The early to mid 2000s were filled with questionable fashion. It’s also the same time period when Jennifer Lopez decided to make her debut in the industry. In 2001, Lopez, who had already released two albums (On the 6 and J.Lo), starred in a dozen movies (Selena, Anaconda, The Wedding Planner, and The Cell to name a few), and fully embraced the J.Lo moniker, launched her first fashion line, J.Lo by Jennifer Lopez. And though that line is worth a revisit, it’s her 2005 Sweetface line that commands our attention. Four years after she got into the designing world, she showed at New York Fashion Week for the first time.
Back when the twice-a-year shows took place in Bryant Park, J.Lo made her debut at NYFW with a silvery runway. It was a huge production, with MTV filming the presentation for a documentary, Jennifer Lopez: Beyond the Runway. The catwalk resembled J.Lo’s life, from her days in the Bronx (a fire escape), to her breakout moment on the show In Living Color (turntables), to a stretch limo (her Hollywood career). And of course, as Vogue reported, there were wind and smoke machines.
At the time, Andy Hilfiger – Tommy Hilfiger’s brother and the co-founder of Lopez’s Sweetface Fashion company – said the brand was a departure from her J.Lo by Jennifer Lopez line. It’s a “more intellectual, more aspirational collection than J.Lo by Jennifer Lopez,” he said, according to The Guardian. “Less sporty, more suede.”
That means she said goodbye to tracksuits (which had fallen out of favor) and added lambskin, fox, woven mink, and sable. She even got Naomi Campbell – who wore a white chiffon jumpsuit paired with a white mink – to close out the show.
The show was a surprise to those who had grown accustomed to seeing the multi hyphenate celebrity’s J.Lo by Jennifer Lopez line. But 12 years later, how well did the fashion hold up? We decided to investigate. Check out five pieces from her debut collection and whether they are 2018 friendly (based on a scale of five high heel emojis), as judged by us.
1
Ah, layering. The early and mid-aughts were defined by our need to wear small blouses on top of longer tops, so it’s no surprise that a look like this made its way down the catwalk. The bohemian-esque see-through flowery top and hat are a bit passé, but everything else – the cream-colored, wide-legged pants and the off-white ribbed turtleneck – wouldn’t be too out of place today.
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2
Though probably not the most weather-appropriate look, this isn’t out of place in 2018. There’s a bit going on in this chunky knit and jean skirt outfit, but for the most part, the items are pretty perfect for the fall.
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3
Jumpsuits will never go out of style. You can look as far back as Bianca Jagger in the ’70s or J. Lo anytime in recent history to see proof of that. Though the satiny finish may not be everyone’s preference, we can imagine this exact same look making its way on the red carpet today.
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4
If you based your outfit entirely on 2005 trends, you’d probably end up with this look. The lilac and purple ensemble features a skinny scarf and matching cap, driving gloves, and a lacey tube top dress. Though this is very much abides by this year’s Pantone color of the year, it definitely feels like a 2000s outfit.
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5
The last outfit of the show (and of NYFW as a whole) is this ruffled jumpsuit Naomi Campbell wore, with her giant hat being the clear star. It’s a hard look to pull off, and one that doesn’t necessarily feel like it belongs in 2005. But if someone has Campbell-like confidence, they can surely make it work in 2018.
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In conclusion, the pieces fall somewhere in the middle. They may not be the kinds of things you reach for, but if you put them on, you won’t immediately feel like you’re in the middle of a 2005 music video.