80s prom dresses were all about personality, pink and puffed sleeves
Pink was everywhere. Not just popular — expected. Teens at the time said it plainly: “Everybody’s wearing pink.” Whether it was soft baby pink, hot fuchsia, or anything in between, it was the color of choice for a lot of girls. Designers like Gunne Sax were at the center of it all, offering lacy, romantic gowns that looked like they stepped out of a Civil War-era drama. Big bows, puffed sleeves, ruffled skirts, and off-the-shoulder bodices made those dresses instantly recognizable.
But not everyone was chasing the same look. Some teens wanted a more sophisticated or unique style — a break from what one girl called “so prom-y.” That’s where the slinky satin options came in, drawing from vintage 40s silhouettes with straighter skirts, shiny fabrics and open backs. Others added their own twist, like the girl who wore a white tuxedo instead of a dress, or those who customized or even made their own outfits to avoid seeing doubles on the dance floor.
Of course, Seventeen magazine played a big role in shaping prom trends. It wasn’t just a source of inspiration — it was practically a catalog. Girls would spot a look, track it down, and sometimes buy it sight unseen because it had the right designer label. Some years, the March issue with prom picks was more influential than any runway.
All that said, the common thread running through the era’s prom styles was this: no matter the color or cut, 80s prom dresses were about going all out. Whether that meant a princess ballgown or a sequined tea-length number, it had to be a look — with hair, jewelry and dyed-to-match shoes to go with it.
Here’s a look at more than a hundred of the dress styles available back then — styles that 80s girls thought were totally awesome. (PS: Be sure to look at these vintage 70s prom dresses, too!
Retro Dance-Allure prom dress styles (1983)
Stylish vintage 1980s prom dress styles from Alyce Designs (1985)
White & pink vintage princess dresses from Nadine Formalwear (1983)
Fairytale-style pastel dresses from Nadine Formalwear (1983)
Frilly vintage Promtime dresses designed by Mimi Gerrard (1983)
Satin and taffeta vintage prom dresses from 1985
Tea-length dance dresses from Penney’s (1985)
Three different 1980s prom dress styles for girls
Vintage 80s prom dress styles made by Mendicino
80s prom dresses with frills and ruffles (1985)
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Lacy long 80s prom dresses in pale pastels (1985)
Red, white and blue stylish 80s prom dresses (1985)
Ruffled Nadine brand dance dresses for teens from 1985
Actor Vincent Spano and friends model 80s prom clothes (1983)
Prom night’s an all-star occasion — especially with dream date Vincent Spano at your side, (He’s swept off his feet here by our lovely ladies!) Vince’ll be lighting up the silver screen in the next couple of months in The Black Stallion Returns and Baby, It’s You; this summer, in Rumble Fish.
But celeb escort or not, you’ll be doing plenty of your own dazzling on prom night, dressed to thrill in gorgeous gowns. Allyson (left) looks like a dream herself in a dress of dotted Swiss voile — floaty and feminine, with plenty of lace and ruffles and an apronlike overskirt that back-ties in a pretty bow.
Center: Scarlett O’Hara would have loved Maria’s taffeta gown: The on- or off-the-shoulder line, fitted bodice, and tiers of flounces are wildly romantic. The rows of ruffles end around back in a bustle effect, and two fabric roses trim the zipper — you’ll look great coming and going! To finish with a flourish, pearly jewelry sets off the jewel-toned blue of the gown.
Whitney Houston in an ice blue taffeta 80s prom dress (1983)
Whitney [Houston] wears a real honey of a dress, guaranteed to please any sweetheart. The details are dramatic — a pinafore bodice with double ruffles at the shoulders (wear them on, as here, or off), a giant sash to tie in a beautiful bow at the waist — and the ice-blue taffeta calls for the cool sparkle of rhinestones.
On Allyson: Polyester/cotton dress, Gunne Sax by Jessica: $110. Hair ribbon. Hyman Hendler & Sons. “Pearl” necklace by Marvella. $7.50. On Vince. Tuxedo by Lord West Formalwear. On Maria. Polyester dress by Nadine, $140. “Pearl” earrings, Ooops a Daisy: $5 “Pearl” necklace. Trifari, $14.50. On Whitney: Polyester dress by Dance-Allure. $84. Rhinestone jewelry: Ooops a Daisy earrings ($10), G.P. Eugene necklace ($9. 99), Accessories N.Y.C. bracelet ($10). White acetate satin ballet flats (we dyed them blue) by Capezio Ballet Makers, $25. Photographed at Windows on the World. The Ballroom, in the New York World Trade Center.
Vintage 80s dresses from Promtime
Looking back at vintage ’80s prom dresses: The night required a certain style
The first thing you have to understand about dressing for the prom is the utter, absolute importance of Seventeen magazine.
“I saw this dress in Seventeen, and it had a toll-free number you could call in California, so I called and they said it would be at the Mayfair, so I went and bought it,” said Molly O’Brien, 16, of South Burlington, whose parents sank more than $150 in a hot fuschia dress with spaghetti straps.
