Teen Fashion Trends by the Decade

Carried over from the '60s, elements of hippie fashion largely influenced teens' style in the '70s. Earthy colors—burnt siennas, golden yellows, and mossy greens—dominated the general color palette, seen in pieces like courduroy bell bottoms and patchwork garments.

The '80s were about everything bold—big hair, neon colors, and exaggerated silhouettes. Teens in the decade opted for oversized pieces—stone washed denim jackets, large sweaters worn off the shoulder, and shoulder pads aplenty. Teens' style was largely influenced by pop culture and music, mimicking the fashion seen on MTV, which launched in 1981.

Pulled heavily from grunge and skater styles that thrived in the '90s, teens ditched bright colors for darker shades in pieces like baby tees and cargo pants. Platform shoes—from Buffalo sneakers to Steve Madden's Slinky sandal—also gained momentum.

Now beloved as the Y2K aesthetic, teen fashion in the 2000s was delightfully over-the-top, with lots of layers and statement accessories. Low-rise pants and mini skirts were go-to bottoms, and Juicy Couture tracksuits and Ugg boots were designer must-haves.

Thanks to Tumblr, a new grunge aesthetic made an appearance in the 2010s consisting of pieces from retailers like Urban Outfitters and American Apparel. Plaids and stripes dominated as prints, paired mainly with neutral pieces.