Suitcase Divas: Travel Agent Tips, Tricks & Travel Tales

Pop Culture Time Capsule: Celebs, Songs, And Costumes Of 2005

• Suitcase Divas • Season 3 • Episode 4

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Step onto Flight 2005 and relive a Halloween soaked in glitter, flip phones, and the TRL countdown. We crack open a time capsule of pop culture—tabloid-fueled celebrity drama, the rise of Brangelina, Paris Hilton’s paparazzi era, and the TV shows that shaped group chats before group chats existed. Grey’s Anatomy made us feel medically fearless, Lost kept us guessing, and a packed slate of films—from Batman Begins and Goblet of Fire to The 40-Year-Old Virgin—pulled us into theaters and Blockbuster aisles with equal force.

We share the textures and rituals that made 2005 unforgettable: crafting party playlists, burning CDs, and guarding iPod Nanos like treasure. The soundtrack was undeniable—Hollaback Girl’s spell-out swagger, Since U Been Gone’s cathartic chorus, We Belong Together’s slow-burn devotion, and Rihanna’s early spark on Pon de Replay. Beyoncé stepped into solo stardom while American Idol crowned Carrie Underwood, proving reality TV could still mint icons. And yes, we talk fashion: Juicy Couture tracksuits, Ugg boots, bedazzled belts, layered tops, and those infamous low rise jeans that commanded confidence and controversy in equal measure.

We also revisit the gear that defined a generation of bedrooms and basements: iHomes, Guitar Hero showdowns, and the Xbox 360 frenzy that turned Black Friday into a contact sport. To cap it off, we play a quick Halloween trivia game that tests your 2005 mix of movies, TV, and chart-toppers. It’s a warm, witty ride through the year’s best and boldest, equal parts nostalgia and honest appraisal—because some trends deserve a comeback and others belong safely in the costume bin.

Got a 2005 story, song, or costume we missed? Share your memories, then hit follow to join us each week. If this trip made you smile, send it to a friend who still has an iPod in a drawer and leave a quick review—your notes help us keep these flights full of joy.

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SPEAKER_02:

Oh this mushroom all the girls don't feel like this not happen like this because they ain't no hard Hey there welcome aboard Flight SD two zero zero five guys today we are doing a throwback trip to Halloween in the year 2005 a time where Paris Hilton ruled the tabloids MySpace was pretty much your whole social media empire and you actually had to burn a CD for Halloween party. So welcome back to 2005.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh my gosh, that yeah, wow, 2005. So guys, let's grab our juicy couture, let's pull up our low rise jeans if you dare, and don't forget your flip phone, right? Most important thing on us because this trip is gonna take us straight back to the land of reality TV, TRL countdowns, and iPods that we could not live without.

SPEAKER_02:

Right, exactly. So we're talking everything from the biggest celebrities and movies, fashions we thought was cute at the time. The songs we still built out in the car, and the Halloween costumes that we should have probably lived back in 2005.

SPEAKER_00:

Right. And if we can, you know, remember, we'll look back a little bit about where we were in life, what we were doing that year, maybe even spill a few diva secrets about Halloween 2005. So we'll see where this ends up.

SPEAKER_02:

I don't know. This truth series called some secrets.

SPEAKER_00:

It's okay, we'll see. We might just have to skip that part. Who knows?

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, Jackie.

SPEAKER_02:

Let's set the scene. Okay. It's Halloween 2005. Beyonce's killing it. Everyone is on MySpace, and our biggest flex is having the new iPod Nano.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh my gosh. You know, I I really do kind of miss my iPod Nano. That thing was the best. And I don't know if you remember how much time we would spend organizing our playlists, right? We'd make the party mix and our SAG girl mix and the boyfriend mix and our car road trip mix. Okay. We were pretty much like unpaid DJs back then.

SPEAKER_02:

Exactly, exactly. And don't forget, if your iPod froze, you're done for the day.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, absolutely. That was like one of the worst things that could possibly happen. So in 2005, let's talk about some big names. Okay. So who were some some of the big celebrities in 2005?

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. Okay. So Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Beyonce were everywhere. Let's think about the couple Brangelina. Oh my gosh. Jennifer Anister was on every magazine cover. That was like what happened to their marriage, how it was it was such a crazy triangle. It was right. And and I'm actually personally, I think Jennifer did the right thing, got out, moved on. That was that marriage was drama. It was.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh my gosh. Oh little Tom Cruise.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh yes, yes, yes. That was the peak of pop culture chaos. He was he was something else.

