Chokers, Bomber Jackets, Millennial Pink

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At one point, it was common knowledge that trends, especially in the fashion world, came back every 20 years. Now, that period has been shortened to 10 years, codifying the 2016 boom into 2026.

Ever since we changed the calendar to the Year of the Horse, people have been obsessed with trying to bring back the days of mannequin challenges and fidget spinners. outlet report Searches for the term “2016” have surged more than 400% in the first month of this year, with everyday sentimentalists and celebrities digging through the archives to find authentic representations of themselves back then.

However, this phenomenon has been brewing for some time. On social media, millions of users are collectively expressing the belief that 2016 was the last good year. That was the year the world first learned about it. “Stranger Things”;The Chainsmokers’ “Closer” is playing on repeat on the car stereo. Platforms like Vine and Musical.ly have exploded in popularity. Rio Olympics. Instagram’s then-new Stories feature. and Leonardo DiCaprio’s first Oscar win. Fashion-wise, chokers reigned supreme in 2016 (and were endorsed by everyone from Gigi Hadid to Rihanna), not to mention ankle boots, skinny jeans, graphic T-shirts, and regular T-shirts cut short with a flimsy knot below the belly button.

If some, or most, of these moments feel questionable at best, it’s because: teeth. Still, we all seem to want to look back on this era with something close to admiration. And to honor that sentiment, 2016 What better way than to bring the fashion trends of yesteryear back into your closet? Sure, you might never want to be caught applying Snapchat’s “flower crown” or “dog with tongue” filter to your face again, but bomber jackets, logo-emblazoned tops, and maximalist leggings that are a far cry from Lululemon’s latest creations might just be the healing salve we all need in an increasingly volatile and rapidly changing world.

Here are five different fashion trends that had their heyday a full decade ago, but have somehow found their way back into our shopping carts. Some things never change (and shouldn’t).

bomber jacket

In 2016, The New York Times reported “Google searches for the term ‘bomber jacket’ increased 500 percent year-over-year,” which isn’t entirely far-fetched considering that Pharrell Williams, Hailey Bieber (well, Baldwin), and Gigi Hadid all opted for this outerwear style (originally designed for military purposes) around the same time. Whether you buy it from Gucci or Forever 21, your bomber jacket is edgy: Like Hadid’s visual above, she gives off the off-duty energy of a major model, especially when paired with skin-tight bottoms and round, flimsy sunnies.

and in between leather In fact, bombers have had their time in the sun over the last year as well, seen on the spring/summer 2026 runways of designers like Rick Owens and worn by what appears to be the majority of Paris Fashion Week attendees. We advocate their resurrection. satin Notably, it was previously adored by Drake and Kendall Jenner alike. Featuring an appealing sheen and a cropped silhouette that often pairs well with high-waisted denim, satin bomber jackets are a change-of-season buy to get you through the end of winter this year (and as summer turns to fall). Don’t miss this moment and buy our best sellers now.

All about Millennial Pink

2016 marked the first time that color authority Pantone (yes, the color better known as white in this year’s controversial “Cloud Dancer” color) was crowned by more than one company. two Same color color of the year. According to Pantone, these are bright dusty pinks and baby blues, combined to convey the “gender ambiguity associated with fashion” that was being experienced at the time. The proclamation was convincing, as millennial pink mania turned pink into a bona fide sensation, with everything from Paul Smith’s Melrose Avenue pink wall to Louis Vuitton’s 2016 runway looks hitting the headlines (the latter attracting influencers).

This color has once again entered the cultural conversation. Perhaps it was pioneered by the fashion world’s trend toward the coquettish and classy, ​​but maybe not. Either way, we’re not the least bit mad about millennial pink’s resurgence, considering how it can inject effortless elegance into the most casual ensemble. See our favorites surrounded by pink below.

Choker… but adds a sense of luxury

Graced the city streets and red carpets in 2016, chokers became widespread, especially when paired with off-the-shoulder tops to further accentuate the wearer’s neck, collarbone, and shoulders. Some may remember the craze for fake tattoo chokers made from woven black plastic, but their availability contrasted with the more upscale look of the diamond- and crystal-encrusted styles favored by Hollywood’s elite. A special photo of Taylor Swift is still stuck in our minds ‘no rent’. Photographed at the BMI Pop Awards in May 2016, she appeared in a velvet Monique Lhuillier dress, accented by a black diamond choker against the star’s rebellious bleached bob.

Knowing it probably wouldn’t work, the fashion editor it’s not We recommend bringing your tattoo choker home. Instead, interpret trends through the lens of everything you know so well about fashion right now, and choose a selection made with the finest materials that are layerable. Good news: You won’t find any plastic here (and you don’t need a visit from Claire to jump on the bandwagon).

The more the more activewear

The modern arsenal of leggings may be marked by a combination of black, magenta, navy, and gray, but life was different a decade ago. Read: Everyone ran around in more-than-daring activewear and didn’t bat an eye. The mesh cutouts on the leggings were cool, as were the palm leaf, paint splatter, galaxy, and marble prints. Back then, it was definitely a “bottom party” situation where A-listers, from Sofia Vergara to Alessandra Ambrosio to the aforementioned Swift, could tell it all with their pants on, whether they were heading to the gym, leaving the gym, or simply checking an errand off their to-do list.

While galaxy-print leggings aren’t on anyone’s bingo card this year (well, maybe we should just speak for ourselves), it’s a good time to spice up this apparel category for a statement design. Will all of that be lost? Muscle T-shirts and neon-colored Nikes, of course.

Quiet luxury anyone?

Move on, stealth riches: if you want it known that you are. someone In 2016, you dazzled in Supreme, Gucci and adidas I knew Your clothes are sourced from there and I’ll leave it up to your imagination. As a result, the year of the Kylie Lip Kit also saw T-shirts with the logo on the front, as well as T-shirts featuring graphics and cheeky phrases. Think of Bella Hadid’s long-sleeved shirts with “Tommy Jeans” written front and center, or the runway presentations of slogan-centric luxury brands (remember Dior’s “We Should All Be Feminists” T-shirts?).

Those of us who wear clothes with the name “Calvin Klein” on the exterior to work may not realize it, but 2016’s street style also showed that vintage band T-shirts are an appropriate choice of attire and a treasured piece of tour merchandise. Have you ever picked up any souvenirs from Justin Bieber’s Purpose World Tour? It’s now socially acceptable to get items from Amazon.

Who would have thought?

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meet the author

Stacia Datskowska Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked as an assistant digital editor at ELLE DECOR, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through the lens of design. Over the past five years, her byline has appeared in USA Today, the Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, the Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Before joining ELLE DECOR, Datskowska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tent pole sale events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from New York University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskowska regularly reports on fashion trends, including some nostalgic items worth shopping for. In 2016, at the ripe old age of 13, she was busy teaching over 200 YouTube subscribers what to wear on a night out and how to make money quickly as a teenager.