4 2016 Trends That Deserve To Stay In The Past (& 1 That Should Come Back)

Fashion is as subjective as it is cyclical, but there's one thing we can all agree on: 2016 fashion had its highlights. It certainly was one of those "you had to be there" moments. All over the internet, celebs and us mere mortals are sharing throwbacks to 2016, which unbelievably, was a whole decade ago. And beyond the understandable nostalgia, the fashion trends we lived for back then are popping right up in our faces.

The general sentiment seems to be that 2016 was a golden year for fashion, with people recreating their favorite moments from the era. But we have to be that voice of reason. 2016 was not all good. Some of these throwbacks are more like jumpscares than anything else, and we're not going to pretend otherwise when it comes to the crop-top obsession or rose-gold hair.

Don't take our word for it; check out some of the most popular throwback-to-2016 posts, like Hailey Bieber's on Instagram, which has garnered millions of likes. The Rhode Skin founder looked gorgeous as ever, but just like the outdated beauty trends we need to leave behind in 2026, some of those trends deserve to stay dead and buried. Others, however, could use some revamping before being reintroduced to polite society.

Off-the-shoulders were all the rage in 2016. There were off-the-shoulder tops and dresses in every style imaginable, and we just couldn't get enough of them. However, they were some of the most uncomfortable pieces of clothing ever created. For one, there was restricted movement. Good luck trying to get something off the top shelf or putting your hair in a bun if you're wearing an off-the-shoulder top.

And that's just the beginning. You had to find the right bra to wear with an off-the-shoulder top, which more often than not was a strapless bra. Otherwise, you'd have to go braless, which wasn't realistic for the girlies with the bigger cup sizes. Plus, some styles of clothes shouldn't even have come in off-the-shoulder.

If you were in the A or B cup club and wore an off-the-shoulder A-line dress, for instance, there was absolutely nothing holding the dress up. You'd have to ensure you kept your arms at just the right spot, or the dress would come slipping down. Not to mention that if your off-the-shoulder had an elastic strap, it would leave marks on your skin. Sure, off-the-shoulder tops were cute and innovative back then, but they were a pain. Strapless gowns are a much better alternative, with the exposed shoulders and less of the stress.

If you weren't into fashion trends in 2016, you might not notice the difference between the current crop-top trend and the cropped obsession in 2016. Back then, it wasn't just the cute tees that were cropped. Everything, from ruffled tops to pinstripe blouses, jeans, sweaters, hoodies, and blazers, was cropped. Even when regular tops didn't come cropped, we found ways to tuck them in and tie them up to expose a bit of midriff. It was definitely an obsession.

We're not looking down on these fads, but having cropped versions of everything grew tiring for a number of reasons. Even if you have a flat belly, it's impossible to eat satisfactorily with a crop top. Plus, most crop tops cater to a particular size bracket and don't do plus sizes justice. We're still fans of the style and super into chic ways to style a crop top beyond the basic, but we certainly love our full-sized tops a bit too much to part with them.

2016 was the year of colorful hair, and no shade dominated the internet like rose gold, which often ended up looking like bubblegum pink. All the celebrities were getting this hair color, from Hailey Bieber, to Bella Hadid, Iggy Azalea, Elle Fanning, and Kylie Jenner (remember the Kylie King pink era?). It was also the year singer P!nk dyed her hair pink again. Even male celebs like Kanye West and Zayn Malik got in on the pink action, too.

We absolutely adored this era because it was new, fun, and vibrant ... That was until it became overdone. Soon, wearing pink hair made you look less daring and more like a fad follower, which is the opposite reason people get their hair colored.

However, the love for pink hair never truly left, and in summer 2024, millennials brought the pink hair trend back again. This brings us to our verdict: We absolutely don't want this to become a mainstream trend, so it doesn't become overdone. Unlike clothes and accessories, hair doesn't change from day to day, so it's a no from us.

If there's one fact most people can agree on, it's that the tiny jean shorts era is better dead and buried. In 2016, they were literally everywhere. From plain ones to the ones with rhinestones and other embellishments, you couldn't escape them. This was unfortunate because they were extremely uncomfortable and only looked good on a particular body type. These shorts dug into the lines of the thighs and into the crotch area while cutting off circulation.

Additionally, for girls who weren't Barbie-thin, they were a pain to put on and take off. Not to mention how impractical they were for most weather. The love for denim has remained strong and will probably never fade away, but there are much better ways to wear jean shorts without slipping into tiny territory. A-line jean shorts, for example, are the perfect mix of comfort and style. They have a bit of that tiny factor, but they don't suffocate the thighs, and they look more modern and less restrictive. Plus, they can cover or reveal as little as you want them to. Tiny jean shorts simply don't give you these options, so we'll pass.

Considering just how popular chokers were in 2016, it's wild that they're considered so unfashionable now, and honestly speaking, this needs to change. Hear us out: Current jewelry trends favor stackable necklaces, modern classics, and chunky chains, but none of these give what the choker gave, which is versatility. Want an edgy look? Go for a choker with black leather and studs. Want something more dainty or romantic? It doesn't get better than a Cinderella choker. Looking for a glam look? Crystal chokers are perfect. You could go boho, retro, or even girl-next-door with chokers.

Chokers were a godsend for people with visible collarbones and longer necks. Plus, they were easily a statement piece. It's true that chokers literally choked you, but pain has never stopped beauty before, and it really shouldn't start now. The trend initially faded, mainly because of how overworn they became. But we aren't suggesting that we ditch the modern-day trends; only that everyone gets a choker or three added to their necklace collection.