Chloe Sevigny, 2001

This photo is art.

Kirsten Dunst, 2001

I love Kirsten and somehow everything about this look, including her hair, has washed her out.

Christina Ricci, 2001

Friends, we are DEEP into the low-sling trousers era. Prepare for hipbones. (This top is cute, however, and I 100% would have been interested in its F21 knock-off.)

Hilary Swank, 2001

Neither the woman behind Hilary nor I understand what is happening on top of Hilary's head.

Mena Suvari, 2001

Somehow, this dress is both ADORABLE and also would make a good shower curtain.

Blair Underwood, 2001

Yes, I WILL drink to you, Blair Underwood.

Jennifer Tilly, 2001

This dress is extremely cool and I hope she still has it; she could easily wear it again.

Denise Richards, 2001

This is deeply reasonable.

Scarlett Johansson, 2002

This needs a hoik and I would have given her a denim jacket but it's very cute and also wait until you see what she wore the next year oh my god.

Tilda Swinton, 2002

This might be one of the worst things Swinton has ever worn?!

Nicole Kidman, 2002

Nicole....what are you doing?

Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, 2002

2002 was a sartorially distressing time. Also, I do not understand why Ethan Hawke generally looks like he cut his hair with pinking shears during this period. (I assume he wants people to take him seriously and is thus attempting to tone down his good looks. This did not work! You are still a handsome man, but just with a perplexing haircut!)

Daryl Hannah, 2002

I assume this is Dior!

Carrie-Anne Moss, 2002

I forgot that a lot of folks decided that they wanted to look a Lil Bit Western! in 2002.

Ryan Gosling, 2002

"Independent means I don't have to tuck in my shirt!" (Having said that, what a baby face he is here!)

Naomi Watts, 2002

We also really loved scarves in 2002.

Juliette Lewis, 2002

This is very entertaining. She's like a high powered executive...but SEXY. Related: When do we get the Juliette Lewis renaissance?

Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard, 2003

I would not have anticipated that Maggie G owned what we all called at the time "a going out skirt."

Christina Ricci, 2003

I gotta confess that this was my platonic ideal of outfits circa 2003.

Gillian Anderson, 2002

Truly, if aliens land on earth and ask us to explain 2003, just show them this photo -- and also I need to clarify that I began this sentence without thinking about how "aliens" would make a very apt reference for Gillian Anderson in 2003, but I'm definitely proud of it regardless.

Scarlett Johansson, 2003

Oh Scarlett. SCARLETT.

Scarlett Johansson, 2003

SCARLETT!!!!!

Brad and Jen, 2003

"Let's just roll out of bed and go down there."

Maria Bello, 2003

"I, too, have just rolled out of bed. But GLAMOUROUSLY."

Taye Diggs, 2003

Taye Diggs: Timelessly handsome and this shirt also feels very 2003.

America Ferrera, 2003

America Ferrera can look back at this and feel totally fine about it!

Zooey Deschanel, 2004

2004: When the stylists really started to step in. (Although this feels very on-brand for Zooey in general.)

Parminder Nagra, 2004

Also totally reasonable.

Hilary Swank and Chad Lowe, 2004

YES THOSE ARE CULOTTES.

Rosario Dawson, 2004

This is cute and also this year might have been one where folks were concerned about how fancy they were meant to get?

Lucy Liu, 2004

VERY cute.

Faye Dunaway, 2004

Faye Dunaway doesn't give a fuck, she's wearing her elbow gloves.

Maggie Gyllenhaal, 2004

I remembered this one!

Tom Cruise, 2004

I did NOT remember this one and it's VERY styled. I dunno, Tommy.

Nia Vardalos, 2004

She's the cutest.

Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend, 2004

These are some low-slung jeans!!

Mario Van Peebles and Taye Diggs, 2004

Welcome to the short but enjoyable bit where Taye Diggs says hello to people.

Djimon Hounsou and Taye Diggs, 2004

FWIW, I would be interested in a TV show called Taye Diggs Says Hello to People. It would just be him saying hello to other good-looking people.

Elisabeth Moss, 2004

Elisabeth Moss definitely looks like she's heading to the spring formal here, and that tracks because she's only 22 here. (It could be a college formal!)

Anna Kendrick, 2004

MANY of us owned this top or one similar.

Naomi Watts, 2004

I have no idea what was happening here and I suspect Naomi didn't, either.

Shohreh Aghdashloo, 2004

Shohreh Aghdashloo can look back on this and feel satisfied.

Lee Pace, 2004

WHAT

The Independent Spirit Awards of the Early Aughts Brought TRULY MISGUIDED Red Carpet Looks

I speak for the entirety of 2001-2004 when I say: I don't know what any of us were thinking.