Nicky Hilton's hair is full of 2009 secrets.
Photo: by Stevie Remsberg; Photo: Getty
2009 was a baffling, albeit simpler, time. The Black Eyed Peas were always on the radio for some reason. Miley was still Hannah Montana. And the front rows of New York Fashion Week were a bewildering yet beautiful blend of famous and famous-ish people, all sitting side by side with nary a smartphone to obstruct photographers’ views of their faces. 2009’s front rows are the best time capsule: true works of art cemented in surprisingly unflattering camera flashes.
In this time warp, the best seats in the house are reserved for the popular sisters of the era (your Hiltons, your Mortimers, your pre-Tummy Tea Kardashians), socialites wearing beaded gladiator sandals, and, on several occasions, Amanda Bynes. The VIPs are the stars from actual cable shows that everyone watches on actual TV screens. Serena van der Woodsen sits next to Lieutenant Benson at DVF, while Little J bonds with LiLo at G Star. Jared Leto is very blond. Kellan Lutz is still a thing. Bethenney Frankel is asking Kelly Rowland questions with an Access Hollywood mic. Kanye West is seven months from commandeering Taylor Swift’s VMA speech because it’s only February and he’s sitting front row at Y-3, naught but one Milla Jovovich away from his future wife Kim Kardashian, who is arm-in-arm with a very perplexed Reggie Bush.
Don’t try to make sense of it all. Just sit back, relax, and succumb to the visible awkwardness of forced social interactions pre-Instagram.
View
1/32Photos
Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, Milla Jovovich, Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush at Y-3 Fall 2009. Photo: Mike Coppola/FilmMagic
Shenae Grimes, Nicky Hilton, Rachael Bilson, Leigh Lezark and Amanda Bynes at Jill Stuart Spring 2010. Photo: Paul Morigi/WireImage
Amanda Lepore, J. Alexander and Lisa Rinna at Baby Phat & KLS Collection Spring 2010. Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Jameela Jamil and Poppy Delevingne at at DKNY Spring 2010. Photo: Mark Von Holden/Getty Images for IMG
Lyn Collins, Amanda Bynes, Joanna Garcia and Solange Knowles at BCBG Max Azria Spring 2010. Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for BCBG Max Azria
Lorenzo Martone, Lady Gaga, Marc Jacobs and Madonna at Marc Jacobs Spring 2010. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/2009 WireImage
Kristen Johnston, Kelly Rowland, Mena Suvari and Katrina Bowden at Christian Siriano Spring 2010. Photo: Theo Wargo/WireImage
Hilary Duff and Amanda Bynes at Herve Leger Spring 2010. Photo: Jason Kempin/2009 Getty Images
Peaches Geldof, Mischa Barton and Ashley Madekwe at Herve Leger Spring 2010. Photo: Jason Kempin/2009 Getty Images
Lindsay Lohan and Taylor Momsen at G Star Spring 2010. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
Nicole Richie, Alicia Keys and DJ Leigh Lezark at Zac Posen Fall 2009. Photo: Jason Kempin/WireImage
Rachel McAdams and Leighton Meester at Altuzarra Spring 2010. Photo: Steven A Henry/WireImage
Blake Lively, guest, and Mariska Hargitay at Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2010. Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for IMG
Hayden Christensen and Mischa Barton at Lacoste Spring 2010. Photo: Paul Warner/WireImage
Nicky Hilton and Paris Hilton at Pamella Roland Fall 2009. Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for IMG
Khloe Kardashian and Kim Kardashian at Badgley Mischka Fall 2009. Photo: Jason Kempin/WireImage
Tinsley Mortimer and Dabney Mercer at Milly By Michelle Smith Spring 2010. Photo: Jeffrey Ufberg/WireImage
Janis Dickenson, Lizzy Grubman and Vince Shlomi at Monarchy Collection Spring 2010. Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images for IMG
LuAnn de Lesseps, Bethenny Frankel, Kelly Bensimon, Lisa Rinna, Kara DioGuardi and Amanda Bynes at Pamella Roland Spring 2010. Photo: Jemal Countess/... LuAnn de Lesseps, Bethenny Frankel, Kelly Bensimon, Lisa Rinna, Kara DioGuardi and Amanda Bynes at Pamella Roland Spring 2010. Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images for IMG
Lili Taylor, John Forte and Lauren Conrad at Nanette Lepore Spring 2010. Photo: Paul Warner/WireImage
Shannon Elizabeth and Kellan Lutz at Monarchy Collection Spring 2010. Photo: EUGENE GOLOGURSKY/WireImage
Juliette Lewis, guest, Kat Von D, and Eric Balfour at G Star Spring 2010. Photo: Jason Kempin/2009 Getty Images
Veronica Webb and Tori Spelling at Christian Siriano Spring 2010. Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for IMG
Kanye West, Jared Leto, Chase Crawford and Patrick Wilson at Calvin Klein Menswear Fall 2009. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
Shenae Grimes and Estelle at Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2010. Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for IMG
Joy Bryant, Jessica Stroup, Lucy Liu and January Jones at Herve Leger Fall 2009. Photo: Jemal Countess/WireImage
Mickey Rourke and Cheyenne Tozzi at Max Azria Spring 2010. Photo: Joe Kohen/WireImage
Kim Kardashian, Kelly Rowland and Bethenny Frankel at Badgley Mischka Spring 2010. Photo: Shawn Ehlers/WireImage
Teyana Taylor and Kara DioGuardi at Lacoste Spring 2010. Photo: Arun Nevader/FilmMagic
Zoe Saldana, Joshua Jackson, Diane Kruger and Selma Blair at Tommy Hilfiger Fall 2009. Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for IMG
Amanda Peet and Kerry Washington at Jason Wu Spring 2010. Photo: Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic
Courtney Love at Proenza Schouler Spring 2010. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
