What a decade it’s been! Ten years seem to have passed in the blink of an eye. Take a look back at what 2001 had up its sleeve and how past trends have influenced us today.

Books
“Looking back to then and now, there are three authors with blockbuster books in 2001 who have new books that are or will be best-sellers this year—Lauren Hillenbrand, David McCullough, and Ann Patchett.” –Sue Boucher of the Lake Forest Book Store, 847-234-4420.

Fashion
“In 2001, the boot cut jean was a little fuller and more relaxed. Now, it’s shaped closer to the body with fits like the ‘Martini,’ which is skinny on the leg and flared out on the bottom.” –Erin Hoellerich, Buyer at E Street Denim.

Music
Maroon 5 signed with their label, A&M/Octone Records, in 2001 and released their first album the following year. This year, they are one of the biggest selling concerts at the Ravinia Festival. For more concert information, check out ravinia.org.

Tech
Ten years ago, Steve Jobs and his team at Apple introduced the iPod, which sold for $399 and had enough memory to store 1,000 songs. This year, it has been all about the iPad with a front-facing camera for the FaceTime feature, Web-browsing capabilities, not to mention a LED backlit touch screen. The iPad ranges in price from $499 to $699 depending on the model.

Movies
“This month marks the conclusion of a 10-year film legacy. In November of 2001, hordes of muggles lined up to see the first Harry Potter movie, on the day it was released. Now, on July 15, 2011, the eighth and final installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, will be released, bringing the influential series to a close.” –Jake Jarvi, Sheridan Road Digital Editor and Weekly Movie Reviewer

Exercise Trends
Zumba and CrossFit workouts took the fitness world by storm in 2001. Both are still widely popular, but Pilates and Bikram Yoga have created quite a bit of buzz in the last few years.

Diets
“Atkins, South Beach, and other low carb/high protein diets were very popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s. One trend that has surfaced in the last couple of years is the ‘organic diet,’ which is not so much focused on weight loss as it is on cutting down on preservatives and focusing on a ‘pure diet’ lifestyle.” –Jennifer Labovitz of Lake Forest Health & Fitness Center. For more information, visit health-fitnesscenters.com.

Hair
“Ten years ago, everyone was flipping their modern shag. Today, we are flipping out for short sassy cuts with stars like Rihanna, Emma Watson, and Ginnifer Goodwin. Today’s looks are fashionable and functional—who has time to fuss?” ­–Martha Levin, Manager and Stylist at Charles Ifergan Salon in Deerfield, 847-940-0900.

—Ashleigh Martinez