Fashion

*NSYNC's 2001 Super Bowl Show Was So Boy Band

by Katharine McEntee

There is no question about it: *NSYNC’s 2001 Super Bowl performance remains one of the most talked about halftime shows of all time, and for good reason. The guys' perfectly choreographed dance moves, pitch-perfect vocals, pyrotechnic effects, and quintessential early '00s fashion were all so boy band that my 12-year-old self is swooning just thinking about it all. In honor of this wonderful performance, and Super Bowl 50 game on Feb. 7, I thought we could take a closer look at *NSYNC's supremely boy band Super Bowl style.

From denim-on-denim outfits to color-coordinated tracksuits, *NSYNC was the epitome of boy band style, and the band's Super Bowl attire did not disappoint. While the boys dressed almost identical on the regular, they mixed things up on game day and showed off their own personal style in a cohesive way, of course.

Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez, being the standout stars that they have always been, opted for more flashy ensembles of the metallic variety, while Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, and Chris Kirkpatrick went the embellished jean jacket route. While I am not quite sure what look the band was going for — maybe hippie meets rock ‘n roll meets disco dancer — I am absolutely positive that these looks were quintessential '00s fashion at its finest. From Fatone's frosted tips to Kirkpatrick's bejeweled choker and Chasez's metallic pants, the dudes were wearing every major trend from the early aughts.

While the boys of *NSYNC had many a great coordinated outfits to choose from, their Super Bowl costumes might just be my favorite. Scroll down to take a closer look at one of the band's finest sartorial moments.

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images

Chasez, the heartthrob of the group, was dressed in a multi-metallic outfit with perfectly gelled-back hair. All the while, JT, the other lead vocalist and my personal favorite, stole the show in a lime green and snakeskin print jacket, tie-dye tee, and distressed denim.

Bass and Fatone's outfits, while a bit more tame than the other two, were not shy of '00s touches like pins, patches, and in Bass' case, cords.

And lastly, but certainly not least, Kirkpatrick rocked a snakeskin print shirt and what seems to be a silver pendant necklace.

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images

While Timberlake's colorful costume reads the most early '00s to me, he looks even more of the era when accompanied with his then-girlfriend Britney Spears. Spears, in the spirit of the Millennium, wore a strategically ripped-up belly-baring tee. Instead of sporting the '00s favorite sweatband around her wrist, she opted for an NFL-inspired tube sock.

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images

Needless to say, the boys nailed it at the Super Bowl. Not only was their performance with Aerosmith, Britney Spears, Nelly, and Mary J. Blige legendary, but their quintessential boy band attire was as well.

Here’s hoping this year’s Super Bowl performers, Coldplay and Beyoncé, take some style lessons from the princes of pop.

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