Side-By-Side Pics Of Celebs From 2016 To 2026 Highlight How Much Trends Have Changed

It's hard to believe that 2016 was a decade ago, but as social media reminds us, nothing is really that far away if you decide to un-archive it. Since the new year began, Instagram has flooded with celebrities sharing throwback photos from that era, taking us back to a time when things seemed simpler. With 2026 bringing a wave of newness, it's understandable that folks have been hit with a wave of nostalgia for the past. Ten years is a long time to mark changes in fashion, style and general aesthetics, and so people are having fun with sharing walks down memory lane, celebrities included.  

Of course, the fashion we all loved is now shockingly outdated. Bomber jackets and mom jeans were huge in 2016, as were chokers and skinny jeans -– the more rips, the better –- for those who wanted a tighter denim choice. We've come a long way, clearly. Snapchat filters, of course, reigned supreme, as did heavy makeup, inspired by impractical YouTube tutorials. The clean girl aesthetic hadn't begun yet, as that simplistic trend wouldn't ignite until 2021. The pandemic hadn't happened yet, and so everyone was globbing on makeup and stomping out of the house in ankle boots, a shoe trend that never made its way back into nostalgic shoe trends that regained popularity. Athletic leisure was on the rise, but the chic sweatsuit, a result of pandemic fashion, had not yet been conceived. Coachella-wear was in full force. Ah, what a decade can do. With so many sentimental trends to look at, we're enjoying side-by-side comparisons of celebrities who've come a long way since 2016. 

Heather Rae El Moussa took part in the 2016 throwback fun on Instagram. Sharing a carousel of old photos on January 16, 2026, "The Flip Off" star got sentimental about her life a decade earlier. "[D]riving around in the car blaring music with my girlfriends, traveling the country, and being on a billboard for real estate seemed wild," she wistfully wrote in the caption. Her heavier eye makeup and long, layered curls in 2016 capture the va-va-voom style of the era, a dramatic difference from her sleek, parted ponytail and simpler makeup of the contemporary moment. While her style has arguably improved, there's one inappropriate school outfit that will always haunt El Moussa. But since she's a fan of throwback photos, it might not bother her that much. 

Kylie Jenner was having a ball in 2016. Clearly, she thought so too, because on January 15, 2026, she shared a boatload of photos from a decade prior with the caption: "you just had to be there." The digital album was a nostalgic glance at a critical year for Jenner. In 2016, she officially launched Kylie Cosmetics after a successful soft launch of her lip kits in 2015. She propelled several trends at the time, from the full, pouty lip to bold hair colors, proving that Jenner was influencing beauty standards and trends around the world. Jenner's style transformation from that colorful hair era to now marks just how far she's come in a decade. 

Mindy Kaling made everyone remember the global love of neon colors that took over fashion in 2016, along with preppy headbands. Jumping on the nostalgic trend, Kaling shared a treasure trove of pics back when she was filming "The Mindy Project," and her outfits were as colorful as ever. There was a lot of pink, orange, and vivid prints. "I saw this 2016 trend and loved it and almost didn't post because I look different but these pics are too fun not to share," she wrote in the caption. She does, indeed, look different. At a party in January 2026, Kaling showed that her bright color era is long gone, as she opted to wear tones of grey with a minimal makeup palette and no headband in sight. 

Amy Schumer was another celebrity who didn't miss an opportunity to share memories — and fashion — from 2016. Capturing major life moments, like the publication of her memoir, "The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo," Schumer shared snaps from the pivotal year, adding the caption: "2016 was cray." The photos gave a glimpse into the growing cultural interest in athletic wear, from ball caps to leggings with sweaters tied around the waist. By 2026, Schumer looks like a completely different person. For one, she's among the many celebrities who've totally transformed after taking Ozempic or other GLP-1's. But she's also stepped into a more formal style of dressing, ditching casual wear for a more polished look.

Hailey Bieber has been an It Girl for well over a decade, and her 2016 throwback post proves it. But the post also proves how much style has changed in just a decade. In that bygone era, Bieber was sporting chokers, pastel hair, messy buns, an endless array of crop tops, and noticeable, winged black eyeliner. Ten years later, she is the de facto leader of the clean girl trend. While she's still sporting buns, these hairstyles are sleek and off-duty. Her makeup is undeniably more subdued and her style is minimal; in the span of a decade, she went from being a party girl to a fashion trend setter. 

Lucy Hale of "Pretty Little Liars" was another celeb who had fun with the 2016 throwback trend. "Soo much has changed but DAMN I appreciate all these memories & people so much," she wrote in the caption, looking back on her life a decade ago. The carousel of photos was full of 2016 fads: off-the-shoulder sweaters, flared pleather trousers, and dresses held together by drawstrings. Heavy under-eye makeup was popular back then, as were the infamous kitten ear headbands (popularized by Ariana Grande). Jump forward to 2026 and Hale is all about sleek, structured tailoring and a more simple wardrobe. 

Shay Mitchell of "Pretty Little Liars" shared her own core memories of 2016 with an incredible series of pics. "I heard 2026 is the new 2016 and I'm so okay with it," she wrote in the caption, owning up to wearing very tight skinny jeans and ankle boots back in the day. She nailed that quintessential Coachella look, complete with an off-the-shoulder peasant top and a plaid shirt tied around her waist. Not to be missed was the infamous Snapchat dog filter. But 2026 shows a completely new Mitchell, with a pared-down makeup style and a more effortless wardrobe. 

Fashion influencer and blogger Camille Co gave an iconic example of the pastel hair trends of 2016. Pinks, lavenders, and cornflower blues were all perfectly acceptable and even trendy hair colors a decade ago. For her throwback Instagram post, Co wrote in her caption: "Cue the start of my unicorn hair era. I spent way too much time on Photoshop and Lightroom." Zip ahead to 2026 and Co is back to a rich, natural hair color with a wardrobe that's more preppy, structured and tailored. Things are much more sleek and minimal for Co ten years later.