We’ve been breaking down the styles of the 2000s fashion icons you need to know. Last time, we reviewed Sarah Jessica Parker‘s impact on 2000s fashion and looked at some of her iconic outfits.

This week we are continuing our 2000s fashion series with TV star-turned fashionista Nicole Richie.

It may seem like The Simple Life was airing yesterday, but it’s actually been almost 16 years since the show premiered on December 2, 2003.

Ms. Richie may not be as well-known has as her former BFF Paris Hilton, but she’s definitely famous in the fashion world. This is thanks in part to Nicole Richie’s 2000s style. Today we are going to break it down a bit and reflect on her history and see what she’s up to today!

Table of Contents

Nicole Richie Biography

Embed from Getty Images
Nicole Richie was born in Berkeley, California on September 21, 1981. She was taken in by Lionel Richie when she was three years old after her biological parents, Karen Moss and Peter Michael Escovedo, realized they could not properly provide for their daughter. Her parents were good friends of Lionel Richie and he and his wife at the time, Brenda Harvey, adopted Nicole when she was nine years old.

Nicole graduated from Montclair College Prep School, and attended Arizona State University where she studied Arts and Media, though she did not graduate. She returned home to California two years into her college career when she could not choose a definitive path.

In 2003, Nicole signed on for the reality show The Simple Life alongside BFF Paris Hilton. The show, one of the first celebrity reality series, would become emblematic of the early 2000s. The show came to a close after an unsuccessful fifth season. Nicole has had many appearances on television since then, including her own series Candidly Nicole which aired on VH1 for two seasons circa 2015.