SPEAKER_00:

We're still talking about 20 years later. Oh my gosh. Yeah. And even Brangelina and all that. It's just so funny to think how like how long ago that was, you know. And even things like TV shows, you know, I was just on Hulu the other day, and it's season what, 22, 23 of Gray's Anatomy, which the first season, if we can remember, came out in 2005. Wow. And we were all crying over McDreamy because Patrick Dempsey was just so cute and so handsome. I mean, I never can really deny that.

SPEAKER_02:

I still, I'm probably the only last person seeing me that's not watching Grey's Anatomy. I'm holding out though. I'm not starting now.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, I don't know. If you watch it, I felt quite smart. Okay. Like honestly, I'm pretty sure that I could go in and handle, you know, at least a minor surgery after watching that show. I'm pretty sure I know I know enough to make get my way around. Okay. I know, I know what I'm talking about. I know one of the other big shows that year, and this one drove me nuts. Okay. And if you guys have ever seen this show, you're gonna understand. But I know Lost was really big, that one where everyone was lost on the island.

SPEAKER_02:

And the one that I was lost on. I'd never caught onto that one.

SPEAKER_00:

It don't worry, don't worry. You didn't miss much. Nope, you didn't miss much. But I mean, we showed up every single week for that show. Every single week. So crazy.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, all right then. Yeah, well, I guess I'm not up on that, the trending shows then. But let's talk about movies though. 2005 had some solid, solid movies. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Yes. Uh Batman Begins. Uh 40-year-old Virgin came out in 2005. What 2005? Wow. Yep. War of the Worlds, Saw 2. For those that like scary movies, which is not me or Jackie, right? I know it's not. And then let's not forget Mean Girls. Woohoo! Mean girls. We were Gina George in your life. Never hurt anybody. Hence my Havan costume. For those of you, when we get this on YouTube, you guys are gonna split when you see my costume. It's great.

SPEAKER_00:

It is truly fantastic. I'm not gonna lie. And of those, I mean, you know, I do love my Harry Potter, definitely love Batman. But Mean Girls, that was like that was our clueless, I feel like. You know, it was it was, it was absolutely so fetch. Okay. And one of my personal favorites, we had Charlie in the chocolate factory that year. So Johnny Depp was again making an appearance and was everywhere that year.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, yes. Yeah, it was definitely big popcorn and red vine era, if we're gonna go with the eras. Absolutely. So yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00:

2005 had a lot of great movies. Oh, yes. And you know, I almost kind of miss those movie dates, but one of my favorite memories, okay, and maybe we're I'm showing our age a little bit here, okay. But you guys see this icon next to me, that little blue rectangle, yeah, the big bold yellow letters that was like the excitement. We're going to a blockbuster to go pick out a movie for you know Friday night sleep.

SPEAKER_02:

That would totally be a Friday night thing. Absolutely wander around and get your movies and do signs up.

SPEAKER_00:

They had it, and then you know, you have to go on the waiting list if they didn't maybe come back next week to pick it up.

SPEAKER_02:

Like, yes, and there were signs be kind, rewind everywhere. Oh my gosh, yes. And when you checked out, they had all the like it was like its own concession stand, they had everything.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, it was his own little movie theater. Blockbuster was the bomb, it was people the these these kids, these age I know, right?

SPEAKER_02:

Blockbuster ones are like what?

SPEAKER_00:

No, I tried explaining it to my kid. He's like, You went to a store to get a movie. He's like, Why didn't you just download it? I was like, Because that was not a thing, okay? Because we didn't have movies to download, okay. We went to a store, yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Block, good old blockbuster. I'll never forget you. Us, but yeah, so let's talk about fashion. What do you think we got going on in 2005 fashion, Jackie?

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, well, I mean, like you said, we thought we looked so cute, but maybe it was actually a little more on the traumatic side of things. I know, I know what you're talking about. We had the low rise jeans, right? We had our bedazzled belts, all our glitz and glam. We had the juicy track suits, which every single color, every single glitz and glam and everything paired with the all-iconic Ug boot, of course.

SPEAKER_02:

Of course, yes, and I just want to say I was never part of the low rise gene trend because I don't care how cute you are, nobody wants to see your ass crack. I'm just saying, like low rise and and why it stuck around for so long and then why it made a comeback. Like yes, people listen, low rise jeans are not good for anybody, okay. And let's not forget, I didn't wasn't overwhelmingly affected by this because I poor circulation, but let's talk about the layering, the cami under the tank top, under the cardigan. Like we looked cute, but everybody was melting.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, yeah. I mean, honestly, I couldn't find my V-neck today, or else I'd have three layers, but that was me. I mean, you got the cami, the T, the little zip up. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

Pop the top, let me put a polo on top of a polo. That was good.

