2026 or 2016? How fashion and beauty is rewinding the clock

Before 2026 had even begun, social media had declared it a 2016 Part 2 in all senses of fashion and beauty. As the clock struck midnight on January 1^st, the hashtag ‘you just had to be there’ infiltrated Instagram, with celebrities ranging from the Kardashians to Love Island contestants posting throwback pictures from 2016. It is due to this, that 2026 fashion, beauty and trend predictions have thrown us all back into 2016, the famously iconic year. 

The ‘clean girl’ aesthetic shifted, with slick-back buns and minimal makeup being traded for the full glam looks of 2016. Hailey Bieber’s ‘glazed doughnut’ skincare was abandoned for Kylie Jenner’s resurrection of ‘King Kylie’ makeup, which focused on heavy contour, bold eyes and the world-renowned Lip Kit. The resurgence of 2016 makeup also inspired the same loudness in fashion, with simplicity being forgotten.

This shift has slowly been infiltrating onto campus, with baby pinks and soft neutrals giving way to hotter, louder shades - hot pinks, cherry reds, and even chrome being a popular choice. Despite Charli XCX’s BRAT album birthing this change back in summer 2024, the expressive ‘party girl’ persona is still ever-present, both on nights out and in daytime lectures.

Speaking of music, wired headphones are now being seen around campus and online as a form of accessory, with the seamless invisibility of AirPods being rejected for the nostalgic cord, which effortlessly transforms an outfit from basic to unique!

The growing theme of maximalism on campus rivals the old ‘algorithm-friendly’ microtrends that lasted about a week. Accessories have been spotted to be bigger and louder than before, with chunky, studded bags replacing the sleek Longchamp tote, and tiny sunglasses being replaced with oversized frames, an early 2000s totem.

However, whilst accessories are getting larger, outerwear is shrinking. The once unavoidable puffer jacket has been ditched for tighter jackets and longer coats, with form taking precedence over function. On campus it is clear to see that leather has been swapped with suede, channelling not only 2016, but the early 2000s as a whole. 

So, as it stands, 2026 is the year where microtrends are being abandoned for unique vintage finds, and where personality and individualism is returning in both fashion and beauty. So dust off the old iPod Nano, we’re going back to 2016!