We invite you to cruise down memory lane with these style sheets torn straight from an 80s-era JCPenney catalog.
The clothing styles girls want to wear at school and at home (1983)
This school year, clothes that provide a versatile fashion slant without compromising practical and easy-maintenance features are the strongest leaders among the maze of trends and fads.
As in past years, separates are the bestselling student apparel. While the styles are purely functional, the pieces are easily mixed and matched.
However, the news about separates this season is the way in which grown-up styles are translated into youthful looks.
Some of these new options include oversized shirt-dresses, dirndl skirts and drop-waist minidresses.
Along with the classic mid-knee skirt lengths are the increasingly popular skimp and minidresses worn with coordinating colored hosiery.
With skirt length of no real fashion significance, Rhoda Bloomquist, special events and fashion coordinator of Burdines, points out that hemlines are “everywhere,” adding, “you should wear a length that’s most becoming to you rather than wear one for fashion’s sake.”
For school girls, a trace of the ’50s takes shape in the way of full-cut bias skirts, collarless V-neck letter sweaters and revamped saddle shoes in leather or brightly colored cushion-quilted nylon.
The coed look remains a staple in every school wardrobe. Girls team classic cotton cloth shirts — some featuring ruffled stand-up collar and cuffs — with tailored corduroys.
They also lean toward the simple sophisticated looks of lightweight wool blazers, button-down blouses and coatdresses.
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The trendiest 80s clothes for girls & tweens
Hunt Club sweaters, polo shirts, oxfords, striped shirts, jeans, khakis and slacks
Vintage basic 80s clothes for girls
Striped sweaters, Hunt Club Oxford cloth shirts, knit tops, corduroy trousers and web belts
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Retro 80s clothes for girls
Double-breasted tuxedo blouses, suspender pants, argyle sweaters, cropped pants and blouses with detachable bows
Trendy back-to-school fall 1983 clothing for girls
Preppy cable-knit sweater vests, circle skirts and pleated pants – worn with long-sleeved blouses and big neck bows
Traditional and old-time clothes
Old-fashioned ’50-style outfit — with poodle skirt! — plus the prairie-style dresses and skirts for girls were part of 80s girls fashion
80s clothes for girls: Corduroy separates for girls – jackets, tops, pants, split skirts
Back-to-school fashions from JC Penney
Color-block velour top and corduroy pants – and a striped velour top with a corduroy skirt
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Back-to-school 80s clothes for girls
Layered-look striped top, denim vests, denim miniskirt, chambray skirt and denim baggy jeans
80s clothes for girls: Plaid flannel tops, vintage corduroy pants, suspenders, jeans and backpacks
Stylishly preppy 80s outfits for girls
Black and red checked tops, walk shorts, hooded cable sweaters and denim with corduroy roll cuffs — plus brown, red and blue rubber duck shoes!
80s clothes for girls: Kids’ character fashion
Reversible raincoats, Garfield shirts and pants, plus Garfield and Smurfs underwear and socks
Vintage character clothing
Novelty tops with Ziggy, Hogs ‘n’ Kisses and Garfield – plus shiny Smurfs and Strawberry Shortcake pearlized vinyl jackets
Dressier 80s outfits for girls
Jacquard sweaters with leg of mutton sleeves, ruffled sweaters, and shawl-collar sweaters for girls
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Dressy 80s clothes for girls: Sweaters and blazers
Vintage flannel and corduroy blazers, plus cableswitch sweaters and striped Oxford-cloth shirts
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Shirts and sweaters for girls
Button-down Oxford cloth shirts and crewneck acrylic knit sweaters
Stylish basics for girls from 1983
Preppy polo shirts, twill pants and skirts – plus leather perforated-vamp pumps
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Stylish
Sailing along – Retro ’80s spring clothes for the shore & sailboat
Supermodel Cheryl Tiegs with future actress Jennifer Connelly in 1983
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Trendy styles for tweens
Vintage ’80s scoop-neck top, fade-out denim jeans, boatneck sweaters and pleated corduroy pants for pre-teens