SPEAKER_02:

Who were we? Who thought that was a good idea? It never ever was.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh my gosh, no, but too many shirts. We thought we looked so cute and we had to dress that way. Okay, that was it. That was there was nothing else that was acceptable, you know. And especially at this time of year when it came to Halloween costumes, right? 2005. I don't know what it was in 2005, but everything was a sexy something. You were either a sexy.

SPEAKER_02:

Probably starting with the low rise jeans, everybody.

SPEAKER_00:

Probably. We had sexy witches and sexy this and sexy that and teach everything, everything.

SPEAKER_02:

If you didn't have a pair of fishnets on, then that's not a Halloween costume, and the body glitter. Now, I keep buying some fishnets and body glitter though, but like cover your ass. That's all I'm saying.

SPEAKER_00:

Maybe Mean Girls had something to do with that. They had some pretty fancy costumes in there, they they were a little fancy.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I know. She's like, I'm a butt, I'm a uh what did she say? I'm a mouse, duh. And she's like in a freaking corset and like G-Spring and putter tights on. Okay. Listen, yeah, everything was all about the sexy sexy costumes. I get that.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh my word. Yeah, so it was definitely quite a year with that. So now we've hit some celebrities, talked a little bit about fashion. So let's talk a little bit about the music of 2005. Like we've talked about our iPods, right? Right and our playlists and everything, but what were we actually listening to? So I'm gonna throw some names out there and y'all tell me if you recognize these songs, right? Okay, all right, all right. Okay, so we were listening to Gold Digger, right?

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, and Hollaback Girl. I love Hollaback Girl.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, it made sure we knew how to spell that because that can be that was difficult for some people. So some people were very grateful for that song, okay? Correct. I think I think Wendy is solid there. Absolutely, and then of course, if you were going through a breakup, we had the ever iconic since you've been gone. Yes, you know, we didn't need anybody but ourselves after all that, okay. Our first American Idol winner. Exactly. Now, granted, if you were getting into a relationship, we had the ever-loving We Belong Together, right? One of the sweetest love songs. There. We pop back over. We had Candy Shop.

SPEAKER_02:

Now that is a dirty song. I watched the video and I was blushing a little bit.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh my gosh, like there were definitely times like I would see that title. Like before, I was like super into music. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

When you're talking about licking the line, I was misleading.

SPEAKER_00:

I'm just saying, they're not talking about licking the lolly pop. That was a misleading title. You definitely had to make sure that your kid wasn't like, oh, I want to listen to the candy shop. No, you don't. Don't let your kids candy shop. Not for not for kids. Right. Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

That was a little saucy.

SPEAKER_00:

This one was definitely one of my favorites. We had Let Me Love You. Oh my gosh. That was such a good song and so sweet.

SPEAKER_01:

I'm still trying to get over candy shop.

SPEAKER_00:

We'll come back to that. We'll give you a minute. Just just take a minute, take a second. You'll be okay. And then, of course, oh, this was the big summer song. Okay. We had Rihanna. Well, you know, when Rihanna was towards the beginning, right? We remember then. I that's when Rihanna I first heard about Rihanna was and her Pond replay came out that year. And I mean, that's still one. Like that comes on, everyone starts singing, everyone starts dancing.

SPEAKER_02:

Good for exercising. It just completely upbeat, upbeat, like very good song.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, yeah, yeah. Definitely love that song. And the all-iconic Queen Bee started her solo career that year. So sadly, yes, Destiny's Child was officially over that year, but we had our Queen Bee emerging as Beyonce started her solo career. So I know it's a lot of mixed opinions, but that woman has given us a lot of amazing music. So I agree.

SPEAKER_02:

Can't knocker one of the most talented musicians around in singing. Can't knocker. Right. And I love her fashion. She's all about some bling, honey. Oh, so absolutely. The more you sparkle, the more that Misty loves you. Well, and don't forget, I see your American Idol icon over there. American Idol was one of those shows. This was 2005, it was in season four, but it came out, it was very obvious after the first season, Ryan's Seacrest had star power. It was kind of like a music reality TV that everybody could not wait till the next season came out. So in 2005, we have Carrie Underwood is the one that actually won it that year. And she I love her. And Jesus Take the Wheel was the song of 2005. And I will tell you, I don't know how mantra. Yeah, I've said that in my own life. It's not just a song title, people, it's a mantra, you know? It is, it is so that was definitely so 2005.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, no, I love that. And even just you know, thinking back to how we did music back then, right? We had to build if you were throwing a Halloween party, you didn't hire a DJ, right? We couldn't just plug our phone into a Bluetooth speaker, we had to go and create a playlist and pick the songs and then burn a CD. Okay. I know some of you don't know what burning a CD is, but that's what we had to do. And then you gotta be sure to label the CD so you know what it is and don't forget it.

