Why wired headphones are back in fashion

Wired headphones have returned to public view, appearing on NBA players such as Stephen Curry and Anthony Edwards as well as celebrities including Lily-Rose Depp and Bella Hadid. The exposed cable, once considered purely functional, is increasingly treated as part of a deliberately styled look.

The revival has been closely tracked by Shelby Hull, founder of the Instagram account Wired It Girls, who launched the platform in 2021 to document the trend. Hadid was the subject of the account’s first post. "She’s obviously wealthy, she can afford AirPods, but she always stuck to the wire," Hull told CNN. "And there was something so effortless about it: very cool, very unbothered to keep up with the latest tech trends. She didn’t care, and that’s kind of what the article touched on."

Daniel Rodgers, the fashion news editor at British Vogue, said the trend signals ease rather than excess. "[It says] ‘I’m very effortless. I’m very nonchalant,’" he told The Guardian. "It’s become a real styleable accessory."

A woman wearing wired headphones. Photo from Pexels

Beyond style, wired headphones appeal to users frustrated by the everyday drawbacks of wireless devices. They require no charging, pairing, or software updates, offering a simpler and more predictable experience. "I see the revival as an extension of digital fatigue," said Hannah La Follette Ryan, a Brooklyn-based photographer whose images of celebrities wearing wired headphones appeared on the cover of New York magazine. "Who wants another glitchy expensive gadget to charge?"

The trend also reflects growing interest in what Hull described as "analog lifestyles." She said wired headphones resonate with millennials and Gen Z seeking physical, tangible experiences in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world. "I think people want tangible touch points. That’s why nostalgia is so big for the 90s and early 2000s: people want something they can touch, something they can feel."

That shift aligns with renewed enthusiasm for retro technology, including film cameras, DVDs, and basic mobile phones. Tom Morgan-Freelander, deputy editor of Stuff magazine, said wired headphones are part of a broader return to older tech, noting that some users also prefer them for sound quality.

Affordability has further strengthened their appeal. Corded headphones, which retail for just over $25 on Apple’s website. By comparison, Apple’s latest AirPods start from $159 and rise to $669 for the Max over-ear versions.

While wireless earbuds are stored in cases, wired versions are often found tangled in bags. La Follette Ryan suggested this, too, has its appeal. "The tangle is inevitable," she said. "Think of a headphone knot as a more user-friendly Rubik’s Cube. Relish the opportunity to slow down and solve a little puzzle."