we unearthed a pair of olive-green cargo pants with about a dozen pockets. She joked that she could probably fit her entire handbag inside them if she tried.
Back in the 2000s, everyone had a pair. They were the thing to wear with tank tops and sneakers. But now, they felt bulky and heavy compared to today’s sleeker styles.
She hadn’t touched them in years, but there they were, still hanging on.
4. Halter tops
Then we found a halter top in bright pink satin. She held it up and groaned, “This one saw too many college parties.”
That top carried memories, sure—of carefree summers, friends, and music blaring late at night. But she admitted she wouldn’t feel comfortable in it anymore. It belonged to a younger version of herself, and that’s okay. Clothes can remind us of who we were without needing to stay in our closets forever.
5. Bolero jackets
At one point, I pulled out a bolero jacket, one of those cropped little numbers that were supposed to “dress up” an outfit. She rolled her eyes immediately. “I wore that to every wedding for five years straight.”
We both agreed it cut her body in a weird spot and made outfits look more awkward than elevated. It was the kind of piece that served its purpose back then but now just looked out of place.
6. Platform flip-flops
The next find made us laugh the hardest—a pair of foam platform flip-flops. She slipped them on and instantly wobbled, nearly toppling over.
We both remembered when they were the must-have shoe for summers at the beach. They gave you height without the pain of heels, but let’s be honest—they were never practical. She hadn’t worn them since the last time she twisted her ankle trying to run for a bus in them.
7. Logo-heavy handbags
Finally, we uncovered a handbag covered in giant logos. She looked at it with a mix of guilt and nostalgia. “I saved up forever to buy this,” she said, “and I carried it everywhere.”
It was a status symbol once, a way of showing you’d made it. But now, it just felt loud and out of sync with her current style. She realized she was keeping it more because of how much she’d spent on it than because she actually loved it.
Final thoughts
Going through her closet felt like flipping through an old scrapbook. Every piece told a story, and it was fun to reminisce—but it was also freeing to let go.
The early 2000s had their charm, but fashion has moved on. More importantly, so have we. Our clothes should support the person we are now, not just remind us of who we used to be.
So if you’ve still got rhinestone jeans, bolero jackets, or platform flip-flops tucked away, maybe it’s time to thank them for the memories and make room for what fits your life today.
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