SPEAKER_02:

There's different lists for different things, but yeah, you'd burn different CDs. And if you had a boy or a girl, you know, I don't judge, but if you had somebody that's a crush or somebody that's interested in you that actually burned you a CD of what you know, some tracks, that's practically like a love letter back then.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh yeah, yeah, that was absolutely how we expressed ourselves. I would say we went from writing notes to creating playlists and mixtapes and burning CDs.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, it was a thing, people. Look at for you young people, look it up. It's not eight tracks, it's not cassettes, it's burning CDs.

SPEAKER_00:

Right, yes, it's it was a thing, okay. And along with that, there were so many different things, even just in technology and gadgets, I don't want to say toys, okay, but you know, our fun stuff that we truly, truly loved. So besides the iPods, Bratz dolls came out that year, which personally I think those things are a little creepy.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, maybe they were big, they're so big and they dressed. They are their eyes are huge.

SPEAKER_00:

It's just yeah, and you want to talk about sexy something, that's it's like sexy high school, that's all it is.

SPEAKER_01:

Sexy toddler babies.

SPEAKER_00:

That's that's probably where all the sexy something came from for Halloween for thinking about it.

SPEAKER_01:

I know it's all coming back to me now.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, everyone was trying to get the Xbox 360 for Christmas. Now, I'm not personally a gamer, I never was really into that, but I remember that being the number one thing everybody was trying to get that year.

SPEAKER_02:

And the lines before the door opened, because that was still like Black Friday, right?

SPEAKER_00:

Remember, Black Friday was still like shopping day, like we still got trampled. Yeah, we still got trampled in 2005. Black Friday, yeah. So yeah, people were serious about it, it was crazy, yes, yes, and oh, the other big one I remember was Guitar Hero. Now, I did love Guitar Hero, we didn't have one, but I would play on all my friends, guitar heroes, and everything, anyone who had it.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I couldn't do the drums, I couldn't do the guitar. The guitar's hard. Did you play the guitar?

SPEAKER_00:

No, not at all, but like the game, it it makes it so much easier. I mean, it's more just about like the coordination, but I just remember people battling it out, they'd have guitar hero battles and everything. Like they got serious, they they got serious about guitar hero. So right, yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

I know that's a big thing. So, and don't forget the Uggs boots. That's when Uggs boots and the iTunes gift cards, those were all the perfect, like that's your stocking stuffer. And then if you are lucky enough to get Uggs boots, because people, those are they were pricey then and they're still pricey, they're still pricey now.

SPEAKER_00:

It was like 70-80 bucks for a pair of them or over a hundred for some, especially once they started coming out with like the fur line and then the different types of fur, and then the colors, yeah. Now with the colors, mm-mm. So crazy.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I agree, I agree. So those were all very trendy things back in the day.

SPEAKER_00:

Um, yeah, yeah. So there was just there were so many different technology things going out and everything. I mean, I will still say I really do still miss my iPod and my iHome. And I feel like we had so many different fun gadgets that we just don't have anymore, and it's kind of sad.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I agree. Times of they be a change.

SPEAKER_00:

They do, right? I know.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, before we wrap up this memory memory lane 2005 trip, let's wrap it up with a little bit of Halloween trivia. What do you think about that? Okay, let's do it. Okay, so I'll ask you the first question. What a horror movie franchise released its second installment in 2005. So you're these are your choices Final Destination, Saw, or Scream? What do you think?

SPEAKER_00:

Horror movie. Well, the scariest one I can think of would be Saw. So we're gonna go with that.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, it was actually two. So that was the that was the second one. I will say Final Destination freaked me out a bit.

SPEAKER_03:

Yes.

SPEAKER_02:

Um and Scream, even though it was kind of cheesy, I loved it because Drew Barrymore was in it, and I love Drew Barrymore. She was in it briefly, albeit.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, she made a guest appearance.

SPEAKER_02:

You did get the correct answer on that. Good job, Jackie.

SPEAKER_00:

I will say I always love the memes on Facebook that show like people driving behind like trucks with logs on them and stuff, and they're like, clearly, this person never saw a final destination because those movies taught us to be cautious about life, and there are some people who need to watch them, you know, it keeps us safe. And don't switch spots on a plane. Oh gosh, that's what it taught me. Absolutely not, right? Okay, so question number two in 2005. Gwen Stefani told us she ain't no what.

