In the ’80s, an anything goes attitude, leftover from ’70s-era excess, it was the big picture for fashion. Models from the ’70s were still very present at the beginning of a decade that offered women a kaleidoscope of inspiration from couture to ready-to-wear. Designer collections from Yves Saint Laurent’s to Donna Karan included power suits and strong shoulders, Willi Smith’s and Perry Ellis kept current with the playful yet wearable comfortable clothes, Thierry Mugler gave fashion theatrical prose and the Japanese designers gave America and Europe the essence of the avant garde. The runway was inclusive of new and familiar faces, including Dalma Callado and Mounia Orsemone. They would be joined by Carol Alt and Paulina Porizkova and Iman, whose careers skyrocketed in the decade. These models would chart a new course for the business of modeling, moving beyond the runway and remaining iconic for decades and counting, while paving the way for the year of the supermodel a decade later.
Here, see the top supermodels of the ’80s.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Mounia Orosemane. Yves Saint Laurent Spring 1980 Ready to Wear Runway Show.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Models Eva Vorhees and Esme Marshall. Perry Ellis Spring 1981 Ready to Wear Advance and Fitting.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Kim Alexis. Valentino Spring 1982 Ready To Wear Advance
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Andie MacDowell. Anne Klein Fall 1982 Ready to Wear Runway Show, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Romney Russo. Issey Miyake Fall 1980 Ready to Wear Advance, Paris.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Patti Hansen. Valentino Spring 1982 Ready To Wear Advance, Milan.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Gail Elliott and Ally Dunne (background). Donna Karan Collection Spring 1989 Ready to Wear Runway Show, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Dalma Callado. Givenchy Fall 1985 Couture Collection Runway Show, Paris.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Iman. Oscar de la Renta Spring 1987 Ready To Wear Collection Runway Show, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Lisa Ryall. Perry Ellis Spring 1987 Ready to Wear Fashion Show, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Terri May. Carolina Herrera Spring 1991 Ready to Wear Runway Show, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Sheila Johnson. Perry Ellis Spring 1981 Ready to Wear Runway, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Frederique van der Wal. Halston Spring 1984 Show at the Olympic Tower in New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Anh Duong. Mary Ann Restivo Spring 1989 Read To Wear Collection Fashion Show, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Estelle Lefebure. Thierry Mugler Spring 1983 Ready to Wear Runway Show, Paris.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Jill Goodacre. Norma Kamali for Jones New York Apparel Fall 1986 Ready To Wear Advance.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Designer Yves Saint Laurent sits in his showroom with models Mounia Orosemane, Kirat Young AKA Kirat Bhinder, Rebecca Ayoko, Leslie Branner, Amalia Vairelli, and Khadija Adams, all in looks from the Spring 1986 Couture Collection.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Anna Getenah. Bill Blass Spring 1989 Ready To Wear Collection Fashion Show, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Melanie Landestoy. Isaac Mizrahi Spring 1989 Ready to Wear Fashion Show, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Bo Pinder. Sonia Rykiel Spring 1986 Ready to Wear Runway Show, Paris.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Anne Bezamat. Anne Klein Fall 1987 Ready to Wear Fashion Show, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Aly Dunne. Donna Karan Collection Resort 1990-1991 Ready to Wear Fashion Show, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Carol Alt. Christian Dior Spring 1986 Sportswear Collection Fashion Show shown in New York.
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Model Anna Bayle. Lacroix Fall 1987 Couture Collection Runway Show, Paris.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Paulina Perzikova. Donna Karan Fall 1985 Ready to Wear Fashion Show, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Jeny Howorth. Marc Bohan for Christian Dior Spring 1987 Ready to Wear Runway Show, Paris.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Toko. Mary McFadden Fall 1982 Ready to Wear Runway Show, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Kim Nye. Ralph Lauren Fall 1989 Ready to Wear Runway Show, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Violeta Sanchez. Yves Saint Laurent Fall 1982 Ready to Wear Runway Show, Paris.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Francesca Ambrosetti. Giorgio Armani Fall 1985 Ready to Wear Advance, Milan.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Sonia Cole. Valentino Fall 1989 Couture Collection Fashion Show, Paris.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Gail O’Neill poses with designer Willi Smith in his final fall 1987 sportswear collection in New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Idia Varielli. Yves Saint Laurent Fall 1982 Ready to Wear Runway Show, Paris.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Louise Vyent. WilliWear by Willi Smith Fall 1987 Sportswear and Eveningwear Collection Advance, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Susan Hess. Issey Miyake Fall 1983 Ready to Wear Runway Show, Paris.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Kristin Clotilde Holby. Ralph Lauren Fall 1987 Ready To Wear Collection Runway Show, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Elle Macpherson. Perry Ellis Spring 1986 Ready to Wear Runway Show, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Rachel Williams. Stephen Sprouse Fall 1988 Ready to Wear Fashion Show, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Famke Janssen. Donna Karan Collection Fall 1988 Ready to Wear Advance, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Ann Fiona Scollay. Gianfranco Ferre Spring 1988 Couture Collection Runway Show, Milan.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Ariane Koizumi. Issey Miyake Spring 1986 Ready to Wear Runway Show, Paris.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Models Veronica Webb and Marpessa Hennink. Oscar de la Renta Spring 1987 Ready To Wear Collection Runway Show, New York.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Katoucha Niane and Roshumba Williams. Krizia Fall 1988 Ready to Wear Runway Show, Milan.
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1980s Model Moments from the Archive
Model Yasmin Le Bon. Calvin Klein Collection Resort 1985 Ready to Wear Advance, New York.
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Model Josie Borain. Calvin Klein Collection Fall 1989 Ready To Wear Fashion Show, New York.