2026 Is the New 2016! And Honestly, I Love That for Us

If you’ve been on the internet lately, you’ve probably felt it too.

The music.

The fashion.

The carefree energy.

The fun.

Everywhere you look, people are pulling inspiration straight from 2016, and honestly? I’m here for it. So much so that I even joined in myself and posted a little throwback moment. Because something about that era just hits different.

And maybe it’s not just nostalgia. Maybe it’s healing.

My 2016

In 2016, I turned 30.

I was standing in Washington, DC, hopeful, unsure, excited, and proud all at once. At the time, I didn’t have all the answers, but I had something just as powerful: courage. Courage to step into a new decade, to trust myself, and to believe that I was becoming someone even greater than I already was.

Looking back now, every version of me since then has been built on the bravery of that woman. The growth. The grace. The lessons. The becoming.

Still her, just evolved.

Why 2016 Still Has Us in a Chokehold

2016 wasn’t perfect, but it felt lighter.

Social media was fun, not exhausting.

Fashion was expressive, bold, and unapologetic.

Beauty trends were playful, experimental, and community-driven.

We were creating because we loved it and not because an algorithm told us to.

There was room to just… exist online.

Now in 2026, it feels like we’re collectively saying:

“Let’s bring that energy back.”

Fashion Is Having a Full-Circle Moment

Low-rise debates aside (we don’t have to do everything from 2016 😅), fashion right now feels inspiring again.

We’re seeing:

• Statement accessories making a comeback

• Bold outfits without overthinking “aesthetic”

• Mixing trends instead of sticking to one “core”

• Dressing for joy, not just for content

As a petite girlie, I especially love that people are experimenting again by styling creatively, and making trends work for their bodies instead of chasing perfection.

Beauty Feels Fun Again

The beauty space is also shifting.

We’re seeing:

• Playful makeup looks

• Nostalgic hair styles and textures being celebrated

• Less “clean girl perfection,” more personality

• A return to signature looks instead of trend-hopping every week

For my fellow coily-haired girls, this era feels refreshing. Texture is embraced. Individuality is centered. And doing your hair doesn’t feel like it has to fit into one box.

Social Media Is Softening and I Hope It Stays That Way

What excites me most is how social media is shifting.

People are posting memories.

Sharing moments without overthinking.

Reconnecting with who they were and who they’re becoming.

It feels like a collective exhale; like a reminder that social media can be a space for connection again, not just a performance.

It’s Not About Going Back—It’s About Reclaiming

We’re not trying to relive 2016 exactly as it was.

We’re reclaiming the parts that mattered.

The confidence to show up.

The freedom to create.

The courage to trust ourselves.

If 2026 carries even a fraction of that energy forward—with more wisdom and more grace—I’m ready.

Here’s to growth.

Here’s to becoming.

Here’s to honoring who we were while celebrating who we are now.

Because if 2026 really is the new 2016…

I’m still her 💝

xoxo Charrisse