Paris Hilton & Kim Kardashian – T-Mobile Sidekick 3 Launch: A 2006 Time Capsule

Paris Hilton, ever the preppy-meets-party princess, opted for a navy blue dress with striking white accents. The dress features thick, spaghetti-like straps, a white band across the bust, and a crisp white Peter Pan collar that gives it an almost sailor-inspired, youthful charm. The white buttons running down the bodice add to this playful, somewhat nautical feel. The silhouette appears to be a wrap-style or a loosely flowing shift, suggesting comfort and ease. Her accessories are quintessential Paris of the era: large, prominent blue circular earrings that perfectly complement the dress’s navy, and a pristine white clutch, possibly with a bow detail, cementing her polished, yet often whimsical, aesthetic. Her hair, a short, sleek blonde bob with a side-swept fringe, was a signature look for her during this period, exuding that effortless California cool.

Beside her, a then-emerging Kim Kardashian (pre-Kardashian empire, mind you, but with hints of what was to come) presented a different, yet equally defining, Y2K aesthetic. She wore a body-con, v-neck dress featuring horizontal stripes in varying shades of green, blue, and cream. The fabric appears to be a knit, perhaps a fine rib or a stretch jersey, designed to cling to every curve, a silhouette that would become her enduring trademark. This dress embodies the sexier, more overtly curvaceous style that would soon dominate red carpets. Her long, dark hair, styled in loose, voluminous waves, frames her face beautifully, a stark contrast to Paris’s lighter, shorter cut. Her makeup, with a focus on bronzed skin and defined features, was already hinting at the glamorous, sculpted look she would perfect.