2026 is the New 2016 - And What That Means for Fashion

2026 Is the New 2016 — And What That Means for Fashion

When I think of 2016, I think of being freshly out of school, standing at the edge of adulthood, convinced that my uni years would finally be the time when fashion meant self-expression.

I was watching Gossip Girl, getting drunk on outfits, silhouettes, drama. Fashion felt aspirational but personal. You dressed for yourself first — to feel something — not to fit into a feed.

2016 was loud, chaotic, expressive. And somehow, deeply human.Back then, trends emerged organically. They weren’t pre-approved by algorithms or diluted into sameness within weeks. You could walk into a room and see wildly different aesthetics co-existing — boho next to bodycon, grunge next to lace, minimal next to maximal.

There was no pressure to “fit the aesthetic.” The aesthetic found you.

Social media mirrored that freedom. Instagram was chronological. Your feed was your friends, not strangers optimized for engagement. The word “doomscrolling” didn’t exist yet. Online spaces felt communal, curious, experimental — not performative or combative.

Fashion reflected that mood: playful, daring, sometimes imperfect — but always expressive.

So Why Is 2016 Showing Up Again in 2026?

What we’re seeing now is a return to emotion-led dressing. After years of hyper-curation, trend fatigue, and algorithm-led aesthetics, people are craving clothes that feel something again.

And that’s what 2016 represented:
Hope. Play. Personality. Community.

What This Means for Sundazed? We’re leaning into it.
We’re going to have a lot of fun. Daring Necklines, Lace Accents, Statement tops, lots of sequins (even in the day)
We’re not going to overthink it.

And most importantly — we’re bringing you into the process. Styling, shoots, drops, ideas. This era is about community again, and we want you right in the middle of it.

Stay Sundazed

xo xo
Shipra