A timeline of fashion at the school since its beginnings.
Jackets from Brandy Melville, Adidas track pants from Costco and shoes from Nike. Go up to any student in the school’s hallways and they probably own at least one of the items.
Student choices for clothing have, of course, gone through major changes over the decades. When the school opened in the late ‘50s, a visitor would have seen boys wearing iron-pressed shirts and loafers with their hair cleanly combed and gelled, while girls wore skirts to their knees and frequently curled their hair. Two decades later, V-neck and knitted sweaters along with bold color combinations were the trend. In the ‘90s and early 2000s, baggy T-shirts with baggy bottoms were no longer seen as rebellious but as a sign of comfort and practicality.
To understand these trends, I went through dozens of Talisman yearbooks looking at the clothes students wore and how the trends evolved — the pages revealed fashion choices as a delicate balance between conformity and individuality.
1960s: Clearly defined gender roles
The girls on the field hockey team pose for the yearbook in their plaid dresses to the knees and stockings. As Title IX, which prohibited sex-based discrimination, had not been passed yet, girls’ sports uniforms were traditionally feminine and conservative. Dress codes at the time prohibited girls from wearing pants to any school functions. Wearing a “skort,” a skirt over shorts, could get girls sent home. (Talisman)
Certain sports were only reserved for boys, such as wrestling or cross country running. Boys and girls even had separate P.E. classes. Gender lines were firmly drawn. And it wasn’t just in sports that gender roles were strictly defined. The cafeteria staff was composed entirely of women, while the custodial staff was all men. There even existed a Dean of Girls, an administrator position who oversaw and supported all social and academic activities exclusively for girls; boys also had their own Dean.
The boys’ basketball team sports belts and high ankle socks. The invention of polyester and its rising popularity only a few decades before soon made its way to basketball. The boys appear to be Converse high tops, which were originally designed as basketball footwear. This overall shift toward functionality was reflected in shorter shorts and fitted jerseys in basketball. It is also evident that the school was almost an all-white school. Saratoga was known for its orchards and being an agricultural center before its establishment of the high school, but the ‘60s brought in new workers from IBM (such as Class of ‘65 graduate Steven Spielberg’s father), Fairchild, and Lockheed. The prosperity and rapid population growth of the post-war era established Saratoga High with a narrow and specific demographic of being mostly white and upper middle class.
1970s: Changed dress code support activism and change
Cheerleaders were then known as “letter girls,” dressed in much shorter skirts. With the rise of youth activism, it was in 1970 that the student-led petition to change the dress code was passed. The cheerleading uniforms in the ‘60s, which were bulky sweaters and long skirts, limited movement. But with Title IX and more streamlined outfits, it proved that girls could be more active than simply cheering from the sidelines. (The Talisman)
A varsity boys sport team takes a picture for the Talisman. Guys demonstrated their pride in athletics by wearing varsity jackets, which became a sign of dedication and hard work. With the beginnings of streetwear fashion, varsity jackets soon became a fashion statement, too. It was added to the list of Saratoga High demographic characteristics — “jock.” In the ‘70s, football became more popular than ever, gradually surpassing baseball as America’s favorite pastime. The term “jock” became associated with the sport for its image of strong masculinity. At the same time, the ‘70s was also the height of counterculture, the drastic change in social and political contexts as the Vietnam War wound down. Starting in the ‘60s, bands like the Beatles popularized longer “moptop” hairstyles, which were seen as dirty and rebellious by conservatives and institutions. With newfound freedom in fashion, the student body slowly turned toward more casual wear, such as oversized T-shirts and styling untucked shirts with jeans. (The Talisman)
A group of friends pose for the camera with their own unique fashion styles. The transition from the previous proper school uniforms in the ‘60s to a more casual look is clearly shown here. Jeans were becoming more popular, but many students still wore a more business-casual white collar or plaid shirt. The boy in the middle wears a blazer over some jeans. On the other hand, the girl to his right wears a zip-up hoodie and some Adidas track pants, taking on a more athletic look. Outer layers varied among knitted sweaters, jean jackets or bomber jackets. Stripes and patterned clothing reflected the liveliness of fashion. Students had their own opinions and ideas, often divergent from their parents and teachers, and the fashion of the time clearly emphasized the growing lack of conformity among teens. (The Talisman)
1980s: Different tones and colors encouraged self-expression
Students take a photo for the Talisman in their various styles. It became common in this era to do heavy layering. Collared shirts and knitted sweaters became a defining characteristic of the ‘80s. The sweaters now featured bolder stripes and a V-neck cut. Students often wore all these different elements, such as through their collared shirts under sweaters, cardigans or vests. Almost all students wore denim. These pants were often high waisted and tapered at the ankles by the cut or rolled up cuffs. Today, these styles of jeans are known as “mom jeans,” but it was what the “cool kids” wore back then, in addition to bright neon colors. Parachute pants also gave students another option for pants to be tapered at the ankles. Graphic T-shirts featuring band logos became a signature vintage look. The prominence of MTV and music videos, where singers like Madonna were shown rocking acid wash jeans, helped fashion trends spread rapidly. (The Talisman)
Two girls run around the track in their athletic wear, which included much shorter shorts, known as “dolphin shorts,” and joggers. Movies like “Flashdance” and the popularity of Jazzercise workouts and aerobics played a major role in making comfort a key goal of fashion through athletic wear. Celebrity influence by figures like Jane Fonda made fitness appear enjoyable and were easily accessible with TV programs. Off-the-shoulder sweatshirts, tights, headbands and leg warmers became part of everyday casual wear outside of the gym.
