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MAY 2026

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DUBLIN INDEPENDENT FASHION WEEK

How Stoned to Death has been shaped by Irish diaspora and queer identity

Golazzo Football

Ireland Fashion Week Sea Show

Photographer: Anastasiia Redko

ARTS & CULTURE

Today, the names of Irish jewellery businesses are echoed across Ireland, thanks to this trend Looking at recent trends, one that stands out the most is wearing Irish jewellery, any piece representative of Ireland. Companies such as FADA and Fíor are repeatedly mentioned in these conversations, highlighting their success in contributing to young people’s interests and trends.

Photo from Pinterest

Much of this connection is rooted in the deep cultural influences that run through her work. Connemara’s landscapes and Ireland’s history play a defining role in how she approaches design “The landscapes are raw and powerful, and they carry a sense of history that follows you no matter how far you travel from them,” she says “Growing up around that environment made me very aware of how place and memory shape identity, and what it means to be a woman in those spaces ”

Research forms the starting point of many of her collections Donnellan spends time in libraries, museums, and archives studying historical references, folklore, and overlooked narratives These influences surface in subtle ways through silhouettes, materials, embroidery, and symbolic detailing.

Ireland’s storytelling tradition is also shapes her design philosophy. “My collections often function almost like visual essays,” she explain 28

By Emily Kenyon

By Fiona Corcoran

Is 2026th

The trend is about more than aesthetics. 2016 has become shorthand for a pre pandemic, pre‑algorithm, pre AI internet. A time when social media felt playfulratherthanperformative.Alate‑2025 movement rejecting AI generated content has encouraged users to“reset” theinternet by reviving classic memes and low stakes posting. For many, the nostalgia is deeply personal. It recalls a period when responsibilities werelighter,when savingup for the James Charles x Morphe palette felt like a major financial goal, and when the biggest digital dilemma was maintaining Snapchat streaks It also evokes a sense of innocence. An internet before deepfakes, beforedoomscrolling,beforethe pressureto monetiseeverymoment.

Recent reporting shows that this nostalgia is not imagined TikTok videos tagged #2016 have surged into the millions, Instagram has surpassed 37 million posts referencing the year, and Spotify reports a 790% increase in user generated 2016 playlists since New Year’s Day

The revival spans everything from fashion to music to social media, with chokers, skinny jeans, wired headphones, and maximalist makeup coming back into rotation But the resurgence isn’t purely about recreating old looks, it’s about recapturing the mindset that accompanied them

Online, creators talk about wanting to post like “no one’s watching” again, embracing candid photos, group selfies and colourful Instagram filters The nostalgia of an internet with room for imperfection reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously Whether 2026 truly becomes “the new 2016” remains to be seen But the longing itself reveals something real: a collective desire to reclaim a version of life that felt freer, funnier, and more human.

RETURN

Photographer: Adair Arnold

Makeup: Tristan Kozlowska

Clothes: Golazzo Football

Shoot Director: Fiona Corcoran

Models: Anna Linetska

Victoria Ibukun

Photographer: Adair Arnold

Makeup: Tristan Kozlowska

Clothes: Golazzo Football

Shoot Director: Fiona Corcoran

Models: Emily Kenyon

Alyssa Barrett

Reinventingprofessionalstyle: Sustainable,Accessible,Student‑Focused

his year, I am grateful to say that I have been the project leader of the Dress for Success initiative funded by the UCC Alumni Fund

Photos sourced from UCC Dress for Success

ByEmily Kenyon

Looking ahead, one of our main goals is to ensure the longevity of Dress for Success at UCC We are committed to continuing the Interview Wardrobe next year, maintaining it as an accessible resource for students preparing for interviews, placements, and professional opportunities. Also, we aim to expand our engagement by hosting more on-campus events, including workshops on personal styling, sustainable shopping habits, and building confidence through self-expression. These events will always prioritise inclusivity and accessibility, ensuring that all students feel equally welcome and represented.

Dress for Success is about more than dressing professionally It is about confidence, accessibility, sustainability, and creating opportunities for students to present themselves in ways that feel authentic and empowering By combining sustainability with practical support and accessibility, we hope to continue building a community that values both personal expression and collective responsibility It has been a true honour and pleasure to serve as the project leader for DFS this year, and I am excited to see where the initiative will go next year I want to thank the DFS committee and volunteers for all their help this year, along with the staff on UCC’s Career Services Graduate Attributes Programme and the Alumni Fund for making this all possible