“Seventeen does that March issue — Gunne Sax shows seven or eight dresses, and that’s what the girls want,” shrugged Shirley Alpert, owner of Gigi’s on Church Street.
“It’s their Bible,” agreed Cheryl Cummerow, who buys the prom dresses for Magrams.
Vintage ’80s prom dresses hot in ’86: Pretty in Pink
“I saw my dress in Seventeen, so I knew someone else would have it, too,” said Laurie Watson, 16, of Underhill, who spent $130 of babysitting money on a strapless white formal by Gunne Sax with a candy-box pink satin bow.
Her good friend Lori Ardovino, 16, of Underhill, also will be going to the Mount Mansfield Union High School prom Saturday. She, too, will be wearing the $130 strapless white Gunne Sax dress with candy-box pink satin bow.
“It doesn’t really bother us,” Watson insisted. “I really like my dress — pink’s my favorite color.”
And that’s the other thing you have to understand about dressing for the prom this year: the importance of pink.
“Pink, pink, pink,” cried Lori Reese, 17, a senior at Winooski High School. “Everybody’s wearing pink.” That includes Lori herself.
“My date wanted me to wear pink,” said Karen Kane, 16, of Winooski, who found a pink off-the-shoulder satin with a hoop skirt.
Asked to name someone wearing an unusual dress to the prom, Michelle Gosselin, 16, of Winooski (who was wearing a pink-and-white striped Gunne Sax) came up with the name of Tami Jo Smith, whose dress is an unstartling frilly white confection trimmed with red bows.
“The color is mostly pink this year,” Gosselin said, in explanation.
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’80s prom dresses: Southern Belles and vampish looks
The Gunne Sax look, in addition to being pink, means big hoop skirts, lots of lace and bare shoulders.
“They all want to look like Scarlett O’Hara — like they just tore down the curtains and made a dress,” one salesperson said of the wide-hooped, off-the-shoulder Southern belle look.
The alternative is what Barbara Tarshis, buyer at the Mayfair, calls “a little more vampish ‘Back to the Future‘ — that ’40s look that my mother might have worn.”
That means slinky satin (no hoops or crinolines) with lots of big satin ruffles and bows, and plenty of bare shoulders and backs.
“It made a statement,” said Cheryl May, 17, a junior at Rice High School, of her clinging white jacquard satin dress. It wasn’t, she said, like the other prom dresses.
May couldn’t exactly say what the “statement” was, but going out on a fashion limb this year mostly involved avoiding Gunne Sax and pink.
“I liked it because it was different,” said Karen Brouillette, a sophomore at Colchester High School, who invested in a strapless, royal blue tea-length gown from the Mayfair for the May 25 prom.
“I wanted to steer away from Gunne Sax. I was afraid I’d see not just double of myself, but triple,” said Stephanie O’Brien, 18, of South Burlington, who ended up with pink, but slinky pink. “I wanted something more sophisticated… I don’t want to be like everyone else.”
Fancy sequined vintage 80s prom dresses from Alyce Designs
ALSO SEE: 1960s prom dresses: See some elegant, glamorous vintage styles
Vintage 1980s prom dresses in silver sequins and white
The Prom Collection from What’s Up, New York
Fashion descriptions: Three lacy vintage tea-length dresses — two are strapless, and one has thin straps. The pale pink and teal dresses feature low (thigh-height) sash belts, while the middle silver and white dress has a metallic bodice and a big white bow on the back.
Vintage PromTime dresses by Columbia (1980s)
Three formal lace-accented formal gowns of “lustrous polyester knit” (1983)
Frilled retro prom & party dresses from the early 80s
These red, blue and yellow Disney-esque long dresses were from Nadine Formals & Party Dresses back in 1981
Pale pink corset-style sleeveless dress (late 80s)
Flirtations Prom Collection – Dresses for teens (1985)
Retro 80s prom dresses from 1985
Frilly vintage prom dresses from 1986
Blue classic prom dresses (plus see pink versions in the corner)
Three 80s prom dresses with old-fashioned style, from JC Penney (1983)
Gown with Bow Trim: Of polyester taffeta. Sweetheart neckline. Fitted bodice. Elasticized at shoulders — can be worn on or off shoulders. Sleeves elasticized above flounced cuffs. Slightly raised waistline with attached bow belt. Full skirt. Back zipper. Available in frost rose & wine colors.
Gown with Lace Yoke: Bodice of polyester chiffon, lined with acetate taffeta. Full skirt of polyester taffeta. Lace stand-up collar with satin ribbon trim. Lace trimmed front and back bodice with V-shaped satin ribbon trim. Sleeves, elasticized above lace flounce cuffs. Lace-trimmed flounced hemline. Back zipper. Available in ivory/wine and ivory/royal blue.
Dress with Handkerchief Hem: Of polyester taffeta. Modified sweetheart neckline. Scoop back neckline. Front and back basque bodice. Short sleeves are shirred. Back zipper. Available in wine and violet colors.
