The world of fashion has seen many ups and downs. Need we forget that at one time the “bullet bra” was a staple of women’s wardrobes?

It goes without saying there are some skeletons the fashion industry wishes to keep in its closet. However, there is one skeleton in particular that I wish to drag back into the light. Brace yourselves ladies and gentlemen, because from the deep, dark depths of fashion’s past, I present to you: the early 2000s.

The early 2000s, or as I like to call it, “the era that shall not be referenced,” was a startling decade to say the least. Yes, it was the prime decade career-wise for Amanda Bynes and Lindsay Lohan (bless their hearts), but it was also a downfall for the world of fashion, kicked off by Y2K-inspired fashion trends.

I’m blaming this one on “Zenon: girl of the 21st century.” The Y2K trend had futuristic elements influenced by the budding technological movement. As the years progressed, it was as if everyone’s clothes began to shrink and got dipped in a vat of rhinestones.

Waistbands got lower, tops became non-existent, Louis Vuitton had those miniature monogram bags that everyone had a knock-off version of and layering became playtime in mommy’s closet.

Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie stood at the forefront of the downfall. They paraded the red carpets in bandana shirts, denim mini skirts, shiny pants, neckties and those god-awful asymmetrical jersey skirts.

As for hair, I’ll just leave you with a photo of my good friends Lizzie and Miranda.

I can smell the burnt hair as I type.

In the end, I still refuse to acknowledge the presence of the early 2000s. In my mind, after the 90s, the world of fashion fell into some black hole and reappeared after 2010. However, I can empathize a little with the fashion. The times were changing and so were the people. At a time like the turn of the millennium, all you know is that you have to move forward; there wasn’t really any looking back.

I appreciate the spunk of society in the early 2000s. Apparel-wise, it was really a happy time. Honestly, we needed it.