Fashion, lifestyle and the rejection of AI
Since January 2026, it has seemed as though society has been embracing a lifestyle reminiscent of a decade ago.
2016 was a time of party music, such as Bieber’s ‘sorry’ and Beyonce’s album’ lemonade’, glitter, slime, dabbing, ‘Tumblr girl aesthetic’ and memes such as The Mannequin Challenge. Creativity and originality were blossoming and ‘doom scrolling’ was nonexistent.
Fashion trends included off the shoulder tops, graphic tees often feature iconic (or ironic) slogans, layering clothing and statement sunglasses. Other notable accessories included lace chokers, fringe, tassels and anything that could be bought in Claires.
The rapid advancement of technology, particucaly AI, has had a huge effect on society, in some industries being more positive than others. Artificial intelligence has had great success in healthcare: tailoring treatment plans and drug discoveries, whilst it has bulldozered over creativity and critical thinking, leading to a unexpected opposite effect. Technology that was intended to handle mundane tasks, such as laundry and cleaning, so that people could spend more time writing, researching, and pursuing creativity, now it appears to be doing the writing and research itself, leaving humans with the chores.
Its eroding effect has caused many members of the Gen Z community to pull away from these advancements embracing the ‘I never had that when I was a child’ outlook, adopted from an older generation. Society has developed a craving for the analogue. In recent years, the popularity of collecting vinyl and CDs has grown rapidly, breathing new life into Record stores, but some question why people are willing to spend £40 or £50 on music which is free on Spotify. This investment in physical media can be considered a form of protest against the rapid advancements in technology. Owning a physical collection is a visual representation of passion and identity, something which society feels as though is being lost as technology advances.
Social media is also revealing the growth of what some may call a ‘performative lifestyle.’ Celebrities such as Bella Hadid and everyones favorite Irishman: Paul Mescal, have been photographed walking the streets of London wearing wired headphones. It is not a question of wealth or whether they can afford the latest style of air pods, but rather a social statement. By embracing outdated technology, celebrities aim to lower the pedestal the public have placed them on, becoming more relatable, disregarding their fame as they align themselves with the general public. Jacob Elordi has even been photographed with his headphones not plugged into anything, suggesting the accessory functions purely for aesthetic or ‘performative purposes,’ rather than practicality. But it is these moments of regression in technology and media that hint towards societies craving a simpler time. This concept is a repeating cycle, previously observed in the 19th century when the Romantic’s idealized nature in a time of rapid industrialization, such as Turner’s: ‘Rain steam and speed’ 1844 as he explored the tension between natural forms and technological advancements through the medium of oil paint.
Social media continues to demonstrate further proof of this cultural shift. A recent trend began where influences were ‘throwing back’ to 2016, posting pictures of themselves a decade ago and exploring fashion trends of the past. Fashion is the perfect visual connection between these two eras of time, Izabel Marant’s ‘boho chic aesthetic’ has risen in popularity feature fringe and suede everything, wedge sneakers and ruffles. But really, the 2026 fashion trends which the public believe imitate the ‘2016 aesthetic,’ cover a period between 2010 – 2016 such as many of the ‘teal/ turquoise’ tones reemerging recently, originally growing fame in 2014. On their second loop of the trend cycle, the shade turquoise was voted ‘Colour of the year’ by Dulux in 2016, symbolising balance and versatility as well as capturing that pop of excitement that the year represented.
TikTok searches for 2016 have surged by 450% with 55million videos having been made using the hashtag. Influencers who embrace their personal style continue to skyrocket, such as the icon herself: Olivia Halle. Online personalities have been embracing the tackiness of the era, converting it into a ‘funky chic aesthetic’ which the public seem to devour. This sudden ‘throwback’ raises an important question. Is it a result of nostalgia for the past, or a rejection of the present? At a time of political uncertainty, international conflict and unpredictable technological advancements, the longing for 2016 may be a representation for the familiarity and simplicity society is reliant on in a continuously unstable time.
