2016 Outfits Men Who Were There Will Recognize
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The 2016 outfits men wore are the easiest throwback there is, because for a year almost every guy wore the same pieces. I give a theme outfit two jobs. People should read the year at a glance, and I should still look like I meant it. You get both from the shoe up.
These fits come from Pinterest, and I chose them for you so they cover a theme party as well as an ordinary Tuesday. Anyone who was there in 2016 looks at your feet first, and when the sole is right, they’ll tell you about the pair they had.
What Did Men Wear in 2016?
The 2016 outfits men wore came down to ripped skinny jeans, a bomber jacket, a long tee or a logo hoodie, and white knit runners on a thick white sole. You can even date that uniform to the month.
On Google Trends, four of those pieces hit their all-time US high in the same month. Ripped jeans for men, men’s bomber jackets, the Ultra Boost and the Adidas NMD all peaked in December 2016. You’re looking at that year’s Christmas list.
Those four also explain each other. The shoe came first. The jeans were cut so you could see it, and everything above them had to balance a skinny leg. So the build starts where 2016 started, at the floor.
2016 Outfits for Men Start With the Sneakers
The 2016 sneaker had a knit upper on a thick white sole. It came in one color all over. White on white was the classic, and all black was for guys who wore black from the cap down.
No other part of the 2016 outfits men wore stayed in its year like the sneaker did. On Google’s scale, searches for the Adidas NMD stood at 42 in 2016 and at 2 last year. The Ultra Boost slid to a seventh of its old level.
At a theme party that helps you, because nothing else you put on reads as 2016 as fast.
1) Cream Hoodie, Black Cargo Joggers, Cream Ultra Boosts
Everything here is built to show off the sole, so the cream hoodie hangs long, the black cargo joggers taper hard to the ankle and the cream runners pick up the color of the hoodie. It’s calm on purpose. Wear the small bag high across your chest the way it’s done here.
2) White Hoodie, Adidas Track Pants, Triple-White Runners
This is the cleanest version, all white except for the black track pants, which are rolled once so a strip of ankle shows above the shoe. That little gap is the whole trick, and you’ll see it again and again further down, on jeans and on joggers.
If you only have ten minutes before a party, I’d go with this one.
3) White Tee, Cropped Black Trousers, White NMDs
Adidas had a second 2016 runner in the NMD, and you’ll recognize it by the red and blue blocks in the side of the sole. Here the black trousers stop above the ankle so nothing covers them. The white tee is plain, and a leather duffel keeps the eye on the feet.
4) Black Puffer, Grey Sweatpants, Black Sock Runners
In winter the same idea goes black above the ankle. A black puffer sits over grey sweatpants cuffed tight, and trefoil socks run straight into a black sock-collar NMD. The sweatpants bunch right where the sock begins, so the shoe still gets the attention.
A new pair of boost runners isn’t cheap, and a worn pair from back then rarely looks box-fresh. For a party, any white knit runner with a tall white sole reads the same from across the room. Pick the shoe’s color first and match the top to it.
A sneaker is only half an outfit, though. In 2016 the jeans were cut so it stayed in sight.
Ripped Skinny Jeans: The 2016 Leg for Men
In 2016 the jeans were tight to the ankle and open at the knee. They ended right above the shoe, rolled once or stacked in small folds. Searches for ripped jeans for men more than doubled between 2015 and 2016.
I’m sure you can guess the reason by now. A narrow hem doesn’t cover the sole, so the pair you’d saved up for, and maybe queued for on a cold Saturday morning, stayed in full view all day.
5) Black Bomber, Burgundy Hoodie, Black Ripped Skinny Jeans
Black skinny jeans with two clean knee rips went with everything. Here a burgundy hoodie sits under a black bomber, with a wallet chain at the hip. Chunky white leather sneakers make your leg look even narrower.
6) Black Shirt, Light Ripped Skinny Jeans, White Air Max Plus
Light wash with bigger rips was the louder choice, and it still draws more eyes than the black pair. It goes with a plain black button shirt and white Nike Air Max Plus with a blue fade. If the party falls somewhere between hoodie and shirt, this is the fit I’d send you in.
7) Oversized Black Tee, Grey Blown-Out Jeans, Checkerboard Vans
These grey jeans have the knees ripped wide open. Further down, small stacks of fabric sit right above an ankle zip and stop exactly where the shoe starts. An oversized black tee and checkerboard Vans keep everything else plain.
