The Best ’80s Fashion Styles, Straight From High School Yearbooks!

Just thinking of 1980s fashion evokes images of bright, bold ensembles with dramatic silhouettes, over-the-top accessories, and, of course, big hair. Even those who didn’t live through the decade know it as one of the most iconic eras. The ’80s hold a special place in the history of fashion, with many of the most prominent looks still influencing trends today. 

If you were lucky enough to experience it firsthand, especially if you went to high school between 1980 and 1989, you know how iconic ’80s outfits truly were. 

Whether you need inspo for an ’80s-themed party, are reminiscing before your high school reunion, or are just in the mood for some style nostalgia, you’ll find it here, pulled straight from real yearbook photos from the decade.

Our Favorite Women’s Outfits and Looks From the ’80s

What did women wear in the ’80s? The most memorable ’80s clothing styles emphasized structured, angular, and slouchy silhouettes, with lots of denim, lace, lamé, and mesh. In many cases, it was the accessories that made ’80s looks so distinguishable—from big bows and bulbous earrings to bowler hats and statement belts.

Here are some of our favorite pieces, materials, and styles based on ’80s outfits women actually wore during the decade.

Shoulder Pads

When it comes to 1980s style, shoulder pads are among the most eminent details—not to mention a staple of the decade’s “power dressing” trend. The broadened silhouette and sharp angles were seen on blazers, blouses, and evening gowns, often with a tailored waist to create that distinct V-shape that was popular at the time.

Leotards

Inspired by Jane Fonda workout videos and films like Perfect (1985), women’s aerobics apparel was all the rage in the ’80s. Before they were called bodysuits, leotards were worn over tights, frequently with slouchy leg warmers.

Off-the-Shoulder Sweatshirts

This look also got its start from the 1980s fitness craze and popularization of dance aerobics, with the movie Flashdance (1983) making a big impression on women’s fashion. 

Off-the-shoulder sweatshirts were worn not just in the studio but also as streetwear with jeans, skirts, and leggings.

Motorcycle Jackets

What jackets were popular in the ’80s? Motorcycle-inspired leather or shiny vinyl jackets with wide lapel collars, asymmetrical zippers, and silver snaps were in style at the time. The outerwear look drew from men’s 1950s fashion and bikerwear from the ’60s and ’70s. 

It gained prominence when style icons like supermodel Cindy Crawford and Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry were photographed in moto jackets.

Slouchy Denim Jackets

Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Madonna, Salt-N-Pepa, and other music icons of the era helped bring slouchy jean jackets into mainstream late-’80s fashion. 

Like blue jeans, the look evolved but never really went out of style, with denim shirts and outerwear still a wardrobe staple today.

Puff Sleeves

Puff sleeves reigned supreme with 1980s formal wear—think prom looks, weddings (for brides, bridesmaids, and guests), travel outfits, and professional ensembles. 

Voluminous shoulders and flouncy fabrics elevated the look of any shirt or dress, making otherwise simple silhouettes totally en vogue.

High-Rise Jeans

If you wore jeans in the ’80s, they were almost certainly high-rise. Beyond the high waist, women’s denim was typically tapered down the leg and slim-fitting throughout (but not skinny—this jeans trend didn’t start until the mid-2000s). Paperbag waists and pleating details were also big at the time.

Tucked-In T-Shirts

What were women wearing with jeans? Not unlike laidback looks of today, casual ’80s ‘fits often kept it simple with a T-shirt tucked into jeans. Lots of people wore boxier crewneck tees, which created volume above the high-rise waistband.

Power Suits

In the ’80s, women became a bigger part of the corporate workforce and dressed the part with coordinating suit jackets and pants. From teal and pink to Glen plaid and houndstooth, power suits came in a medley of statement-making prints and colors. 

Inspired partly by the characters in Working Girl (1988) and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s signature suits, the look kickstarted the “power dressing” trend. It transformed traditional menswear into a widespread clothing style that was worn in professional and social settings alike.

