If there ever was a visual time capsule for tween style in the early 2000s (RIP Limited Too), golden era Disney Channel show Lizzie McGuire would be it. Lizzie was played by Hilary Duff, with the help of a cartoon alter-ego who voiced the inner concerns of an awkward seventh grade generation. Self-professed "not nerd, not jock, not brain, not rebel, not diva," she and her BFF Miranda Sanchez rocked a hodgepodge of styles, cool because they weren't so cool. No one else could pull off a zebra print skirt with doughy platform flip flops and butterfly hair clips with such ease. Lizzie was a girly girl—floral tops, jean jackets, and pastels all around. Miranda was a proponent of mixing prints, and an early pioneer of the clip-in colored hair streak—that Claire's Accessories vibe.
Thanks to these inspirational styles and Disney's shrewd marketing, Lizzie McGuire became a hit show and successful brand (in case you didn't know, teenage girls run the consumer market). In a 2002 article, the New York Times detailed the wide emotional reach of Lizzie's influence: "'I'm starting to fall in love with this girl,' Steven Tyler, the 54-year-old lead singer of Aerosmith, said with a sigh." And lately it seems like Lizzie-style is having a renaissance; jelly sandals and Lisa Frank have been popping up all over the Tumblr-verse. Keeping up the tween legacy, Daytona Beach teen rapper Kitty Pryde aptly titled her first EP The Lizzie McGuire Experience. Below, we've pulled together some current day items for you to channel your inner middle-schooler. If you have a lot of time on your hands, you can also watch every episode of Lizzie McGuire here.
Clockwise from left: Levi's Trucker Jacket, ASOS Pastel Gummy Bracelets, Topshop Love Heart Tee, Forever 21 Glitter Hair Clips
Clockwise from left: Lip Smackers Squeezy Lip Gloss, Topshop Beaded Vest, Jansport Cheetah Print Backpack, Tory Burch Bungee Flip Flop, Patagonia Lanyard Cargo Pants