Jeans fit the other way around right now. Searches for baggy jeans for men were close to zero in 2016 and passed 50 last year. So a skinny pair will feel strange on you at first, and the knee rips catch on everything when you sit down.
Denim wasn’t the only way to get that narrow ankle. The other 2016 leg came out of the gym.
Joggers, the Other 2016 Leg for Men
Joggers did the same job in softer fabric, and they were a lot easier to sit in through a long day at school. They were loose through the thigh and tight at a ribbed cuff. That cuff pulled them up to the ankle and left the shoe alone.
Of all the 2016 outfits men wore, joggers are the part that never really left. Searches for men’s joggers were higher last year than in 2016.
8) Black Logo Hoodie, Charcoal Joggers, Black Knit Sneakers
Apart from the white stripe on the shoes, everything here is black or grey, and the hoodie and the cap carry the text. A longer black tee peeks out under its hem.
The charcoal joggers stop just above black socks, right where the knit sneakers begin. I’d pick this for a party where you’d rather blend in.
9) Grey Sweatshirt, Black Track Pants, White Y-3 Runners
Track pants count too. Here they run into black logo socks and white Y-3 runners. A grey sweatshirt sits on top with a longer white tee showing at the hem. Let the socks show above the shoe the way they do here.
Joggers bag out at the knees after a few washes. On their own they read as gym clothes. In both of these looks the top fixes that, because it’s long and layered.
With a leg that narrow, the top had to get longer.
Why 2016 Outfits Went Longer on Top
A skinny leg makes everything above it look short. You’ve probably noticed that in old photos. The 2016 outfits men built around that leg answered with the longline tee, cut well past the hip with a rounded hem. The other answer was a second tee layered so a strip of it showed below the first.
Searches for longline t-shirts peaked in October 2016 and have fallen by more than 80 percent since. Half of the 22 looks here that come straight from 2016 wear a longline top or let a longer layer show underneath.
10) Space-Dye Longline Top, Black Skinny Jeans, Suede Boots
Look at the back first. That grey space-dye top curves down past the seat, and from behind you can see exactly how far the hem goes. Black skinny jeans and black suede boots keep everything below it narrow.
If your hair is long enough, put it up in a bun, because that belonged to the same years.
11) Tan Longline Tee, Ripped Black Skinny Jeans, Chelsea Boots
This is the 2016 uniform at its simplest. It’s the one I’d give you for a party where you don’t know anyone. A tan longline tee with a curved hem sits over ripped black skinny jeans, and black suede Chelsea boots take over from the sneaker.
12) Two Long Tees, a Sleeveless Black Cardigan, Light Skinny Jeans
Here the layering goes three deep. A short black tee sits over a longer grey one, and a long sleeveless black cardigan hangs past both. Light skinny jeans stack onto white runners. A gold chain on top makes the layers look planned.
A longline tee needs skinny jeans under it. On anything wider it turns into a dress, so it only works as part of the full 2016 outfit. If you’d rather skip it, let an inch or two of a white tee hang out under your hoodie. Several looks further down do exactly that.
There was a second way to add length in 2016, and it went around your waist.
The Red Flannel in 2016 Outfits: Tied or Worn Open
The flannel tied around the waist had its best year in 2016. Searches for it have dropped to almost nothing since. Over the same stretch, searches for a men’s flannel shirt doubled. So the shirt stayed, and only the knot went out of style.
Look through your own photos from 2016. You’ll probably find that knot in a few of them. It gives you two ways to wear the same red flannel, one for the party and one for any other day.
13) Black Hoodie, Red Flannel at the Waist, Black Cropped Jeans
I know the tied flannel might look a little silly to you now, and that’s exactly why it works at a 2016 party. Tied around your waist, it hangs like a short skirt over the jeans.
It adds the length a skinny leg needs. Under the black hoodie a long white tee peeks out, and white running sneakers finish it. This is the party version.
14) Red Buffalo Check Over a Black Hoodie, Ripped Black Jeans
Worn open, the same red and black check turns into a jacket. Over a black hoodie, ripped black skinny jeans and black slip-ons it still says 2016. You could wear the shirt by itself next week.
A tied flannel slips every time you sit. Knot the sleeves twice. Red buffalo check is also the loudest flannel there is. In a photo, it’s the first thing anyone sees.
