The 2016 Versions Of '90s Trends

By definition, trends come and go — but the ideas behind them never leave. We're not reinventing the wheel here; in fact, many popular things today are basically 2016 equivalents to '90s trends — just an upgrade of our childhood favorites. I don't even know that I'd call them an upgrade, because I'd go back to the '90s classics in heartbeat. Somewhat unfortunately, though, the market today is catering to quite a different generation, and one which is always looking for the next best thing — even when what we already had was pretty darn good.

A large part of me likes to think that we sort of set the pace in the '90s and early 2000s. We might be obsessed with Instagram and Snapchat now, but it all started with MySpace. We might love to binge-watch our favorite shows and movies on Netflix now, but it began with VHS and trips to Blockbuster. Sure, you've got your hands on the newest smartphone now; but I kept my Tamagotchi alive for a whole week. Whatever 2016 is doing, the '90s very likely did it first.

Some of today's hottest trends might be all that and a bag of chips, but they're certainly not 100 percent original. In fact, here are eight trends of today that are simply cool reimaginations of '90s favorites.

1. EOS Lip Balm Is The New Lip Smacker

When did EOS become so hugely popular? Was it the glorious product placement in Miley Cyrus's We Can't Stop music video? (I love that video.) I'm not sure, but EOS is definitely the new Lip Smacker; we collect them with the same fervor with which we acquired the soda-flavored balm of our youth.

2. Adult Coloring Books Instead of Microsoft Paint

Back in the day, I created countless masterpieces on MS Paint. You're probably familiar with some of my work. These days, people are all about adult coloring books — and there are even coloring book apps.

3. CrossFit Has Replaced Aerobics

People used to slip into thong leotards and bunchy socks to sweat with the likes of Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons. Today, people have swapped this out for the wall balls and burpees of CrossFit. While the sport itself is technically functional fitness, the brand of CrossFit is taking over the globe, effectively ushering in a new era of fitness and nutrition. In fact, I myself dipped my toes in the lake known as CrossFit.

4. Finding New Ways To Destroy The Planet

The end of 1999 brought the overwhelming fear of Y2K, and our planet coming to an end in a tailspin of disaster. I feel like deadly computer issues have taken a backseat to much scarier — and more real — threats, like global warming and the mass deaths of bees. Unfortunately, these are not really trends.

5. Bye Bye, Dawson's Creek; Hello, Pretty Little Liars

We'd all tune in to the Creek growing up; but the innocent TV entertainment of the '90s has been exchanged for much more scandalous programming.

6. My, How Boy-Banders Have Changed

While groups like Backstreet Boys and N*Sync still have loyal followings, these days, the girls are screaming for something called One Direction. But didn't one of those boys leave the group? So maybe it's Two Directions, now.

7. JTT Has Been Replaced

In my mind, Jonathan Taylor Thomas will always be the heartthrob. They just don't make 'em like him, anymore. But with the next installment of Fifty Shades of Whatever underway, I can't stop reading about Jamie Dornan.

8. But Hard Candy Will Always Be The Bomb

We used to love this nail polish because it came with funky jewelry. Today, girls are all about that matte manicure.

Images: EOS/Facebook; MileyCyrusVEVO/YouTube; Giphy (5); Megan Grant/Instagram