Oversized Blazers

Matching pants-and-jacket combos weren’t the only menswear looks women adopted during the decade. As seen on Cher, Princess Diana, and the titular characters of the teen movie Heathers (1988), the oversized blazer is one of the most noteworthy ’80s styles. 

The cuts were slightly boxy but tailored at the waist and usually double-breasted with large contrasting buttons.

Mini Skirts With Tights

One of the most prevailing 1980s outfits among high-school girls and professional women was the mini skirt with tights, particularly semi-sheer black tights. Short skirts came in a wide variety of styles, like brightly colored stretchy nylon, pleated plaid, paperbag waist, high-rise denim, and rah-rah ruffles—pretty much all the cool-girl looks featured in Teen Witch (1989).

Statement Belts

Extra-wide with large buckles, bold colors, and embellishments, statement belts were everywhere in the ’80s. Commonly worn high up on the waist on top of a shirt or jacket (rather than within belt loops), this go-to accessory put the finishing touch on power suits, mini-skirt ensembles, and puff-sleeve dresses.

Printed Blouses

A printed blouse was the ideal top for ’80s outfits that looked put-together and sophisticated but not too dressy for everyday wear. Princess Diana was frequently seen in printed tops made of smooth, drapey fabrics. On Saved by the Bell, Elizabeth Berkley’s character, Jessie Spano, was often styled in floral shirts tucked into jeans or a mini skirt.

Country-Club Prep

This quintessential look was popular among men, women, and teens in the ’80s. Merging elements from prep-school uniforms and college campus style with country club formality and sporty tennis apparel, it featured various combinations of polo shirts, pleated pants, cable knit vests, white button-downs, sweaters tied over the shoulders, and varsity crewneck sweatshirts —often in white, navy, or pastel hues.

Polka-Dot Print

Polka dots were everywhere with ’80s fashion clothes, including blouses, dresses, blazers, skirts, and tights. Black with white dots was a classic, along with the inverse (white with black dots). The print was featured with bright, playful colors, too, like teal, yellow, red, and purple.

Sequins

Sequins were originally seen on performers, like Diana Ross, Cher, and Whitney Houston. But the glitzy, glamorous look transcended past stage ensembles and made its way into festive 1980s fashion. Throughout the decade, sequins dazzled mini-dresses, formal gowns, puff-sleeve shirts, and numerous accessories, from bows to belts.

Lace

Madonna and Cyndi Lauper are two of the most well-known lace wearers of the era. The feminine fabric was seen everywhere during the decade, including on formal and casual ’80s outfits, from long-sleeve shirts and dresses to leggings, tights, gloves, and headbands.

Lamé

Reflective and stretchy, lamé fabric epitomized the showy extravagance ’80s fashion became so well-known for. Often seen in gold, silver, emerald, royal blue, and other jewel tones, the metallic sheen was perfect for school dances, dates, and going-out looks.

Large Eyeglasses

From Jane Fonda in the 1980 film 9 to 5 to Meg Ryan’s Sally Albright in the 1989 classic When Harry Met Sally, large eyeglasses were seen on fashionable women throughout the decade. We’re talking big metal frames in round, wayfarer, aviator, or octagonal shapes.

Bow Headbands

Bow headbands were the it accessory of the ’80s. Madonna and Cyndi Lauper were trailblazers of the trend, but even Boy George was known to don ribbons and lace in his hair. Often paired with crimpy hair or feathered bangs, structured lace, mesh, and floppy fabric headbands added volume and a pop of color to ’80s hairdos.

Big Earrings

Big earrings were another wildly popular accessory. What you may now think of as “costume jewelry” was once the preferred look of women’s formalwear and teenage fashionistas. These statement-making earrings included giant pearls, chunky gold drops, 2-inch-wide flower studs, silver discs, and plastic neon beads.

Acid-Wash Denim

Guess brought acid-washed jeans to market in the early ’80s, when buying pre-worn denim was a previously unheard-of concept. With a bleached-out, worn-in, marbled look, acid-wash denim embraced rebellious style and helped bring the pop-punk look mainstream.

