{"id":235853,"date":"2026-01-16T05:38:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T05:38:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/235853\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T05:38:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T05:38:16","slug":"heres-what-todays-it-girls-looked-like-in-2016-from-hailey-bieber-to-charli-xcx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/235853\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s What Today\u2019s It Girls Looked Like in 2016\u2014From Hailey Bieber to Charli XCX"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Chokers, band tees, ripped jeans, and berets. Halsey<\/a>\u2019s feature on \u201cCloser\u201d by the Chainsmokers and Justin Bieber<\/a>\u2019s \u201cLose Yourself.\u201d Taylor Swift<\/a>\u2019s \u201cgirl group\u201d era, King Kylie and Kylie Cosmetics<\/a>, the debut of Stranger Things<\/a>, Pok\u00e9mon Go, and Leonardo DiCaprio<\/a>\u2019s first Oscar. Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik<\/a>, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West<\/a>, and Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth<\/a>. The death of Prince<\/a> and David Bowie<\/a>, and, just at the tail end, the first presidential election of Donald Trump. Yes, 2016 was quite a year.<\/p>\n

As the world reminisces on a decade past, we take a look at what some of today\u2019s It girls were up to 10 years ago\u2014from Hailey Baldwin and Kendall Jenner\u2019s OG bestie style moments<\/a> to Swift\u2019s short-lived Bleachella hair<\/a> and Sabrina Carpenter<\/a>\u2019s teenage fashion, to can\u2019t-miss fits from Zendaya<\/a>, Ariana Grande<\/a>, Charli XCX<\/a>, and Rihanna<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ahead, see some quintessential 2016 looks from our favorite It girls.<\/p>\n

Taylor Swift<\/p>\n

Attending the 2016 Met Gala, with her freshly bleached hair, Swift embraced all the grunge that the year had to offer. Her blonde bob would come to define this time period for the star, representing a transitional few years between her 2014 1989 album and 2017\u2019s Reputation\u2014a time affectionately referred to as her Bleachella era, thanks to the star\u2019s Instagram post from Coachella.<\/p>\n

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John Shearer – Getty Images<\/p>\n

Kendall Jenner<\/p>\n

Speaking of Coachella, Kendall Jenner headed to the festival in another 2016 classic: a crochet dress. She paired the piece with strappy tassel sandals and a chunky silver necklace, and pulled her hair into two space buns on top of her head.<\/p>\n

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Bauer-Griffin – Getty Images<\/p>\n

Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber<\/p>\n

When she wasn\u2019t at Coachella, Jenner was stepping out with Hailey Bieber (then Baldwin) in ripped denim and suede ankle boots. The two models wore their hair in matching messy buns and walked hand in hand. Jenner layered a transparent long sleeve over her Givenchy bralette and her bestie paired a tan tank with a long blue trench coat.<\/p>\n

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BG001\/Bauer-Griffin – Getty Images<\/p>\n

Kylie Jenner<\/p>\n

Stepping out with Tyga, her boyfriend at the time, Kylie Jenner brought one of her colorful King Kylie looks out to play. With long orange-red hair, painted brows, and long lashes, the Kylie Cosmetics founder epitomized 2016 beauty, and here, she styled her glam with a fur coat, bodycon dress, and lace-up ankle boots.<\/p>\n

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Robert Kamau – Getty Images<\/p>\n

Zendaya<\/p>\n

Super-short hair, fitted leather jacket, lacy slip, and over-the-knee boots: Zendaya gave us a 2016 look we wouldn’t be shocked to see now, in 2026 (or at least a contemporary version of). Attending the ESSENCE 7th annual Black Women in Music event, the actor looked like a total rockstar.<\/p>\n

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Jason LaVeris – Getty Images<\/p>\n

Rihanna<\/p>\n

Rihanna, too, made 2016 look so cool. Stepping out in New York City, the star embraced the graphic-tee trend with an off-the-shoulder oversize Tupac T-shirt and skin-tight leather pants. Her long hair was pulled into a high ponytail on top of her head, and she held two bags in one arm. On her feet were, of course, some Fenty x Puma sneakers.<\/p>\n

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Robert Kamau – Getty Images<\/p>\n

Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik<\/p>\n

The 2016 It Couple matched in red, white, and blue for a coordinated September date night in New York City. Zayn Malik leaned pulled out a Rolling Stones band tee and ripped skinny jeans for the evening, while Gigi Hadid layered a fuzzy red cardigan over a white tank and ripped blue jeans. Around her waist, she tied a flannel\u2014because it was 2016.<\/p>\n

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Robert Kamau – Getty Images<\/p>\n

Bella Hadid<\/p>\n

Like sister, like sister. At LAX, Bella Hadid took a page from Gigi’s style handbook and tied a flannel around her waist. The rest of her ensemble was an all-black look, featuring a zip-up hoodie from her collaboration with Chrome Hearts, a classic tee, and skinny jeans ripped at the knees. Her Western-style belt, however, proved that some things never change.<\/p>\n

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starzfly\/Bauer-Griffin – Getty Images<\/p>\n

Sabrina Carpenter<\/p>\n

Years before Short n\u2019 Sweet and Man\u2019s Best Friend, a 16-year-old Sabrina Carpenter attended the 2016 Nickelodeon Kids\u2019 Choice Awards in a time capsule of a look. Her black-and-white ensemble was courtesy of Alice + Olivia, and she paired it with platform sandals and an Olympia Le Tan Alice in Wonderland clutch\u2014a sweet foreshadow to Carpenter\u2019s upcoming role in Lorene Scafaria\u2019s new musical take on the beloved story.<\/p>\n

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Steve Granitz – Getty Images<\/p>\n

Zo\u00eb Kravitz<\/p>\n

Attending the Alexander Wang show during New York Fashion Week in September 2016, Zo\u00eb Kravitz wore a look not entirely unlike one we might see her in today. While main differences stood out\u2014the belt choker, chunky ankle boots, and studded bag, the lacy slip itself looked like a classic\u2014proving a LBD is always a timeless piece.<\/p>\n

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Robert Kamau – Getty Images<\/p>\n

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West<\/p>\n

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were going strong in 2016, and their style was as bold as ever. Attending the Off White show during Paris Fashion Week, they held hands in clashing patterns\u2014on her, a leopard-print coat, and on him, a marble-dye sweatshirt and trousers.<\/p>\n

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Marc Piasecki – Getty Images<\/p>\n

Suki Waterhouse<\/p>\n

The leather beret, the red-leather pants, the massive platform boots… Suki Waterhouse has always been that girl.<\/p>\n

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Alo Ceballos – Getty Images<\/p>\n

Selena Gomez<\/p>\n

For Selena Gomez, 2016 meant the Revival Tour, an emotional American Music Awards acceptance speech<\/a>, and a newly-discovered love of high fashion. And this look\u2014with its circular sunglasses, over-the-knee boots, and cut-out bodysuit\u2014was another defining moment from the year.<\/p>\n

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Marc Piasecki – Getty Images<\/p>\n

Ariana Grande<\/p>\n

With the flannel, light-wash denim shorts, and boots, Ariana Grande\u2019s on-stage look was a 2016 classic. The most recognizable part, however, was her high ponytail\u2014a 2010s signature style she recently brought back for the 2026 Golden Globes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Gary Gershoff – Getty Images<\/p>\n

Miley Cyrus<\/p>\n

At the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Festival, Miley Cyrus went full rockstar, with skin-tight leather pants, Billy Idol sunglasses, and tons of silver chains.<\/p>\n

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Kevin Mazur – Getty Images<\/p>\n

Charli XCX<\/p>\n

If there is one look worth recreating a decade on, it might have to be Charli XCX\u2019s Glastonbury fit. The black-and-green floral top, orange miniskirt, and muddy Hunter boots made for an enviably cool ensemble, and her sunglasses, zipper choker, and dark magenta lip made it totally 2016.<\/p>\n

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Danny Martindale – Getty Images<\/p>\n

Charli XCX, Again<\/p>\n

As a bonus, here\u2019s Charli XCX in a leopard-print beret and matching wide-leg trousers at the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition 2016. The magenta eyeshadow was absolutely perfect.<\/p>\n

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Jeff Spicer – Getty Images<\/p>\n

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