Y2K Fashion Inspired by Keira Knightley in ‘Love Actually’

Ask anyone close to me what makes my list of top five Christmas movies and 10 times out of 10 you’ll get Richard Curtis’ film Love Actually. The classic holiday movie has garnered quite the following since its 2003 release for its interconnected storylines and witty comedy that highlights the power of love. For me, it’s the Christmas gift that keeps on giving, and each year, the film never fails to make me laugh and cry—and reminisce at just how marvelous Y2K fashion was. 

Keira Knightley’s character in the film, Juliet, captures the trends of the time perfectly, as she is seen wearing playful, layered pieces that can be categorized as both runway ready or casual. As a longtime lover of the film, I was always drawn to her style, which has now inspired me, as a shopping writer, to try and find looks that resemble what she wore. 

Scoop up my top finds, including low rise jeans, newsboy hats, and velour tracksuits from Nordstrom, Target, Old Navy, H&M, and more that will take you back to the 2000s in style. 

Love Actually-Inspired Winter Fashion

The Look: Juliet’s Wedding

Verdusa Long Sleeve Tie Front Textured Cardigan

In the opening scene of Love Actually we see Juliet in a church getting married to Peter, and Mark (the couple’s mutual friend and Peter’s best man) is videotaping the joyful event. Juliet’s ceremonial ensemble is non-traditional and unique to the time, complete with a sheer, floor length, long-sleeve dress that is layered with a satin skirt and lace bandeau. This tie-front textured cardigan mimics the same style of Juliet’s gown thanks to its sheer design, vertical zig-zag details, and flattering silhouette. 

Bridal Feather Hair Clip

A subtle yet important detail of Juliet’s wedding look is a feathery clip that she wears in her hair—a bun with two flawlessly wavy front pieces, may we add. Details of Juliet’s fun, feather hair clip are semi-hidden in the film, but this accessory captures the same vibe of her style. It features an assortment of white feathers and a small crystal jewel in the center that are held together by a sturdy metal clip. Juliet’s wedding look is made up of a few other components, which you can find below. 

Zeagoo Midi Satin Skirt

Maidenform Wireless Bralette

Old Navy Textured Lace Scoop-Neck Top

The Look: Juliet’s Surprise Visit

Sumolux Beret Newsboy Hat

Spoiler alert: Peter’s best man, Mark, is in love with Juliet, which makes things kinda interesting and a lot awkward when it comes time for Juliet to get the footage he recorded from their wedding. In a surprise visit to Mark’s flat, Juliet wears a newsboy hat—a quintessential Y2K staple worn by celebs like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Paris Hilton, and other pop culture icons. Our find features the same style and oversized look, is made from a blend of wool and rayon, and also comes in 15 shades. 

H&M Flared Dress Pants

Along with her newsboy hat, Juliet also can be seen wearing a pair of casual black trousers as she enters Mark’s flat. This was arguably before flared leggings were popular, so the style that Juliet wears is much more relaxed in the leg and bottom, with a low cut waist line (a pant style you’ll see a few times on this list). These flared dress pants from H&M are similar to Juliet’s and feature a waist that sits below the belly button plus flared hems. This outfit also features a velour zip-up hoodie layered with a long trench denim jacket, and you can see similar pieces below. 

Allegra K Belted Trench Long Denim Jacket

Yasumond Velour 2-Piece Tracksuit

The Look: Juliet at Home

BP. Off the Shoulder Sweater

The most iconic part of Love Actually arguably comes at the end, when (spoiler alert) Mark professes his love for Juliet with a set cue cards as the song Silent Night plays on his portable CD player (yet another nod to the ‘00s). While Peter is upstairs, Juliet stands and watches Mark flip through cue card after cue card in a cream-colored off the shoulder sweater, which this one by BP. is close to. The relaxed-fit sweater is made from a cozy blend of cotton, acrylic, and nylon, so it’s perfect for winter wear. It also features a ribbed foldover neckline, ribbed sleeves at the bottom, and is available in colors black, grey heather, pink coral, and ivory. 

Levi’s Superlow Bootcut Jeans

Last but certainly not least, Juliet’s home look would not be complete without a pair of low rise jeans. While we aren’t certain what brand she is wearing in the scene, this Levi’s pair looks pretty close. The jeans are designed with cotton, polyester, and Lycra material, which provides plenty of stretch and flexibility. They’re also one of Levi’s lowest rises ever and are specifically modeled after notable low rise jean styles of the 2000s, so at the very least, you know you’re getting the real deal. Did we mention the jeans are designed with five pockets and come in five color varieties, too? Below you’ll find other sweater and jean options to recreate the look. 

PrettyGarden Off Shoulder Sweater

Wrangler Retro Sadie Low Rise Bootcut Jeans