Paris Hilton, celebutante of the mid-aughties, carved a niche for herself with a unique sense of style. Her look, one of miniskirts, rhinestones, and lots of pink, held influence across the world and was widely copied at the mass-market level. Now the diminished starlet is poised for a boost of cultural relevance with the release of Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring, which prominently features her societal hold (and closet.) Here, her best looks from back in the day.
Paris, out on the town with sister Nicky, wears a suggestively draped red satin dress to the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards in 2001. In the early years, the two were known to go out together in coordinating outfits. Paris’s were typically more dramatic. Her large rhinestone choker-necklace and dark eye makeup bring the look into a more excessive dimension.
Hilton preens on the red carpet in the early stages of her career, wearing a pair of low-rise flared jeans and a cropped top to an event in 2000. She accessorized the look with platform-heel sandals and a rhinestone-encrusted belt, worn with matching cuffs around her wrists.
Hilton celebrates her birthday in 2002. This look epitomizes the Paris Hilton brand. Her spikey tiara, scant see-through pink dress, and rhinestone accessories appear both girlish and provocative.
J. Vespa/WireImage, via Getty
Hilton holds her precious dog Tinkerbell in the cleavage of her Juicy Couture tracksuit in 2003.
Hilton steps out in Los Angeles in one of her over-the-top miniskirt ensembles. It's topped off with a rhinestone belt, newsboy hat, and a white Dior saddle bag.
Wearing a now-iconic outfit that launched her career as a Hollywood style influencer, Hilton poses on the red carpet at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards alongside sister Nicky.
Paris arrives to the 2003 Video Music Awards with Nicky. The two sport handbags from their collaboration with Samantha Thavasa.
Matthew Peyton/Getty
Hilton wears an all-white ensemble, paired with flowing Christian Dior earrings, to the 2003 Billboard Music Awards.
Hilton walks in the Heatherette fashion show at New York Fashion Week in September 2004. Richie Rich, co-designer of the now-shuttered label, is a longtime friend of Hilton's. "I think she inspired people to be a little bit out of the bus, but in a glamourous way," Rich told The Daily Beast of Hilton's fashion influence. "I think she definitely had her finger on the pulse of pop culture."
Hilton arrives at P.Diddy's 35th birthday pary at Cipriani Wall Street in 2004. As pictured here, her outfit required a lot of mid-red carpet adjustments. One such move went a little too far, causing the underwear-less Hilton to grace the carpet's many paparazzi with multiple full-on crotch shots.
Kathy Willens/AP