Promwear from Nadine Formals & Party Dresses
“Glamorous. Glimmerous. Flirtatious. Romance… waiting to be unmasked.” (See more retro Nadine formalwear here.)
Collection of prom dresses from the 80s, by Loralie Originals
Cute flouncy formal dresses from 1984
Off-the shoulder dresses with big tulle skirts
Promtime Frolics dresses, by Columbia – Designed by Mimi
DON’T MISS: Do you remember these 72 shampoos & conditioners from the ’80s?
Happy with their retro ’80s prom dresses & fancy fashions
(Continued from above) Few girls went as far as 16-year-old Diane Sullivan of Burlington, a junior at Rice High School. She’s wearing a white tuxedo to the prom Saturday at Mather’s.
“The typical prom dress is just so so… prom-y. It’s like fingers scratching on a chalkboard, so I thought a tux would be fun,” she said.
Scarlett O’Hara or Clara Bow, the costs add up. Dresses range from $80 to $200; most girls said they were spending $130 to $150.
Kim Niquette of Burlington didn’t like the dresses she saw in stores and made her own for $60; Cheryl Maheux of Jericho transformed her two-year-old $94 dress by adding a hoop (“I couldn’t see buying a whole new dress — at least this way no one will have the same as mine”).
In most cases, though, Mom and Dad foot the bill. “My mom thought it was a little too expensive, and said to talk to my Dad; so I told him I really, really wanted it and so he said I could get it,” said Michelle Gosselin of her $144 pink-and-white striped Gunne Sax.
Then there are Daniel and Sandra O’Brien of South Burlington, parents of Stephanie, Molly and Kerry, 15. All three girls are going to the prom, and all are deliriously happy over their new dresses.
“My Dad says to say he’s filing for bankruptcy,” Stephanie relayed over the phone, to giggles and groans in the background.
Retro 80s gowns with ruffles in shades of pink (1985)
Romantic prom looks from the 80s
Brooke Shields modeling a pink prom dress (1984)
Dreamy and danceable romantic gowns from JC Penney catalog (1985)
Feminine pink and white prom gowns from JC Penney (1985)
Formal dresses prom 1984: One sleeveless, one with a high neck
Supermodels in pastel vintage ’80s prom dresses
That’s supermodel Yasmin (Parvaneh) LeBon in the middle there
Red formal dress with black ladybug spots
80s prom fashion for him and her
Sleeveless red prom dress from the mid-80s
DON’T MISS: Vintage 70s prom dresses were a feminine fusion of bohemian & chic
Bubble-skirted red prom dress by Willi Wear (1988)
His outfit: 100% cotton separates from Matinique: Cropped fine herringbone-patterned jacket paired with matching double-pleated tapered and cuffed slacks. Mandarin collared shirt and striped tie.
Red prom dress, worn with a double strand of pearls
4 retro prom dresses with sequins and sparkles for days
An eighties new wave/punk girl in a silver-gold dress sequined dress
Strapless and one-shoulder vintage ’80s prom dress styles
ALSO SEE: Why ‘The Breakfast Club’ was more than just another teen movie (1985)
’80s formal dress styles from Alyce Designs in Chicago
Lacy & romantic white 80s prom dress fashions (1983)
Retro pink formal romantic-style dresses from 1983
Retro 80s white lacy prom dress formalwear from Charlotte Russe stores (1986)
ALSO SEE: What is a Charlotte russe? 8 delicious classic Charlotte dessert recipes
A soft and lacy white dress & matching fingerless gloves
Trendy Eletra ivory formal 80s prom dress (1985)
Pale pink & white dotted prom dresses from Seventeen magazine (1984)
Black & white contemporary prom dresses for juniors (1985)
Retro 80s formalwear for high schoolers (1983)
Shiny black vintage 80s prom dresses
A black satin sleeveless formal dress
The model here is wearing the dress with a beaded bracelet and a big lace bow in her hair — and has a bottle of champagne! (Until the 80s, many states allowed drinking at ages 18 or 19. Find out more about that here.)
Black and white retro formalwear for girls
Dark-toned retro prom dresses: black, dark blue and teal
Serious girls with serious dark dresses and seriously 80s hair
Blue, pink and purple long prom dresses from JC Penney (1983)
Pink long dress with bare shoulders above puffy ruched short sleeves
Long prom dress fashions for teens from 1988
NOW SEE THIS: See Gunne Sax prom dresses that ruled the school in the 80s
3 Responses
I truly enjoyed reading this article and seeing the photos of 80’s prom dresses. I had an 80’s poufy wedding gown with poufy hair to match. The dress was the “most beautiful” wedding gown I had ever seen and I was so sure my daughter would love that dress when her wedding day arrived. WRONG!
It is fun to look back!
And no ugly shoulder pads
These dresses are so over the top compared to what we wore in my town. I had a white cotton eyelet dress from Merle Norman that didn’t have big puffy sleeves or layers or ruffles. It was fairly simple and cost $75 in 1981. Most girls in my school were wearing very simple but full length dresses by Gunne Sax or similar, but definitely not these crazy styles. Location: metro Atlanta, GA.