Fashion on the Internet: Here’s What Trended in 2016
On the internet, fashion trends get shared and promoted at lightening speeds, and 2016 was no different. The year was full of new ideas and bold looks. Some were extremely popular, while others didn’t quite catch on.
One of the styles that really jumped out last year was the revival of the “dad hat.” This is the name given to a regular cap that has either a strap or clasp back; it first started appearing in the 1990s. Dad hats became popular because 2016 saw a revival of interest in both vintage fashion trends and the idea of ” borrowing “ from the boys.
If you spent 2016 looking for something truly fantastic to pair with your dad hat, then the answer would have been the puffer coat. Another replay here: Puffer coats were last popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s. But this year the look was to make puffer coats bolder by paring them with evening wear, as well as mixing prints and combining bright colors with prints.
Schoolgirl jumpers were big on the internet last year too — taking yet another cue from the 1990s. This look typically pairs a strapped jumper with a shirt, but in 2016 designers elevated the look to something more daring with thick straps, long a-line skirts, bold colors and new fabrics. In other words, designers took an old look and made it more wearable for right now.
When the weather starts to get colder, velvet often turns into a fabric of choice. Lately, this soft, versatile material has taken a dramatic turn. Back in the 1990s velvet dresses were packed with material and quite thick, so much so that dresses could be very unflattering. Now, however, designers are using less fabric, while some fashion icons are layering velvet fabrics to add a new dimension to their looks.
Nothing is as timeless as leather. This year’s leather obsession kept the internet buzzing with different ways to pair and wear leather. One of the top trends — again from the 1990s — was the leather trench coat, a chic and multi functional piece that is great to have in both rain and wind. But what made this trend stand out in 2016 was the addition of color. Wearing leather in odd colors like green, blue, and yellow provided an elevated look.
One slightly bolder fashion trend had many mixed reviews in 2016. This was the idea of wearing oversized sleeves, maybe as a top with extra-long bell sleeves or as a sweatshirt with oversized arms. Fashion has always been subject to debate, and this trend certainly got people talking.
Still, no trend said 2016 quite like the statement choker. This accessory was a hit with just about everyone, not just those who follow fashion trends. The necklaces first appeared in the 1990s, but this year on the internet they were bigger and more detailed than before, and those with large stones, crystals and chains were especially popular. What is so great about these statement necklaces is their ability to elevate even the simplest outfit.
That, of course, is true for many accessories. But in 2016 some accessories on the internet took on special powers. Take the fur stole, once a luxury item associated with classic movie stars in the 1950s and 60s. Trendsetters lately have been much more casual about throwing on either real or faux fur over their shoulders.
Now, let’s get to footwear. One of the biggest trends overall on the internet in 2016 was the over-the-knee boot. Many women used to think of these boots as something too sexy to wear, but lately it’s turned into an item almost everyone feels comfortable wearing. For that, you can thank celebrities like Kim Kardashian; like many of her peers, she’s been spotted lately wearing different varieties of the boot, as well as posting about them on social media.