Sheer Shirts

Sheer blouses were popularized in the ’80s, often worn with delicate camisoles or an actual bra peeking through. The look has come and gone over the decades, continuing to show up in ’90s outfits during the grunge era and popping up throughout the 2000s.

Waistcoat Vest

Another style you may have forgotten about is the waistcoat vest layered over a white button-down shirt. This fashion-forward look of the ’80s was another way women were making menswear their own.

Rose-Printed Dresses

Worn by women, teens, and young girls, rose-printed dresses were extremely popular in the 1980s. Eye-catching but not too eclectic, this vibrant print could be found on poufy ballgowns, spandex mini dresses, high-neck prairie dresses, and everything in between.

Cut-Off T-Shirts

Cut-off tees embodied the edgy, rule-breaking spirit of 1980s style. You could chop off the sleeves of a T-shirt to create a boxy muscle tank, slice off the bottom to transform it into a crop top, or carve out the neck for an off-the-shoulder fit.

Neon

When people think of ’80s outfits, neon often comes to mind. Loud, fluorescent hues like dayglow yellow, acid green, hot pink, and electric blue were used to accent an ensemble or worn from head to toe for a confidently conspicuous vibe.

Colorblock

Colorblock clothing of the ’80s combined neons, primary colors, or pastels in layered, asymmetrical stripes and overlapping rectangles. This showed up on tracksuits, windbreakers, sweaters, button-down shirts, and bomber jackets, as seen on Salt-N-Peppa in the group’s 1987 “Push It” music video.

Memphis Design

Memphis design began as an architectural and interior decorating style in the ’80s, but it didn’t take long for the aesthetic to make its way into the world of apparel. The look combines simple geometric shapes and patterns (think triangles, polka dots, squiggles, and zigzags) with bright colors and touches of black. It was a big part of both the costumes and set design on the show Saved by the Bell.

Turtlenecks

The turtleneck was a modest, practical, and versatile piece of clothing for cold-weather outfits in the ’80s. We love the look of a cozy turtleneck sweater, but a smooth long-sleeve turtleneck was the perfect layering item for underneath cardigans, jean jackets, and waistcoat vests.

Fair Isle Sweaters

Named after the most remote island in the United Kingdom, the Fair Isle sweater uses a traditional Scottish knitting technique to create distinct colorwork patterns across the chest and shoulders.

Tracksuits

Modern athleisure has nothing on sporty fashion of the 1980s. One particularly emblematic look was the tracksuit—you know, a coordinating windbreaker and pants made of that swishy nylon material in a bright colorblock pattern or neon hue.

Sailor Collars

Sailor-style shirts and dresses with large white, lacey, or squared-off collars were all the rage in the ’80s. This look was seen in everything from professional wear to picture-day outfits and Sunday attire.

Bowler Hats

While men wore fedoras, women rocked bowler hats in the ’80s, as seen on Princess Diana and Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink (1986). The circular silhouette, round top, rolled-up brim, and felt construction made for the perfect accessory, adding character to any outfit.

What Fashion Styles Were the Trendiest in the ’80s?

The 1980s are known for many iconic fashion styles. Among the most notable is power dressing, including power suits and anything with shoulder pads. With the popularization of acid wash and ubiquitous jean jackets, denim was another prominent player. 

Memphis design and colorblock are often viewed as the epitome of ’80s fashion—think bright colors, geometric shapes, and squiggly patterns. Some of the best outfits that represent the decade feature a mix of pop-punk, biker, eclectic, maximalist, glamor, preppy, and dancewear-inspired touches.

Beyond these aesthetics, the ’80s are known for several distinctive pieces, prints, colors, and materials. This includes leotards, leg warmers, spandex, neon, puff sleeves, lace, lamé, big earrings, hair bows, and tracksuits, to name just a few.

Explore 1980s Yearbooks for More Fashion Inspo

Classmates® has thousands of 1980s yearbooks chock full of iconic ‘80s outfits. 

Whether you want to search for your own yearbook and see what you and your friends were wearing, or want to explore outfits from high schoolers across the country in that era, explore yearbooks for free on Classmates today!

Sources:

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• IMDB. Cyndi Lauper. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0490980/

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