The Glossy Podcast — Episode Summary

Episode: The 2016 Trend, As Explained by One of the Year’s Most Influential Stylists

Host: Jill Manoff (Editor-in-Chief), Dani Parisi (Senior Fashion Reporter)
Guest: Michaela Erlanger (Top Hollywood Stylist)
Date: January 23, 2026

Overview of the Episode

This episode dives into the resurging "2016 trend" sweeping social media, exploring why a seemingly innocuous year has become a nostalgic focal point. Host Jill Manoff interviews Michaela Erlanger, who topped The Hollywood Reporter's list of powerful stylists in 2016, to unpack the era's fashion signatures, dissect its most memorable (and questionable) moments, and discuss how nostalgia shapes trends today.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The 2016 Trend Craze and Nostalgia ([00:25])

• The episode is prompted by the social media resurgence of “2016,” seen through throwbacks and trend revivals.
• The team questions: Is this about nostalgia, cyclical trends, or was there something distinctive in 2016's fashion?

“It was driven by the idea of the 2016 trend... Is everyone just, like, nostalgic? Is it about kind of, I don't know, the recycling or looking back at the fashion trends of the moment?”
— Jill Manoff, [00:25]

• Both hosts reflect on their personal styles in 2016, with references to skinny jeans, "hipster" aesthetics, and brands like Uniqlo and Muji.

2. Michaela Erlanger’s 2016 Experience ([05:25])

• Michaela recalls how 2016 was professionally pivotal, following Lupita Nyong’o’s Oscar win and the rise of Erlanger’s own profile.
• She managed a roster of around 30 clients, including red carpet luminaries, and was lauded for trend strategy and narrative styling.

“I was really being sort of lauded as not just a stylist, but someone that really thought about, like, creating narratives and trend strategy and really thinking about the power of the red carpet…”
— Michaela Erlanger, [06:34]

3. Notable Clients & Looks of 2016 ([07:17])

• Meryl Streep: Began working with Meryl that year, notably a custom Givenchy gown at the Golden Globes.
• Lupita Nyong’o: Debuted Alessandro Michele for Gucci at Cannes; honored African heritage with method dressing on the "Queen of Katwe" press tour.
• Common: Elevated men’s red carpet style with jewelry and an all-white tuxedo.
• Jared Leto, Gal Gadot: Other prominent clients and major fashion moments.

“I put [Common] in this all-white tuxedo… [with] a diamond lapel pin from Fred Layton. And he...got so much buzz and play for really elevating men's fashion…”
— Michaela Erlanger, [08:06]

4. Breaking Ground on Men’s Jewelry ([08:51])

• Michaela claims early credit for the now-mainstream trend of men wearing jewelry on the red carpet.

“I actually am gonna say that maybe I'm responsible for it. Yay.”
— Michaela Erlanger, [08:58]

5. Storytelling and Signature Style ([09:24])

• Erlanger emphasizes crafting client narratives, incorporating elements like cultural heritage, and avoiding trend-chasing in favor of "classic and timeless" style with playfulness and optimism.

6. Trends from 2016: What’s Aged and What Hasn’t? ([11:06])

• Questionable Trends:
  • Excessive skinny jeans ("painted on"), lingerie as outerwear, colored hair and lipstick.
• Personal Regrets: Peep toe booties, “jeggings.”
• Despite some fads, Erlanger feels proud of most work: “I stand behind it.”

7. Nostalgia’s Pull & The Trend Cycle ([12:26], [17:52])

• Fashion pulls from its own recent history, with the look-back window growing shorter (now only a decade).
• Current climate’s "heavier, darker" mood drives people toward nostalgic, joyful, or hopeful styles.
• Designers are referencing earlier collections, with revived trends like slip dresses, ballet flats, and even “Millennial pink” returning to runways.

“You don't have to look that far back to draw inspiration to create something new... there's, I think, a desire for more inspiration.”
— Michaela Erlanger, [12:26]

8. What Should Stay in 2016? ([16:01])

• Logo belts, especially flashy “G” Gucci versions, are best left behind in favor of today's "quiet luxury."
• Backless loafers ("confused… why are you wearing it in winter?"), peep toe booties, and the ankle-bootie-with-jegging combo also cited as trends to skip.

“The logo belts have got to stay in the past. I own one... but respectfully, no logos. Quiet luxury is here to stay. That is the new trend.”
— Michaela Erlanger, [16:01]

9. Vintage on the Red Carpet: From Taboo to Revered ([19:24])

• Michaela shares her early passion for vintage <span>[19:24]</span>; back in 2016, wearing archive looks was "taboo," but now vintage is coveted and respected in high fashion.

10. The Changing Nature of Social Media ([21:50])

• Instagram’s role in trend formation has changed: 2016 was filtered images and rare posts; now, behind-the-scenes, stories, and real-time shares are dominant.
• The scarcity of vintage images from that era is itself a nostalgia trigger.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On men's jewelry as a trend:
  “I actually am gonna say that maybe I'm responsible for it.” — Michaela Erlanger, [08:58]

• On what should stay in the past:
  “The logo belts have got to stay in the past. I own one… but respectfully, no logos. Quiet luxury is here to stay.” — Michaela Erlanger, [16:01]

• Reflecting on nostalgia and trend cycles:
  “Fashion… we look to the past a lot. Every single collection, every single designer is referencing archives… now, we're looking at a shorter window.” — Michaela Erlanger, [12:26]

• The emotional pull of the 2016 trend:
  “People are looking to the past for not just nostalgia, but joy and a fresh perspective to move forward with.” — Michaela Erlanger, [17:52]

• On vintage’s new status:
  “It brings me tremendous joy… to see vintage on the red carpet today and for it to kind of be, like, revered and respected as, like, just as major as, like, a couture custom moment.” — Michaela Erlanger, [19:24]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:25] Introduction to the 2016 trend phenomenon
• [05:25] Michaela Erlanger details her 2016 workload and client roster
• [07:17] Notable 2016 fashion moments and celebrity looks
• [08:51] Influence on men’s jewelry trend
• [09:24] Signature styling philosophy and storytelling
• [11:06] 2016 trends revisited: hits, misses, and cringe-worthy fads
• [12:26] Discussion on nostalgia and the evolution of fashion cycles
• [14:10] 2016 trends poised for a comeback
• [16:01] Trends that should stay in the past
• [19:24] Rise of vintage and archival fashion on the red carpet
• [21:50] How social media practices have shifted since 2016

Episode in a Nutshell

This episode offers an engaging, expert look into the ongoing “2016 trend” craze, unpacking both the fashion high points and the less-memorable moments of that era. Michaela Erlanger’s industry insights traverse everything from the politics of the red carpet, trend origination, and the sensitive art of vintage dressing, to the evolution of social sharing and nostalgia’s powerful role in fashion’s present and future. Anyone curious about why 2016 has become the new 1990s—and how tastemakers work behind the scenes—will find this episode a stylish, substance-filled listen.