2016 Revival: The Legendary Throwback You Need to Know

We need to talk, guys. I was scrolling through my old photos the other night at like 2 AM. You know the vibe, when you fall down that endless camera roll rabbit hole. And honestly? I realized something huge.

2016 was peak. Like, the absolute peak of our pop culture lives.

I know it sounds crazy because it feels like it just happened yesterday, but think about it. It was a whole decade ago! And suddenly I am seeing these subtle little hints popping up everywhere online. The trends we used to obsess over are slowly sneaking their way back into our closets and makeup bags. But listen, we are not just going to repeat the past. We are going to do a massive 2016 revival, but make it modern, wearable, and actually cool for right now.

Because let’s be real, some of those original looks were… a choice. But the core energy? The absolute fun of it all? That is exactly what we need right now. So me and you, we are going to dive into the ultimate 2016 throwback guide. I’m gonna show you exactly how to bring back the best parts of that year without looking like you are going to a costume party.

The Make-up: From Block Brows to Soft Glam

Let me tell you a quick story. Back in the summer of 2016, me and my best friend Jess were getting ready for this outdoor festival thing. I spent a literal hour on my eyebrows. I was using that thick pomade, drawing these massive, dark, perfectly square boxes on my face. Then I “baked” my under-eyes with about three pounds of loose white powder. We thought we looked amazing. We took a flash photo in the dark later that night, and you guys… I looked like a terrified ghost with two sharpies taped to my forehead. It was a disaster.

We laughed so hard we cried, but I also immediately tried to scrub my face with a wet wipe in the middle of a crowd.

So how do we do 2016 makeup today? The huge trend back then was the ultra-matte liquid lipstick. Everyone had those lip kits in those flat beige, mauve, and deep brown shades. They dried down so hard your lips felt like the desert.

Here is your modern action plan:

• Ditch the crusty matte: You still want that beautiful, muted mauve or 90s brown lip color, but we are doing it soft now. Get a soft-blur matte lipstick or a lip tint.
• Prep is everything: Put on a really good hydrating lip mask first. Let it sit while you do your face, wipe it off, and then tap the color on with your finger.
• The Brows: Instead of the block brow, we are taking the 2016 arch but fluffing it up. Use a clear brow gel to brush the hairs up, and just lightly fill in the tail with a super fine pencil.

It gives you that polished, put-together 2016 glam, but you actually look human and fresh. Trust me on this one, tapping the lipstick on instead of swiping a thick layer changes everything.

The Fashion: Slip Dresses and Chokers (Yes, Really)

Okay, close your eyes and picture it. A plain white baby tee, a silk slip dress layered over it, a giant bomber jacket falling off one shoulder, and a thick velvet choker. I literally wore that exact outfit to the mall like fifty times.

The choker was so tight it sometimes left a faint green line on my neck, but I didn’t even care. It was the look. And bomber jackets were everywhere. Shiny nylon ones in olive green or pale pink.

We are bringing the slip dress back, because honestly, it is the most comfortable and flattering thing ever invented. But we need to upgrade the styling so you feel like a confident adult and not a lost teenager.

Your style update steps:

• Drop the T-shirt layer: Wear the slip dress on its own. It feels so much more elegant and breezy. If you want coverage, throw an oversized, slightly distressed vintage leather jacket over it instead of a shiny bomber. The contrast between delicate silk and rough leather is everything right now.
• The Choker 2.0: Forget the thick black velvet bands. If you want to do the choker trend, go for a delicate, thin gold chain that sits right at the base of your throat, or a soft, long fabric tie that you wrap loosely. It gives that same focus to the neckline without cutting your head off visually.
• Footwear: In 2016 we wore crisp white tennis shoes with literally everything. That actually still works perfectly! But if you want to elevate it for a dinner date, swap the sneakers for a sleek low kitten heel.

Try the leather jacket and silk dress combo this weekend. You will feel instantly put together but incredibly comfortable, which is honestly the ultimate goal.

The Soundtrack of our Lives

You can’t talk about 2016 without talking about the music. It was everywhere. We were completely obsessed.

Tropical house music was playing in every single store, every Uber, every party. Drake was dominating. Rihanna gave us absolute anthems. And obviously, The Chainsmokers. You couldn’t escape them even if you tried.

I remember sitting in the back of my friend’s terrible old Honda Civic, rolling down the windows because the AC was broken, and screaming the lyrics to “Closer” at the top of our lungs while driving to get late-night fries. It felt like nothing in the world mattered except that exact moment.

And if you really want to vibe out while you are working or cleaning your room, this Spotify playlist is basically a time machine. Seriously, put this on and tell me you don’t instantly feel lighter.

The Vibe: Pokémon GO and Carefree Posting

This is probably the most important part of the 2016 revival. It’s not just about what we wore or the makeup we used. It’s about how we acted online and outside.

Do you remember the summer of Pokémon GO? Because I think about it a lot. It was July, and suddenly everyone – literally everyone – was outside. Me and my brother walked three miles at 11 PM on a Tuesday because someone said there was a rare Pokémon down by the lake. We ran into like twenty other people doing the exact same thing. Everyone was talking to strangers, sharing battery packs, just wandering around laughing. It was pure, unfiltered joy.

And online? We were on Snapchat using that ridiculous dog filter with the big tongue. We posted blurry, badly lit photos just because we felt like it. We didn’t care about a curated aesthetic grid. If I took a cute selfie but there was a messy pile of laundry in the background? I posted it anyway. I’d send a million snaps to the guy I had a crush on, hoping he’d reply to the one where I had the flower crown filter on.

We need that energy back. Desperately.

Social media has gotten so stiff and perfect. Everyone is trying so hard to look like they live in a magazine. But the 2016 vibe was about being slightly messy, very authentic, and just having fun with your friends.

Here is your homework for this week:

Post something imperfect. Take a photo of your coffee cup with a smudge on it, or a blurry laughing picture of you and your friend, and just put it on your story. Don’t use a heavy filter that changes your face shape. Just let it be real. It feels incredibly freeing when you realize nobody actually cares if your photo is perfectly color-corrected. They just want to see you living your life.

How to Host a 2016 Revival Night

Alright, you read all this, you are feeling the nostalgia, and now you want to actually do something with it. I love that. Let’s make it happen. You need to text your friend group right now and tell them you are hosting a 2016 night this weekend.

Here is exactly how you do it so it’s actually fun and not cheesy:

• The Dress Code: Tell everyone to wear their favorite modernized 2016 trend. Slip dresses, off-the-shoulder tops, maybe even a subtle choker if they are feeling brave. But keep it stylish.
• The Menu: Keep it casual. We are talking pizza delivery and making fancy iced coffees or overly sweet colorful mocktails. Remember those crazy unicorn frappuccinos? Make a DIY version with lots of whipped cream and colorful sprinkles. It looks great in photos and it’s hilarious to make together.
• The Activity: This is the best part. Put on the playlist I linked above. Then, everybody has to open their camera roll and scroll all the way back to 2016. Go around the room and have everyone show their most embarrassing, funny, or chaotic photo from that year. The stories that come out of this are always incredible. You will end up crying from laughing so hard.
• The Photos: Get a cheap disposable camera or download an app like Huji Cam (which gives photos that retro light-leak vibe). Take pictures of the night, but absolutely no posing perfectly. The blurrier and more candid, the better.