This is What Style Looked Like in 2003

Image via Complex Original

2003 Accomplishments: Released Get Rich or Die Trying'. It went sextuple platinum.

Ten years ago, 50 Cent could do no wrong. Even when he wore a bulletproof vest, kids were trying to copy him in the streets. He and the rest of G-Unit brought the ice game to the next level, and he was one of the first rappers in the 21st century to bring back to oversized-mobster-suit get-up. No matter what your style is now, listen to 50's debut album and try not to feel like dressing like a G. 

2003 Accomplishments: Starred in Bad Boys II. The movie grossed $273 million. 

If there were any doubts that Will Smith wasn't a certified action star, Bad Boys II put those to rest. But his style in 2003, while influential, also cemented his The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air style the best Willie Style era.

2003 Accomplishments: Limp Bizkit releases Results May Vary. Fed Durst in 2003 on Limp Bizkit: "We are the greatest band in the world!"

Who will ever forget the backwards red hats, the baggy khakis, and the terrible tats. At the forefront of the short-lived "rap-rock" musical genre, Durst brought white trash into the 21st century and found a ready audience. It's a phenomenon we're still paying for.

2003 Accomplishments: Released The Love Below in conjunction with Big Boi's Speakerboxx. The double album went 11 times platinum and debuted at No. 1.

Everyone was raising eyebrows at André 3000's style back in 2003, but his semi-outrageous steez was the precursor to modern-day menswear as we know it. Bowties, bold suits, and a traditional slim fit were all notions that were alien in 2003 to the layman, but Three Stacks brought them all back with his southern dandy outfits. 

2003 Accomplishments: Released The Black Album, which debuted at No. 1.

Roc-a-Wear was at its height in the early 2000s, and Jay-Z wore it every time he was out in public. His baggy jeans and ostentacious gold are a far fry from his current day suit and tie shit. 

2003 Accomplishments: Produced for some of the biggest names in hip-hop and R&B. 

He may be leading the pack in fashionable get-ups now, but ten years ago the average dude's taste level would've been way above his waist level. We'll just say that Yeezy was too focused on his 2004 Through the Wire to be paying too much attention to his steez.

2003 Accomplishments: Was instrumental in 50 Cent's success. The U.S. Secret Service investigated whether or not he had threatened the president.

The reigning king of the sweatsuit was rocking cozy boy steez before your favorite menswear blogger had even heard of J. Crew. He was probably the only white boy who could get away with rocking a du-rag, but he definitely inspired copycats who then got their asses handed to them.

2003 Accomplishments: Released The Neptunes Present...Clones. Became a household name with a cameo on Snoop Dogg's "Beautiful."

We didn't know it, but Pharrell was about to dominate the world of streetwear. The launch of Billionaire Boys Club was two years away, and he was one of the only celebs in the hip-hop world who were offering an alternative way of dress other than being thugged out. 

2003 Accomplishments: Debuted Punk'd. Started dating Demi Moore.

Ashton Kutcher was the benevolent bro who showed the friendlier, goofier side of frat life. His trucker hats are his lasting legacy, but his style of the early 2000s influenced tons of dudes who preferred mayo on white bread to anything remotely spicy or interesting.

2003 Accomplishments: Released Da Derrty Versions: The Reinvention and the video for "Tip Drill."

Not many of Nelly's personal styles caught on with the masses, but you definitely knew about his backwards jerseys and, of course, the superfluous facial band-aid. The St. Lunatics definitely had their own steez, and made the Midwest a stylish force to be reckoned with.