2026 marks a decade since the iconic fashion trends of 2016, and the media is reacting.

One BBC article stated that 2016 was a simpler time, with no Instagram carousel or Reels section. Instead of algorithm video fatigue, people posted what made them happy. 

The same goes for Snapchat, as fun filters such as the flower crown and dog filter took over. It was also a time before many of us were aware of politically divisive events and before controversial presidential elections occurred. Additionally, AI didn't exist to the same extent, and the job market was easier to navigate.

People always long for simpler times — no wonder we’re now yearning for a  2016 revival. 

2016 fashion was influencer-driven with fun colors, experimentation and self-expressive styles. Unlike today, people were less focused on comfort and functionality and more interested in making their outfits fun and expressive.

Silhouettes of 2016 were very different as well. People wore slimmer styles that hugged their bodies, such as skinny jeans and fitted tops.

In 2026, baggier clothing has become more popular, with baggy jeans, sweatshirts and chunky sneakers becoming the norm. The clean girl aesthetic, additionally, has been trending with more minimal, natural makeup and sleek hairstyles such as slick back buns returning to the spotlight.

In 2016, however, cut creases, heavy contour, full-coverage foundation and fun-colored matte lipstick were in style. It was less about putting on makeup to enhance your features and more about a routine — it was a way to express yourself every day. 

Skinny jeans became a topic of conversation on social media a couple of years ago, with Gen Z deeming them out of style and “cheugy.” This generation has been known to sport baggier silhouettes in their outfits, so their distaste for skinny jeans is no surprise. Now that people are reminiscing about 2016 skinny jeans, they have started to make a comeback in a different way.

Skinny jeans were originally extremely tight, constricting pants that could be worn with a variety of styles; bralettes, ankle boots, bomber jackets and more. Recently, brands such as Levi’s, Gucci and Celine have adapted skinny jeans to meet the needs of 2026 consumers. This includes an unconstricted waist, looser legs and denim with greater elasticity. You may have heard of these styles, called slim-fit and cigarette jeans.

Cigarette jeans have been around since the 1950s. This style features a slim-cut leg and are ankle-length, resembling the shape of a cigarette.

Bralettes were also in fashion in 2016 and were worn by celebrities such as Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner. Essentially light-support bras worn as tops, made of lace and sometimes a longline style, these were meant to be a hybrid of a crop top and a bra. These bras were usually worn solely as tops, but they were also used as accents under off-the-shoulder tops.

Pantone (a type of color system) has designated a specific “color for each year” since 1963. This year, they debuted the cloud dancer color (a type of white and gray) to represent tranquility and wellness.

In 2016, they unusually featured two colors, rose quartz and serenity. Serenity is a baby blue color, while Rose quartz is often described as rose gold or millennial pink. Rose gold is an alloy of gold and copper that produces a shiny pinkish hue. This color became widely used in jewelry, homeware, and most famously, technology.

In 2015 and 2016, Apple released the iPhone 6 and 7 in rose gold. This led to multiple celebrities sporting the rose gold iPhone, and it quickly became the “it” color of 2016. Not quite bright enough to be considered a pastel, but soft enough to be easy on the eyes, this created a calming shade that was easy to celebrate.

2016 was a great year for fashion and beauty trends. Between off-the-shoulder tops, Victoria’s Secret pink, and over-the-knee and ankle boots, the nostalgia is real. Whether it’s longing for high school days or wishing skinny jeans were back (though you don’t have to wish anymore), nostalgia — in both life and fashion — helps us remember the good and bad times. Luckily, 2016 was all good, no bad, and we’re thrilled to be taking a trip down memory lane.