Once the top got longer, it also got bigger, and in 2016 that extra room on the chest usually went to a logo.
2016 Outfits Men Built Around One Logo
In a lot of the 2016 outfits men put together, the brand was the outfit. A box logo on the chest or a camo hoodie said which line you’d stood in. Everything else stayed plain so nobody missed it.
If you were around back then, you’ll remember those lines outside the stores. Searches for Supreme and Bape hoodies kept climbing into 2017. Supreme fell back afterward, while Bape hoodies get more searches today than they did in 2016.
15) White Box Logo Crewneck, Black Backpack
A box logo works best on a plain white crewneck with nothing else printed near it. Black backpack straps over both shoulders were part of the look. You’ll see that red box from across a room.
16) Red Puffer, Box Logo Crewneck, Logo Cap, Black Prestos
This one shows that the box logo never had an age limit. The red puffer is covered in words, and a grey dotted crewneck carries the box logo. A matching cap and black Nike Prestos finish it. In 2016 you could wear one brand all over, and it still counted as a single choice.
17) Three Shark Hoodies on the Stairs
Here three friends wear the same shark hoodie in three different camos. Underneath you get black camo pants with a pale green print, black skinny jeans and white track pants. Their shoes are Nike Uptempos, checkerboard Vans and grey knit runners. For a group of friends, give everyone the same hoodie in a different color.
Logos come with two catches. Pieces from back then are mostly sold secondhand now, and that’s also where most copies turn up. Two loud brands in one outfit read as a costume, even at a costume party.
If you don’t own any of it, a hoodie with one big word across the chest gets the idea across. You’ll find more ways to wear the hoodie itself in my guide to hoodie outfits for men.
Not every 2016 logo came from a store with a line around the block. The cheaper one came from a skateboard magazine.
Thrasher Hoodies in 2016 Outfits
The Thrasher logo was the one you could buy without waiting in line. Searches for the Thrasher hoodie quadrupled between 2015 and 2016, peaked a year later in December 2017 and have since dropped back to roughly where they were before it all started.
That makes it another piece that stayed in its year. At a theme party, it’s a safe bet.
18) Black Thrasher Crewneck, Long White Tee
A plain white logo on black is the quieter version. Below the ribbed hem hangs a longer white tee, which is the same trick as the longline tee and takes a lot less effort.
19) Thrasher Flame Hoodie, Ripped Black Jeans, Backwards Cap
You’ll know the flame logo even if you never skated. Here an oversized flame hoodie sits over a longer grey layer, with ripped black skinny jeans and a backwards cap. Nobody at the party will need you to explain the theme.
Over skinny jeans a big hoodie can end halfway down your thigh. Pick one that ends at your hip, unless you’re layering a longer tee under it on purpose.
All of these tops went under one jacket that winter.
The Bomber Jacket That Finished 2016 Outfits
The MA-1 bomber finished the 2016 outfits men wore in winter. It’s short and ends at a ribbed waistband, so the longer layer underneath stays visible. Searches for men’s bomber jackets more than doubled between 2015 and 2016 and peaked in December, which is the same month the jeans and the sneakers hit their high.
It held on, too. You can wear it over a wide leg just as well.
20) Olive Bomber, Black Hoodie, Black Biker Jeans, White Sneakers
Olive goes back to the military original of this jacket. Here it goes over a black hoodie with black biker skinny jeans and chunky white sneakers, and a Yankees cap sits on top. A zipped pocket on the sleeve tells you it’s an MA-1. I’d check for that pocket before you buy one.
21) Burgundy Bomber, Two Ways
This pin shows a burgundy bomber styled twice. On the left it’s over a long black tee with ripped black skinny jeans and Chelsea boots. On the right it’s over a grey sweatshirt with clean black jeans and white sneakers. If you want a color that isn’t black or olive, I’d go with burgundy.
22) Black Bomber, Long White Tee, Denim Cut-Offs, Superstars
In summer the bomber went over shorts. A black MA-1 shows its orange lining over a long white tee and light denim cut-offs. Black socks, white Superstars and a flat-brim snapback finish it. Save this one for a party that ends up outside.
A nylon bomber is thin. Below freezing you’ll want a hoodie under it, the way look 20 does it. Its shiny fabric also shows every crease.
If you’re buying one piece for the party, I’d make it the bomber, because you’ll keep wearing it. Our men’s jackets are a good place to start.