Preppy 80s clothes for girls – sweaters, jackets and slacks
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Latest fashions for girls and juniors from 1983
Bomber-style jackets and rainbow shirts
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Pretty preppy fashions
The Fox – Build a collection of casuals and classics in colors that accent
Retro 80s-style tops
Superwear ’80s tops for girls – turtlenecks, tees, tipped collar tops, polos and more
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Lace-trimmed denim dress with puff sleeves and tiered skirt with a low waist
Lace-trimmed denim dress with puff sleeves and tiered skirt with a low waist
Fashionable dressy clothes for girls and tweens
Vintage 1980s dresses
Layered-lock dresses, plus plaid-smocked, striped knit and asymmetrical front dresses
School clothing for girls
Sleeveless V-neck sweater vests, ruffle-trimmed blouses, turtleneck tops and pointed collar shirts
1980s activewear
Vintage styles of activewear tops, cardigan sweaters, baseball jerseys, print turtleneck tops and straight-leg jean
Cold weather gear
Chintz jacket with chest warmer, jean-style pants, jacket and ski vests and bib-top snowpants
Vintage ski outfits for girls
Fashion nylon ski pants, snowmobile suits, jacket vests, striped ski hats and bubble ski mittens for girls
Outerwear for girls from the 1983 JCPenney catalog
An ’80s four-in-one fully-lined parka with vest, and quilted jean-style cold weather pant
Jackets for girls from the 80s
Fleece-look jackets, chest warmers, reversible jackets, poplin hats and scarf sets
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Jackets and coats for girls from the 1983 JCPenney catalog
Trench coats, corduroy stadium coats, reversible hoodies and quilted puff coats with shawl collars
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Cozy and warm vintage outerwear for girls – coats, jackets and vests
Nightgowns and PJs for girls
Retro character sleepwear
Retro ’80s nightgowns and pajamas for girls, including those with Garfield the Cat and Herself the Elf
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Vintage Danskin leotards and wrap skirts for girls
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Clothes that have dance-appeal (1983)
Striped leotards, leggings, headbands and more for young juniors and girls
Fitness fashion for young teens
Sweatsuits for girls – retro athletic warm-up wear, knit tops and striped crewneck tops
Fashionable ’80s-style fleece for girls
Fleecy sweatshirt material pants, miniskirts, jackets, dresses, and tops for girls ages 7 to 14
Kids’ fitness wear – sweatsuits and jogging outfits from the ’80s
Activewear and retro stylish jogwear — vest, pullover and sweatpants for girls
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Pouch-pocket tops, Spalding striped tops and Spalding brand pleated pants
80s clothes for girls: Fashion fitness and leotards
80s clothes for girls: Cable-knit tights, opaque tights and rib-knit tights
Socks for girls and teens
Terry sports socks, crew socks, tube socks and knee-highs
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80s clothes for girls: Underwear basics
Also rib-knit short sleeve shirts, value-pack briefs and panties for every day of the week
Clothes and undergarments for girls from the 1983 JCPenney catalog
’80s-style training bras for pre-teens and slips for girls of all ages
Fancy vintage ’80s clothing for young girls
80s clothes for girls
Ruffle-trim overalls, jumper and blouse sets, skirts and blouses and corduroy vests and pants
Outdoor wear for girls
Storm Plus parka-style jackets and bomber-style jackets, plus snow pants, hats and mittens
80s clothes for girls: Snowsuits, snowmobile suits, ski jackets, ski mittens and ski hats for girlss
1980s classic clothes
Stiped boatnet tops, cardigan sweaters, layered-look tops and no-iron classic shirts
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Cozy vintage ’80s jackets for little girls
80s clothes for girls: Little dresses and top and pants sets for kids
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Preppy vintage 80s clothes for young girls
Cartoon & character clothing styles
Famous names include Garfield, Smurf, Herself the Elf, Strawberry Shortcake, Care Bears and other characters kids loved
Girls Only clothing
Retro ’80s striped shirts, corduroy pants, corduroy jackets, French-terry tops and corduroy jumpsuits
It’s sweater season!