SPEAKER_01:

I love that song, and and hence the B-A-N-A-N-A-S.

SPEAKER_02:

That that song had it all. Gwen, you were rocking it, doing it in 2005. I did, man. And she loved the bright, she also had the bright red lipstick and the platinum blonde hair, and she was the Cali girl, just so cool. She just had great style. I love her. Okay, so now it is my turn to ask you which spooky TV show had everyone obsessed with uh a mysterious mysterious islands and hatches. Again, this goes back to one that I'm not gonna know, but you definitely know. Is it supernatural or lost or ghost whisperer?

SPEAKER_00:

It has to be lost with a mysterious island and hatches. And I just gotta say, if you've never watched it, don't bother. It'll just make you angry and upset, and by the end of it, you will still be lost. So just don't bother.

SPEAKER_02:

So now I've got two. I'm not gonna go back and watch Grey's Anatomy, and I'm not gonna go back and watch. I'm just gonna leave those back in 2005.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, you you can live a very happy life and be just fine.

SPEAKER_02:

Right, right, right, right.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay, so next one. This fashion trend was everywhere in 2005, especially paired with Uggs and hoop earrings.

SPEAKER_02:

Ooh, I think I know what this is.

SPEAKER_00:

So your choices are crop tops, juicy couture tracksuits, or cargo pants.

SPEAKER_02:

It was definitely the juicy couture tracksuits. And Paris Hilton, I actually watched some kind of little documentary. She she rocked them and her and Nicole Ridgie rocked them. That The Simple Life, that reality TV show that came out that year and was like everybody was gaga over. Oh my gosh. Brittany Spears loved the juicy couture tracks suits. That's what she went out in all the time. I've never actually owned one, but it's kind of on my bucket list now. Everybody says they're so soft and comfy. Have you ever had a juicy couture tracksuit?

SPEAKER_00:

I did have one. It was like my prized possession, and it was pink, even better. And it was like they had like other, you know, velour and stuff out, but juicy knew what they were doing. That stuff, it was so comfortable, so comfortable. So highly recommend.

SPEAKER_02:

All right. Well, I'm gonna I'm gonna see about getting me one. I I do remember in Mean Girls, coming back around to Mean Girls. The mom was in a juicy guitar track suit and she's like, Yeah, I'm not like a regular mom, I'm like a cool mom.

SPEAKER_00:

She had on her oh yeah, definitely made her a cool mom.

SPEAKER_01:

All right, well, if that's what it takes.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, this is the last one. Are you ready in 2005? Which pop princess released the hit Since You've Been Gone? Was that Adol Levine, Kelly Clarkson, or Ashley Simpson?

SPEAKER_00:

Of course, our girl Kelly Clarkson, that was a classic, still is, for every girl's night. So absolutely love her.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, so that was like you can't hurt me. I'm fine, doing just fine on my own. So exactly, yeah, absolutely. All right, so if you got at least three out of these right, then you survive 2005 and you kind of got it. You you kind of know what's going on.

SPEAKER_00:

And if you didn't, it's okay. Just you know, go update your MySpace and try again. Okay so what a trip we've had, guys. I just oh my gosh, I forgot how many hits came out of 2005. All the celebrities and the music and the great movies. It really was, really was a great year overall.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, great, but a little bit scary if we're going back to the ass crack and the low rise jeans.

SPEAKER_00:

Hey, we look we our confidence level was through the roof. Okay, you couldn't tell us anything.

SPEAKER_02:

I know, obviously.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay, but you know, I I can't say that I'd actually go back and wear all that again. So, but you know, would definitely love to hop back on flight 2005 for one more girls' night with that playlist. Yes, a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_02:

And tell us, divas, would you go back to Halloween of 2005 and give it another go? Write your and and if you did something amazing or what you went for 2005 for Halloween, write it in our comments and let us know what was the most influential and fun things that you did back in 2005.

SPEAKER_00:

Absolutely. Or what were some of your favorite moments, favorite celebrities? Maybe there's a song we missed or a fashion trend we didn't mention. Okay. While you're doing that, don't forget to subscribe and share the episode with a friend who has their iPod in a drawer somewhere, or maybe has been holding on to that special flip phone that they loved.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh so until next time, guys, keep it spooky, stylish, and suitcase ready. I think that's all we have for suitcase them today. I hope everybody has a fantabulous Halloween 2025. Bye, guys.

SPEAKER_04:

Uh-huh. This much. All the girls don't feel like this. Few jobs been around that chicks, so it's not just gonna happen like that. Cause I need no hard factors.

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