NEW DELHI: It’s 2016. You’re on your way to a party, tapping out a last-minute “what are you wearing?” text on Facebook Messenger. A few seconds later, Snapchat lights up—dog filter and all. Your friend is already locked in: salmon-pink slip dress, COTN sorted.
You look down. Ripped jeans, knees peeking through. Too casual? Maybe. You reach into your bag, pull out a choker, and decide it’s fine. Wired headphones go in, Lemonade comes on, and you tap your card on the bus reader. Life is good.
Fast forward to 2026, and an unexpected nostalgia for all things 2016 is flooding social feeds. But this isn’t just a sentimental scrolling. Some of the decade’s most debated fashion trends are quietly—confidently—finding their way back into wardrobes and onto runways. And yes, they actually work.
Here are four 2016 trends proving they were never that bad to begin with:
TRACKSUITS AND ATHLEISURE
In 2016, “athleisure” became official enough to earn a Merriam-Webster entry. Celebrities stepped out in head-to-toe tracksuits, while brands like Chloé, Stella McCartney and Lanvin elevated sweatpants to runway status.
In 2026, the office may still be a grey area for tracksuits, but three-stripe joggers and clean jersey coords are everywhere. Designers like Wales Bonner have brought back retro-inspired tracksuits, while slim trainers and sneakers have given athleisure a sharper, more intentional edge. Comfortable, cool and completely current.
MILLENNIAL PINK
Millennial pink didn’t just appear—it peaked. Apple’s rose gold iPhone set the tone in 2015, but 2016 sealed the deal when Pantone named Rose Quartz one of its Colours of the Year. Soon after, the Cat gave the shade its now-iconic name.
Nearly a decade later, millennial pink refuses to fade. The recent Wicked press tour was awash in pastel pinks, while Prada, Miu Miu, Balenciaga and Gucci have all reworked the shade for modern collections. Softer, subtler and less ironic, millennial pink has grown up—and it shows.
SLIP DRESSES
Originally a ‘90s staple worn by Kate Moss and Gwyneth Paltrow, the slip dress enjoyed a major revival in 2016 thanks to Saint Laurent and Céline. Celebrities wore them everywhere—from red carpets to after-parties.
In 2026, the slip dress is once again a fashion signal: Zoë Kravitz’s silk-and-lace Saint Laurent slip at the Golden Globes set the tone for the year ahead. This time around, it’s less about minimalism and more about styling—layered, textured and unapologetically elegant.
RIPPED DENIM
Once reserved strictly for casual outings, ripped jeans now exist in a fashion world where tailoring and denim freely overlap. The rules have loosened.
To make distressed denim work in 2026, it’s all about contrast. Take cues from Myha’la and pair ripped jeans with a structured, funnel-neck jacket or sharp outerwear. The result feels deliberate rather than dated.
Fashion’s relationship with the past is rarely straightforward. But as 2026 proves, some 2016 trends didn’t age badly—they just needed time to evolve.