Crewneck sweaters, Oxford-cloth shirts, hooded cardigan sweaters and cute cat-pattern cardigan sweaters
Superwear – durable sportswear for little girls
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Vintage 1980s Levi’s clothes
Vintage Levi’s clothing for little kids – plaid blouses, denim jeans, striped tops – plus corduroy jeans
Little girls (4-6x) clothes from the 1983 JCPenney catalog
Windowpane blouses, print blouses, and corduroy pants, shorts, jackets and jumpers
Sweet retro decorated clothes for little kids
Rainbows, hearts, apples, flowers and butterflies on cute clothes for little girls
80s clothes for girls: overalls and turtlenecks
Corduroy bib overalls for little girls, with turtleneck tops and plaid-trimmed work shirts
Active playwear for little girls: Kids’ sweats, 80s-style
“Turquoise and rose for playful results”: Striped tops, zipper-front vests, tape-trimmed pants, zipper-front jumpsuits, layered-look tips & split mini skirts
Fleecy winter clothing for little girls
Fashionably preppy clothing for little girls – sizes 3 to 6x
Jeans and denim for eighties girls
Super denim and super cord jeans for long-lasting sportswear fashion
Vintage Noelle jeans for young juniors and girls (1983)
Retro 80s clothes for girls
Twill jumpsuits, corduroy jumpsuits, overalls and an overall-striped top set
Back-to-school 80s clothes for girls
The hottest ’80s styles for teens and tweens – ruffle-trimmed plaid blouses, striped knee-high socks and sweatshirt tops
The inexplicable ’80s revival of pseudo antique newsboy-style pants – for girls
Fashionable fitness gear for girls from the 1983 JCPenney catalog
Warm-up separates – jogging pants and sweatshirts for girls, in bright pink, bright blue and grey
Vintage 80s clothes for girls
Hunt Club jeans, denim skirts and Oxford cloth dresses in blue and pink
Designer jeans for girls from 1983
Popular designer jeans, including Gitano, Chic for Girls and Sassoon 5-pocket jeans – plus a Jordache leather belt
Grade-school and junior high 80s clothes for girls
Levi’s bib-front blouse, corduroy jeans, Buffalo plaid blouse, denim jacket and jeans – plus a Sassoon shoulder bag
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Fashion for girls in the 1983 JC Penney catalog
While skirt lengths make little fashion impact, layered legs of colorful socks and stockings play an important role in back-to-school fashions.
“Colored and patterned stockings are an important fashion statement for all ages this year,” says Bloomquist. “The younger set wears them with minis, or together with a different color anklet.”
Knee socks, anklets and stockings range in a variety of colors from fuchsia to French blue — while argyles, rugby stripes and mini-prints have a strong foothold in the sock department. These are shown sock over sock, sock over panty stockings, and legwarmers over tights in contrasting colors.
As fall signals a new fashion season, color becomes a fashion entity. In first class is fuchsia, mallard blue, turquoise and combinations of royal blue and yellow, or purple and jade.
“Students are going for color this season,” says Agnes Lund, division manager of the children and pre-teen departments of Sears. “The girls seem to prefer the bright lavenders, and the boys like strong, bright colors.”
Corduroy jeans are a fashionable solution to most back-to-school dilemmas… Cords are reintroduced this fall in a multitude of colors, such as grape, magenta and green for girls.
Perhaps as a spinoff to this color category, many designer jeans manufacturers have introduced black denim jeans as an alternative to the blues. In fact, many of today’s blue jeans are styled much like casual dress pants.
Bloomquist notes that status (or designer) jeans are in vogue once again; however, they’re dressier jeans with regard to design.
Lund agrees, saying, “the kids of today are much more concerned about their clothes — the fit, the color and being coordinated and stylish.”
Topping off many of this fall’s back-to-school clothes is the sweater. Available in such variations as vests, crewnecks and cardigans, the sweater is rated the strongest fashion statement nationwide.
The total sweater picture shifts its focus to leading looks: argyles, checks, jacquards, Fair Isle patterns, novelty knits and year-round cottons.
While many of these sweater looks are layered for practical reasons, layering is also used as a designer technique to introduce more color and texture to school clothes. As more patterns are used, the monochrome shades become an important link to a color-coordinated wardrobe.
– Adapted from an article published in the News-Press (Fort Myers, Florida) -August 21, 1983
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