Out With the Old, In With the… Older?

Inside social media’s recent 2016 obession

Written by Leila Ianovici

The close of 2025 means the start of 2026, right? Wrong. This new year we’re headed back a decade. 2016 is so back, according to social media. Celebrities– Kylie Jenner, Mindy Kaling, and Rachel Sennott among many– and normies alike are posting their 2016 throwback photos all over the Gram. Think Tumblr vibes, Snapchat filters, retro emojis, and hashtags galore. But the biggest homage to the year has been the resurrection of the iconic fashion trends that defined 2016. That’s right– skinny jeans might make a comeback this new year.

But what’s really behind the revival of 2016? My interpretation is that people are suffering from what I call ‘influencer fatigue’; in recent years, social media has become an aesthetic-off, a competition for who can have the most perfectly-curated feed– and we’re tired of it. For many, the act of crafting a social media post elicits negative emotions like anxiety or stress. People spend literal hours thinking and rethinking a single story post. Being online now feels like a trap.

Social media has strayed so far from the digital space I remember it to be ten years ago. 2016 socials were fun and carefree and unserious. The culture embraced looser, messier presentations of selfhood. Now there’s an almost-crushing pressure to have a flawless online presence, to subscribe to the semi-recently-termed ‘Clean Girl’ aesthetic. But as someone who has been aboard that train for a few years now, I think it’s time to hop off. Collectively, it seems that we’ve decided we miss being Messy Girls. Homogenous social media feeds are out and embracing individuality is in. The world is serious enough as it is without having to drown in artificiality every time you open Instagram. So embrace your inner Carrie Bradshaw, because this new year, we’re making room for fun.

In that sense, the resurgence of 2016 has less to do with the fads themselves and more about what they symbolized. By embracing the 2016 “look,” wearers are sending a culturally-coded message that challenges the current social media landscape and reclaims the values of the past. In the spirit of 2016, let’s take a look at some of the throwback fashion trends that you should expect to see in 2026.

Skinny Jeans

The first 2016 fashion trend that might make a comeback this year is bound to throw us all for a loop: skinny jeans are back and they’re chicer than ever. If this conjures traumatic memories of thigh-gripping, distressed-to-the-max, overstimulating denim, fear not; skinny jeans look a lot different in 2026 than they did ten years ago. All over the runways and in the streets, skinny jeans are getting a chic rebrand that combines current sophistication with a hint of that messy 2016 grunge. (And if Bella Hadid is wearing them again, what more convincing do you need?) However, just because they’re back in style doesn’t mean you have to bust out those dust-collecting boxes I know are hiding under your bed. Because in 2026, skinny jeans are a choice, not a standard. And remember– if skinny jeans can make a comeback in 2026, let this be your sign that you, too, can do the impossible.

Choker Necklaces

News flash: chokers are back! The ultimate 2016 accessory, choker necklaces have been left in the dark for nearly a decade– until now. Statement necklaces like chokers send a playful yet powerful message and are the perfect year-round accessory to make you That Girl. The internet has spoken: dainty, coquette aesthetic is out and messy grunge is in. Choker necklaces are making a comeback in high and low fashion alike and it’s not by chance. Take the Wuthering Heights press tour, for example. Chokers dominated across Margot Robbie’s lookbook, breathing life into the reborn trend. Robbie’s dedication to the choker sets a high bar, and while I personally don’t plan on shopping designer anytime soon, count me all-in for this trend. 

The Bomber Jacket

Listen– the bomber jacket was never not cool, but it definitely took a backseat since 2016. Nevertheless, this fashion piece is screaming to be subbed in after a long stint on the bench. Whether it was entirely the 2016 resurrection that did it, or perhaps the A24 Marty Supreme marketing campaign (hi, Odessa), it’s clear that bomber jackets are ready to step back into the spotlight in 2026.

The Beanie

If you’re like me, you miss sporting your old Thrasher beanie like it was a uniform. Well, let’s celebrate because the beanie is back! In 2016, the beanie was– apart from wannabe skater-girl cosplay– the ultimate fix to a bad hair day. This is exactly why it’s the perfect accessory to give off that Messy Girl energy we’re all craving again. In 2026, beanies with designs, graphics, and patterns are super on-brand. Most importantly, the beanie is here to remind us that fashion doesn’t always have to be so serious. Go for it!

Personally, I’m still not quite sold on skinny jeans. But that’s the beauty of the 2016 resurrection: these trends aren’t an expectation, they’re a choice. Participation is completely in the hands of the individual, which is exactly everything that the year stands for. So, while I haven’t quite decided if skinny jeans will be making a comeback in my closet this year, I can confidently say that I’m jumping on the 2016 train to fun, creativity, and carefree living. YOLO! 

Edited by Shira Malitz