At the ripe age of 24, I didn’t believe I was old enough to feel nostalgic for my youth. But the internet thinks otherwise.
Overnight, my TikTok feed went from dewy makeup, six-seven memes and Heated Rivalry fan edits to blinding highlights, matte lipstick and mannequin challenge videos.
From Billie Eilish to Simone Biles to my former classmates, gen Z has been flooding social media with throwback pictures and montages. Many of us are experiencing nostalgia for an era largely defined by Snapchat filters, selfies and skinny jeans.
While I don’t long to relive my freshman year of high school, I’ll admit that some products popular that year – such as fidget spinners and the infamous green army jacket – have become permanently etched into our generation’s mind’s eye.
So what are the standout items from 2016 – the things making us so nostalgic in the first place? I recruited fellow gen Zers aged 19 through 29 to time travel back, asking them to try recalling the items they personally loved. (Some items were technically popular the year before or after, but still reminded them of 2016.)
Many listed the pricey makeup they purchased, remembering our generation’s collective fixation on YouTube’s “beauty gurus” and heavy makeup looks. (Their answers unlocked a buried memory of the coveted highlighter that took up real estate in my and so many teens’ makeup bags.)
If you’re gifting someone nostalgic, hunting for an outfit for a 2016-themed party or simply want to reconnect with your younger self, this list of 22 items is for you.
Read more of our retro recommendations:
Fifteen nostalgic gifts in the US that will take you back to simpler times
What’s in your ‘analog bag’? Unpacking the viral trend – in a stuffed tote
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The gadgets that defined 2016, according to gen Z
What I loved: Apple wired headphones
$15.96 at Amazon $15.96 at StaplesRight now, we’re seeing a resurgence of wired headphones. Yet for me, they’ll always remind me of my high school days, before AirPods became popular. I wore my headphones everywhere, bringing them to class and trying to keep them tangle-free in my black hole of a backpack.
And Polaroid cameras
Fujifilm instax Mini SE
$55 at Walmart***
Fujifilm instax Mini 12
$83.71 at AmazonWhile I technically didn’t get my camera until a few years later (I won my prom’s raffle), I remember coveting a Polaroid for years. I always wanted to create one of those trendy Polaroid walls for my room.
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Here’s what everyone else loved to use in 2016.
Pokémon Go
Free download at AppleI enjoyed trying to catch them all. Matthew, 22
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Fidget spinners
$8.99 at AmazonIt was kind of a stress reliever. If you were bored in class or walking around on campus, you just had a fidget spinner. Haley, 29
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Rainbow Loom bracelet making kit
$19.97 at Amazon $19.97 at WalmartI loved Rainbow Loom. I made fishtail and starburst bracelets. Jordan, 19
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S’well water bottle
$34.54 at Amazon $45 at S’wellWater bottles weren’t a thing like they are now. I feel like the S’well kicked off water bottles as a status symbol. I loved mine, and I would bring it to school every single day. Jessica, 25
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Crosley record player
$71.95 at Amazon $74.99 at WayfairI got it for college. I was a big Black Keys fan back then. Rita, 27
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Beats over-the-ear headphones
From $149.95 at Amazon $149.95 at B&H Photo VideoOver-the-ear headphones were a thing for sure. I listened to Frank Ocean’s album, Blonde. Ava, 28
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The fashion staples that defined 2016, according to gen Z
What I loved: Black high-top Converse
$64.96 at DSW $65 at ZapposI remember thinking that my Converse were the epitome of cool. Wearing a pair of these while listening to Cage the Elephant made me feel like I could conquer the world. I still love Converse sneakers and have purchased multiple pairs throughout the year.
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Here’s what everyone else loved to wear in 2016.
Chokers
$8.99 at EtsyThe chokers were everywhere. If you didn’t have a choker, you weren’t cool. Haley, 29
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Modcloth dresses
From $12.79 at ModClothI remember being really into Modcloth. That brand specifically feels very 2016 for me. I got my senior picture dress there for sure. I feel like it was in the twee Tumblr, peak Zoey Deschanel era. Rita, 27
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Calvin Klein bralettes
$20 at Calvin Klein $36.91 at AmazonI couldn’t afford to go to the actual Calvin Klein store, but they sold them at TJ Maxx. Greta, 26
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Green army jacket
$79.99 at Macy’sThe green army jacket and the lace-up crop tops. That was the key 2016 house party look. Haley, 29
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Adidas platform sneakers
From $60 at Nordstrom $100 at AdidasI went to high school in Paris, and everyone wore Adidas Stan Smith’s year round. It did not matter if it was super cold, people would still wear them with skinny jeans. Greta, 26
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Adidas NMD sneakers
$149.90 at Amazon $168 at Stock XThey were super comfortable and cool. I was late on the trend. Gino, 22
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The (full glam) makeup and skincare that defined 2016, according to gen Z
Elizaveca Milky Piggy foam mask
$8 at Marshall’s $9.70 at AmazonThere was a crazy face mask made of clay that would bubble up when you applied it. Claire, 27
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Tarte Shape Tape Concealer
$19.20 at Amazon $19.20 at UltaI used that all the time, every single day. I feel like it’s one of those markers of 2016 beauty. And I had really bad acne in high school, so I loved the Tarte concealer. Jessica, 25
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Anastasia Beverly Hills brow kit
$17.40 at Ulta $29 at SephoraIt was just me and my eyebrows against the world. Bridget, 26
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Becca Champaign Pop Highlighter
$42 at Ulta $42 at NordstromIt was one of the first years that highlighters became a thing, and if you were going to get a highlighter, it was going to be Champagne Pop. Jessica, 25
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Urban Decay Naked eyeshadow palette
$53 at Sephora $59 at Macy’sI think I got one in 2016, and I still have it. You had to have a Naked eyeshadow palette. Ava, 28
