In a striking reversal of tech trends, the humble wired headphone is staging a major comeback, transforming from an obsolete accessory into a must-have fashion statement. Celebrities like Zendaya, Lily-Rose Depp, Paul Mescal, and Bella Hadid are frequently spotted with the distinctive white wires, signalling a shift away from ubiquitous wireless listening.
The Fashion Statement: Effortless Cool and 'Do Not Disturb'
This revival is meticulously documented on social media platforms like the Instagram account @wireditgirls and has been featured in high-fashion campaigns, including one from Balenciaga with model Mona Tougaard. Daniel Rodgers, the fashion news editor at British Vogue, interprets the trend as a symbol of effortless nonchalance. "It's become a real styleable accessory," he notes, adding that the visible wires send a clear message of "do not disturb" in a way that discreet AirPods cannot.
The symbolism was powerfully captured on the cover of New York magazine's latest issue, which depicted celebrities like Debbie Harry and Ben Stiller on the subway, all united by their shared use of wired headphones. The photographer behind the images, Hannah La Follette Ryan of @SubwayTakes, links the revival to a broader sense of digital exhaustion. "I see the revival as an extension of digital fatigue," she says. "Who wants another glitchy expensive gadget to charge?"
Beyond Aesthetics: Nostalgia, Sound, and Tangled Wires
The appeal isn't purely stylistic. Practicality and nostalgia play significant roles. Apple's wired EarPods cost just £17, a fraction of the £99 price tag for AirPods, making them an accessible choice. Tom Morgan-Freelander, deputy editor of Stuff magazine, confirms the retro tech resurgence, pointing out that some younger consumers are switching for superior sound quality, which is often better with a physical cable than via Bluetooth compression.
Even the notorious tendency of wires to tangle is being reframed as part of the charm. La Follette Ryan suggests embracing the knot as "a more user-friendly Rubik's Cube," a small, tactile puzzle that forces a moment of slowdown in a fast-paced world.
A Lasting Trend or a Passing Fad?
Despite the buzz, Bluetooth models like AirPods continue to dominate sales at major retailers such as Currys. However, the trend is gaining commercial traction; Currys reports a 193% surge in sales of Beats Solo 4 over-ear headphones since last year. New products are also tapping into the nostalgia, like the £20 FiiO Snowsky Wind, which echoes 1980s Walkman-style earphones.
Daniel Rodgers believes the cultural cachet of wired headphones lies in their implied disengagement. "There's a sort of disengagement [with them], which is always really hot, right? You never want to look like you're too into anything," he muses. For Hannah La Follette Ryan, the choice is pragmatic as well as fashionable: she'll always keep a wired pair for the simple, shared pleasure of offering one earbud to a friend.
