6 Trends from 2016 Making a Comeback
Breaking down the styles you never thought you'd love again.
ICYMI: 2026 is the new 2016. If you’ve been online in the last couple weeks, you probably saw your fair share of throwback posts, reminiscing about the simpler days of yore. 2016 was the year of the bold matte lip, of chokers with every fit and of thick white borders & a Valencia filter slapped on every Instagram pic. If you were a teenager then like I was, you probably remember watching YouTube tutorials on fishtail braids – the perfect look to impress your Snapchat crush.
Though I’ve since wiped any proof of my skinny-jean wearing self from my socials with a promise never to return those block-brow days, the verdict seems to remain: 2016 is making a comeback.
Let’s break down the 2016 trends that are back for round 2 ↓
#1 Suede
2016 was the year it seemed everybody and their mother went to Coachella. From VS Angels sporting space buns to your fave Tumblr influencers in statement necklaces, festival fashion was really at its peak. And with it, came the revival of suede, in the form of fringe boots, western vests & tube skirts. With last year’s boho revival still going strong, we expect to continue seeing the cozy texture on runways and on the streets. I’m especially loving suede on slingback pumps, for a touch of softness on such a structured silhouette.
#2 Millennial Pink
Same shade, now with less shade. While “Millennial Pink” has picked up a slightly derogatory reputation (sorry to my Millennial colleagues!), this colour is making a well-deserved comeback. Classily re-branded as “Dusty Rose”, this muted, cool-toned pink is the perfect better-than-nude hue. She looks especially good in patent, and pairs beautifully with blue jeans, cream sweaters or olive bomber jackets (also enjoying a 2016 resurgence!).
#3 Baby Blue
In 2016, for the first time ever, Pantone famously named two colours as the colour of the year. These were Rose Quartz, aka Millennial Pink and Serenity: a soft, light, greyish-purple blue. And if Millennial Pink is back, you best believe so is her cooler, bluer counterpart. This shade works charmingly as statement shoe, possibly even for a romantic ‘something blue’ bridal moment, or as a pop of colour in clutch form. Pair her with some rich chocolate brown, and you’ve got yourself a winning combo.
#4 Loafers & Ballerinas
The moment many of us have been dreading is officially upon us: skinny jeans are back. And what goes best with skinny jeans? Ballerinas and loafers of course. Though fret not, these staple flats also look great with baggy jeans and trousers if you aren’t ready to jump to put on your pants just yet.
#5 Bordeaux
Forget the burgundy infinity scarf burning a hole in your closet. Bordeaux is burgundy's grown up & glowed up older sister. This shade skews more red than orange, lending it a more royal and timeless look. Basically a staple at this point, Bordeaux looks gorg as on a shoulder bag and extra flirty on a pair of heeled mules.
#6 The “It” Bag
The early 2020s were all about the Y2K revival, meaning butterfly clips and extra tiny statement bags. Though these were certainly cute, they often could barely even fit a phone. So, get excited for the 2016 revival of the big “It” bag. Like a signature scent, the “it” bag is your signature bag. She’s got looks & brawns, carrying all your must-haves and looking good while doing it. My current “It” bag contenders: East-West bags & suede totes.
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One of the most fun aspects of fashion is its cyclical nature. Trends you never thought you’d be caught dead wearing again are back, and somehow your resolve to forsake them weakens. So, bask in the nostalgia, never throw out your Levi’s 501s, and remember: just because 2016 is back, nobody is forcing you to wear that questionable tribal-print top again.
