We swore we’d never go back. After all, AirPods were supposed to liberate us, no more cables choking us mid-commute, no more detangling rituals that made us late to class. But somehow, in 2025, wired earphones are back dangling from collars like jewellery, coiling around throats like chokers, and threading through street style like they never left.
TikTok feeds are full of white cords like trophies, paired with oversized tees, mini dresses, and Y2K-inspired fits, a subtle nod to early-2000s aesthetics. Celebrities like Bella Hadid and Lily-Rose Depp have been spotted letting their wires show, turning something once disposable into a curated accessory.
Fashion brands like Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS, Justin Bieber’s Nahmias, and NYC-based Jane Wade have embraced wired earbuds as stylish accessories.
Designers, too are leaning in with minimalist ensembles punctuated by a flash of cord, or streetwear shoots where the earbuds become necklace-like gestures, merging utility and style. Wired earphones do more than play music, they declare a mood: messy yet intentional, analogue yet refined.
They carry nostalgia, yes, but also a quiet rebellion against the sleek, invisible tech everyone else is chasing. A tangle of wires is suddenly cooler than clean lines; a functional object becomes fashion, proof that personal expression doesn’t need to be wireless to be effortless.
This return of wired earphones is emblematic of the cyclical nature of fashion. What was once considered outdated is now celebrated for its authenticity and simplicity. This full-circle trend underscores a collective desire to reconnect with the past while embracing the present.
So are you AirPods-clean or wire-messy? Doesn’t matter. The knot in your pocket just became the most honest accessory of the season.
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