2026 Is the New 2016- Which Trends are We Bringing Back? 

                                                      By Katherine Moore

All over social media, users are posting their 2016 throwbacks– VSCO edits, Tumblr posts, Snapchat filters, songs of the year, and their Kylie Lip Kit obsessions. They have claimed this year to be the “new 2016”, which was a year of being bold, creative, and expressive. Fashion was out there, with trends like cut up graphic tees, ripped jeans, and colorful hair and makeup. So why is 2026 mirroring 2016 so closely? Because people want that feeling back. They want to be themselves, shop sustainably, have their own unique style, and not be forced into specific trends and aesthetics. They want to be creative again, and enjoy getting dressed every day. The clean girl is out, the bold and fun girl is in. 

As we know, fashion is cyclical, and trends always resurface. 2016 was an expressive era, where people put a focus on styling their outfits, upcycling second hand items, and accessorising like crazy. It was vibrant, fun, and chaotic. In 2026, we are already seeing a resurgence of this. Skinny jeans, big sunglasses, fun belts and hats, chokers, ripped up clothing, graphic tees, messy hair, wedges, and colorful makeup are among some of the silhouettes and styling choices resurfacing. Thrifting and shopping sustainably have become mainstream. Influencers are posting more freely, with less curated content. Authenticity is everything, and people are yearning for personal expression and showing off their individualities. They are burnt out and looking for a return to fun and creativity, and fashion makes for the perfect escape.

2026 is the new 2016 because people are craving the freedom they felt ten years ago, and the fashion is reflective of this cultural mood-swing. After being stuck in a cycle of wearing “basics”, and owning “capsule wardrobes”, people are finally bringing life back into their closets and inspiration back into their daily lives. 2026 is about dressing with your personality, and finding what made fashion so fun in the first place.