A Year in Review: The Fashion "It" Items That Defined 2016

By Andrea Cheng
Updated Dec 21, 2016 @ 7:00 pm
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Credit: Edward Berthelot/Getty

Blame it on fashion for delivering coveted items that we, irrationally, have to have, year after year. In 2016, these “It” must-haves arrived in the form of Gucci fur-lined loafer slides (a design so good that not even celebrities could resist wearing them over and over again), vintage Levi’s jeans (specifically, the 501s and 505s; here’s how you can shop for the perfect pair), Cult Gaia bamboo clutches (that became a viral hit through Instagram), and Vans Old Skools (interestingly, the most snapped sneaker to come out of Fashion Month ever since the Stan Smith’s claim to fame). And since 2016 will forever be known as The Year of The Choker, there’s, of course, one on this It List: Roxanne Assoulin’s rainbow-happy spectrum tiles, a design that's found a home on the necks of A-listers and street-style stars alike.

There was a big demand for tour merch (Bieber and Saint Pablo, specifically), along with street-chic hoodies—and coming in from the opposite end, incredibly ladylike Chanel cap-toe mules (the latest iteration of the cap-toe slingbacks that made it on our list in 2015). Scroll through to see the 12 buzziest fashion items of 2016.

Start Slideshow

1 of 12

Giant Super-Sized Earrings

Credit: Christian Vierig/Getty
$219
SHOP IT
anniecostellobrown.com

So long, teeny-tiny studs. Incredible over-the-top earrings dominated the spring 2017 runways, and in turn, the street-style scene. A favorite? These sculptural creations by designer Annie Costello Brown.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 12

The Cult Gaia Ark Bag

Credit: Matthew Sperzel/Getty
$88
SHOP IT
cultgaia.com

The bamboo clutch that dominated our Instagram feed for the better half of the year. Actually, make that all straw bags. 

3 of 12

Vans Old Skool Sneakers

Credit: Christian Vierig/Getty
$60
SHOP IT
vans.com

It looks like Adidas Stan Smiths finally have a rival. The most snapped sneaker of Fashion Month were the black-and-white Vans Old Skools (even Kendall Jenner is a fan). 

Advertisement

4 of 12

Aquazzura's "Wild Thing" Sandals

$785
SHOP IT
barneys.com

Fringed, tasseled, fun—these were the sandals of the summer. And once Rihanna wore them, their fate was sealed. 

5 of 12

The Loewe Puzzle Bag

Credit: Christian Vierig/Getty
$2,350
SHOP IT
nordstrom.com

Sculptural, deconstructed, geometric—there's a reason why the Puzzle bag (one of designer Jonathan Anderson's first designs for the Spanish label) was such a hit. 

6 of 12

Street-Chic Hoodies

Credit: Melodie Jeng/Getty
$1,050
SHOP IT
net-a-porter.com

With the rise of buzzy streetwear designers (Demna Gvasalia of Vetements, Virgil Abloh of Off-White, etc) arrives the demand for streetwear staples, like hoodies, oversized denim jackets, and sweats. 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 12

Vintage Levi's

Credit: Christian Vierig/Getty
$265
SHOP IT
shopredone.com

The pre-reqs for jeans in 2016: high-waist, straight-leg, vintage, and made by Levi's. 

8 of 12

Chanel Mules

Credit: Christian Vierig/Getty

Chanel's back with another in-demand shoe: cap-toe mules—the updated version of last year's famous slingbacks. (Not available online, sorry guys.)

9 of 12

Roxanne Assoulin's Rainbow Chokers

Credit: ROXANNEASSOULIN/instagram
$120
SHOP IT
roxanneassoulin.com

2016, the year of the choker comeback. But the favorite among editors? Roxanne Assoulin's happy, mood-boosting spectrum designs.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 12

Johanna Ortiz One-Shoulder Tops

Credit: Christian Vierig/Getty
$850
SHOP IT
net-a-porter.com

Johanna Ortiz's playful, voluminous one-shoulder silhouettes—the answer to off-shoulder saturation. 

11 of 12

Gucci Loafer Slides

Credit: Christian Vierig/Getty
$595
SHOP IT
nordstrom.com

OK, so we had Gucci's famous slides in last year's line-up, but these really picked up traction this year. 

12 of 12

Justin Bieber Tour Merch

Credit: Edward Berthelot/Getty
$18
SHOP IT
forever21.com

The year that street-style stars came out as die-hard Bieber fans.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

By Andrea Cheng