With the bomber on, the 2016 uniform is complete. Some theme parties want a louder, earlier version of that decade, though.
Louder 2016 Party Outfits for Men
A lot of the 2016 outfits men wear to a theme party today are a few years older than that. The snapback peaked in December 2011, and Nike Elite socks a year later. If the invitation is loose about it, those years are the loudest way in. You still start the outfit at the shoe.
23) Varsity Jacket, Sherpa Denim Jacket, Snapbacks
If you’re going with a friend, split it the way these two did. One wears a varsity jacket over a white hoodie, plus leather pants and black and red Jordans.
The other layers a sherpa denim jacket on top of a grey hoodie with a red flannel inside. Grey sneakers with glowing soles finish that one. Both wear flat-brim snapbacks.
24) Plaid Shirt Over a Hoodie, Baggy Cargo Pants, Skate Shoes
This one goes back even further, to the skate look of the late 2000s. A plaid shirt hangs open on top of a grey hoodie, with a white tee under both. The cargo pants are very baggy, with chunky black skate shoes under them.
It’s the reverse of the 2016 leg, and it’s an easy costume.
25) Three Friends, Sunglasses, Graphic Tees, a Studded Belt
This is the loud party version in a single flash photo. All three wear sunglasses indoors. You get a graphic tee, a white tank, a pink studded belt and a purple snapback, all lit by the flash. Bring sunglasses even if it’s dark.
Not one of these three is strictly 2016, and someone who was there might tell you so. At a party, that usually turns into a good conversation.
Everything up to here is for one night. For the rest of the week, the order flips.
Which 2016 Outfits Men Can Wear Today
For 2016 outfits men can wear today, the build runs the other way. It starts at the leg, which is wide now. The shoe follows, usually a boot or a chunky sneaker.
Baggy jeans have grown since 2016, and Chelsea boots are searched more now than back then too. So keep the 2016 pieces that grew. That’s the bomber, the hoodie, the flannel worn open and the dad hat, which first took off in 2016.
26) Olive Bomber, White Tee, Light Baggy Jeans, Wheat Boots
It’s an olive bomber like the one in look 20, only cut shorter and fuller. Light baggy jeans pool over wheat work boots, and a light beanie stands in for the cap. Put the two photos side by side and you’ll see that only the leg changed.
27) Black Bomber, Black Hoodie, Dark Wide Jeans
All black works too, as long as the jeans are wide. The hood comes up over the bomber, and the raw dark denim falls straight to the ground. On a cold evening I’d pick this one, and you won’t need a coat over it.
28) Beige Flannel Worn Open, White Tee, Light Jeans, Tan Sneakers
Here’s the flannel worn open over a white tee and straight light jeans, finished with a wallet chain, a dark ball cap and light tan sneakers. Compare it with look 13. The shirt is the only thing left from the party.
29) Plaid Shirt, Very Baggy Faded Jeans, White Suede Shoes
You can also button the flannel and wear it as a shirt. Very wide faded jeans and white suede shoes with gum soles make it look like right now. It’s the one I’d wear on an ordinary Tuesday.
Wide jeans need the right length, so that’s what I’d check first in the fitting room. If they drag on the ground, they fray at the heel. Pick a pair that just reaches the top of your shoe.
Our baggy jeans for men and men’s boots are where I’d start looking.
I said at the top that the 2016 outfits men put on for a party start at the shoe. That rule only holds for one night. The rest of the time you start with the jeans, and the guy who was there in 2016 will still look down at your feet first.
Those sneakers could fill a page of their own, and one day they’ll get it.
Questions About 2016 Outfits for Men
Go with a high top fade or a man bun. Google searches for the high top fade peaked in July 2016, and the man bun had its peak eight months earlier, in November 2015. Short sides with a lot of volume on top, like in look 11, fit the year too.
Y2K covers the years around 2000, with baggy jeans, jerseys and big logos, and I put those together in my Y2K outfits for men. The 2016 outfits men wore were narrow at the ankle and long on top, and they stood on knit runners with a thick white sole.
For girls the real 2016 was a choker and a flannel with ripped jeans over white sneakers, and the party version adds a slogan tank. We put the women’s side together in our 2016 outfits guide.
Put a puffer or a bomber over a hoodie, keep the joggers or the skinny jeans, and add a beanie. Look 4 shows the all-black version. The tied flannel is the one piece I’d leave at home when it’s cold.
