At a Glance
- Kylie Jenner, Jenna Dewan, Lea Michele and more celebrities are posting 2016-era photos in a viral throwback trend.
- The posts highlight once-ubiquitous fads like flower crowns, mirrored sunglasses and the Snapchat dog filter.
- The nostalgia surge erupted within weeks of January 2026 as social media users mark the 10-year anniversary of 2016 culture.
- Why it matters: Fans get a curated time capsule of the decade’s most meme-worthy fashion and tech moments, straight from the stars who shaped them.
Celebrities are mining their camera rolls for 2016 gems, sparking a collective rewind that has fans double-tapping memories of flower crowns, mirrored festival shades and the omnipresent Snapchat dog filter.
How the 2016 Throwback Trend Took Off
According to News Of Losangeles, the movement gained traction mere weeks into January 2026 as users across platforms began marking the 10-year milestone. Hashtags and captions lean on the phrase “you had to be there,” underscoring the era’s unmistakable vibe.
Key Celebrity Posts Driving the Nostalgia
Kylie Jenner
- Shared a mirror selfie in a Supreme sweater, captioning it “you just had to be there.”
- The image captures her Tumblr-aesthetic peak and the launch window of her beauty empire.
Lea Michele
- Posted a behind-the-scenes collage from Scream Queens featuring co-stars Abigail Breslin, Billie Lourd and Emma Roberts.
- Followed up with a festival shot showcasing 2016 staples: braids, tank top and knee-high boots.
Jenna Dewan
- Uploaded a glitter-soaked photo timed to the beat of “This Is What You Came For.”
- Revived the once-inescapable Snapchat dog filter in a second slide.
Eva Longoria
- Selfie in a flower crown, a must-have accessory at 2016 festivals.
Lucy Hale
- Reunited the Pretty Little Liars cast-Ashley Benson, Shay Mitchell, Troian Bellisario, Sasha Pieterse and creator I. Marlene King-in a cast photo.
- Added an awards-circuit snapshot with co-star Ian Harding.
John Legend & Chrissy Teigen
- Marked 2016 as the year they welcomed daughter Luna Stephens on April 4.
Sasha Pieterse
- Dressed as Harley Quinn for Halloween, tapping the Suicide Squad fever that dominated pop culture that year.
Andy Cohen
- Shared a photo with Kristin Chenoweth, Chrissy Teigen and Left Shark, captioning the moment “footloose, fancy free.”
Ryan Seacrest
- Noted, “The internet’s calling 2026 the new 2016, back when posts were less polished, filters were more intense, and we embraced cringe.”
Thomas Rhett
- Flannel-around-the-waist, ripped jeans and voluminous hair sealed his 2016 rocker look.
Reese Witherspoon
- Claimed her throwback shots were a decade old, though fans say she hasn’t aged.
Why 2016 Trends Feel So Memorable
- The Snapchat dog filter, Mannequin Challenge, skinny jeans and flower crowns dominated visual culture.
- Music hits like “Panda” by Desiigner and “Black Beatles” by Rae Sremmurd provided the soundtrack.
- Festival fashion-mirrored sunglasses, braids, tank tops, cowboy boots-became a global uniform.
Fan Reaction
Comments sections brim with laughing-crying emojis and admissions of once-owning identical outfits. The consensus: cringe or not, these looks defined a carefree digital moment before today’s hyper-curated feeds.
Key Takeaways
- The 10-year nostalgia cycle is hitting hard in 2026, led by the very celebrities who set the original trends.
- Expect more 2016 callbacks as additional stars dig through their archives.
- Whether it’s flower crowns or flannel tied at the waist, the resurrection proves fashion and tech fads may fade, but screenshots-and the stars who posted them-last forever.
