How Massive Headphones Became the New It Accessory

Two things in the fashion world are always certain. The first is that even the most hated fads (remember whale tails?) will eventually find their way back to the runway. The second is that TikTok has become the blueprint for reviving said dead trends. We all know how influential the social app can be on the beauty front, but fashion is not left behind. From baggy ’90s pants to controversial gauzy dresses and everything in between, FashionTok has become a place to not only share your daily ‘fits but also look for inspiration and crown new “it” accessories.

If you’ve spent some time on the app as of late, you might have noticed that no outfit is seemingly complete without a pair of massive headphones. Yes, FashionTok has officially swapped 2021’s must-have “It” accessory (aka wired headphones) for chunky over-the-head “cans” — nicknamed for their noise-canceling ability.

For fashion historian Rachel Weingarten, this trend has been a long time coming. “Fashion always fluctuates. So if we see micro-sized cell phones, the next versions will be oversized,” she tells Teen Vogue. “If small earbuds were a trend and they were selling well, fashion-forward companies need to turn the trend on its ear (as it were) and find the exact opposite trend.”

Weingarten says this can happen for several reasons, but a shift in trends is normally ignited by “the chic” who want to “set themselves apart from the rest.” In this case, because everyone was wearing small wired earbuds, “the chic” moved on to wired headphones, and, when that became popular, they moved on to chunky headphones.

Much like the rise of tiny earbuds and the revival of wired headphones, the current reign of Y2K “cans” as a must-have fashion accessory has grown exponentially thanks to TikTok. An inundation of “Get Ready With Me” videos using Apple's AirPod Max to tie their #OOTDs together and unboxing videos prove that oversized audio accessories are here to stay.

Even celebrities like EXO’s Kai, Becky G, Mun Kayoung, Dua Lipa, Kylie Jenner, Evan Mock, Addison Rae, Timothée Chalamet, Bella Hadid, and Hailey Bieber have all given the AirPod Max their stamp of approval on social media, making them even more desirable to the average consumer. (SEVENTEEN’s Vernon, with a well-documented penchant for over-the-head headphones, was an early adopter of the AirPod Max but likely not just for aesthetic reasons.)

Even without the celebrity element, there’s a sort of transience when it comes to social media trends that can’t be overlooked. Wired headphones only held their glory for a few short months before being replaced by a bulkier, more expensive option. Of course, there’s some overlap.

Though the AirPod Max — which have the added element of exclusivity given its celeb appeal and hefty price tag — might feature a sleek and modern aluminum case (in various colors, might we add), the massive headphone trend still leans heavily on the retro vibes of the ’80s and ’90s, which is why the Koss Porta Pros, originally also part of the wired Renaissance, are also still popular on TikTok; as are other styles of chunkier, over-the-head wired headphones.

“We're seeing trends that people who belong to a younger demographic may never have previously encountered. It's new to them. It's fun. It's interesting and conversation-worthy and Instagrammable,” Weingarten explains. “We see the resurgence of vinyl, so it makes sense that we'd see the silhouette of earphones popular in that era. Interestingly enough, we've never seen a resurgence of the hideous steel wool-sized earphones popular when Sony first introduced their Walkman back in the '80s.”

From a trends perspective, what’s refreshing about the newly found popularity of over-the-head “cans” is not the headphones per se, but the honest and open discussions it’s opened about the dichotomy of buying something purely for aesthetics and buying something because it’s a worthy investment. Unfortunately, for some, the AirPods Max falls into the former category.

Despite thousands of raving product reviews and dozens of celebrity endorsements, creators and influencers alike aren’t afraid to call out a trending TikTok product when it doesn’t live up to the hype — especially if said product costs over $500.

According to multiple TikTokers, the AirPods Max aren’t worth the hype. Chayse Byrd, a TikTok creator with over a million followers, reviewed the headphones saying they were, overall, unimpressive. “It’s not groundbreaking,” she captioned her video. “So don’t feel pressured into getting them. 6/10.” She noted that the minimalist style reminded her of earmuffs (for her, a con; for others, a pro) and that they cost “an arm and a leg” but didn’t satisfy her major requirements of headphones that she paid over $600 for. She notes that the headphones, although comfortable, were heavy and didn’t stay secure on her head. The sound quality wasn’t up to her standards.

Other TikTokers agree. One creator said the headphones made a “nails on a chalkboard” sound when hanging around her neck and the audio quality was subpar for the price, while another creator told her followers to save their money. Verified TikTok creator Jade Beguelin even went as far as to say: “literally, f*ck AirPod Maxes” with the words “do not let the TikTok girlies lead you astray” written across the clip of her walking down the street wearing her personalized V-Moda Crossfades.

When it comes down to it, Weingarten says real audiophiles won’t be swayed by trending tech accessories. “Manufacturers have to keep enticing people to splurge on their goods,” she explains. “By turning tech into a fashionable trend, you're almost giving people twice the bang for their buck. It's a trendy accessory as well as a tech tool.”

While Apple has the market cornered on aesthetically pleasing smartphones, Weingarten says the next wearable tech frontier is the sound experience, especially as people start commuting again. When you consider the price point of something like the AirPod Max with the mixed reviews, it doesn’t seem worth it to splurge on an accessory that will eventually fall out of style. Still, trends can be hard to ignore. Enter the Sony WH-1000xM4s.

Often purchased in an outfit-flattering beige, these cans are equally aesthetic as the AirPod Max, but at a more affordable price and with more homogenously positive reviews. If you are doing it only for style though, Weingarten still urges you to evaluate your priorities before splurging.

“We've become a culture obsessed with what's new or next. If you find yourself having to explain to your mother or best friend that you MUST have ‘can’ earphones because a model whose name you can't pronounce has them, do you really need them?” Weingarten suggests becoming a bit cynical when it comes to influencer culture. “Sometimes it pays to find out if a celebrity is paid to promote a brand or has a vested interest in the company. For many celebrities supporting a brand is a financial transaction. If your sole reason to purchase these headphones is that your celeb-favorite loves them, you should probably dig deeper before splurging.”

If a trend is something you’ll get tired of within a month — especially if it’s tech that costs several hundred dollars — it might not be worth participating in unless you already have the tech at home. Of course, we’ve all been guilty of buying something expensive on a whim, especially if it’s in style. But, again, life’s all about balance. So if you do decide to get the new “it” accessory for the looks and get tired sooner rather than later, just make sure to donate used tech rather than discarding them to help alleviate unnecessary e-waste in our already overflowing landfills.

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