Two girls run around the track in their athletic wear, which included much shorter shorts, known as “dolphin shorts,” and joggers. Movies like “Flashdance” and the popularity of Jazzercise workouts and aerobics played a major role in making comfort a key goal of fashion through athletic wear. Celebrity influence by figures like Jane Fonda made fitness appear enjoyable and were easily accessible with TV programs. Off-the-shoulder sweatshirts, tights, headbands and leg warmers became part of everyday casual wear outside of the gym.
1990s: Recycling retro styles
The Best Buddies Club celebrates the beginning of the school year. Almost every student in the ‘90s wore some iteration of jeans, whether it was overalls, jean shorts or jean jackets. Bright patterns were carried over from the ‘80s. Women continued to achieve major breakthroughs with equality, and girls now wore tank tops and crop tops; society was much more supportive of these changes than earlier decades. Girls now wore makeup, but it was still very much natural. The ‘90s were known for a change back to more minimalistic styles, away from the flashiness of the ‘80s.
A girl shows off her Cal hoodie. The ‘90s were known for cycling some styles from earlier decades. Hoodies became loved by students for their warmth, style and comfort. Although hoodies were first normalized in high schools in the ‘80s, music like grunge and hip-hop in the ‘90s changed streetwear from a subculture to being integrated into mainstream fashion. This only prompted the hoodie to become even more commonly worn by students. Varsity fonts of universities on hoodies became a staple during this period. They were mimicked after the popular varsity jackets, emphasizing a connection with the retro and vintage aesthetic of the ‘70s. The ‘90s also ushered in a massive demographic shift in the area, with an influx of Asian immigrants, who sought tech opportunities in Silicon Valley. This is a much more familiar looking version of Saratoga High to the modern student.
A Falcon reporter in a flannel with a black t-shirt looks over layout designs. Flannels and gingham patterns also became extremely fashionable during this time. The versatility and practicality of wearing it around the waist, as a jacket or draped over the shoulders, appealed to many. Like jeans, flannels evolved from being worn by the working-class to becoming prominent in mainstream fashion. Grunge bands, such as Nirvana, were often seen performing with flannels and became the inspiration for this trend. While the music influence on fashion would wane in the middle of the decade, the casual style of streetwear remained. In fact, streetwear would continue to be one of the dominant styles of high school fashion through the following decades. (The Talisman)
2000s: Variety expands in texture and cut
A boy piggybacks on his friend’s back; both are dressed in streetwear fashion of baggy clothes, which fit well with the teenage persona, partially a continuity from the ‘90s. Baggy pants were common and completed a casual look that was also incredibly comfortable. Low-profile sneakers by Adidas, Puma and Nike, usually black or white, in addition to the Chuck Taylors Converses that returned to style, seemed to be the uniform shoe for the student body. The 2000s skater boy aesthetic was influenced by pop culture and saw boxy, rather than longer, hoodies along with cargo or utility pants. The rise in technology at the time also gave way to more metallic and shiny tones that would define this decade through accessories like belts and jewelry. The 2000s were so revolutionary in the fashion world that it developed its own signature name of the futuristic and bold style: Y2K.
A group of girls dressed in corduroys and jeans take a candid photo. It wasn’t just any and every style of jeans that were popular — low rise jeans took over the campus. Still, unlike the ‘70s, when the student body shifted toward more casual wear, students now tried for something a little more formal. Jeans had been too commonly worn for too long, which opened up the perfect opportunity for corduroy. Corduroy has a unique texture and comes in various colors besides one, as jeans had with the iconic blue wash. Girls’ hair became impeccably straight, often ironed and curled inwards at the ends. The influence of popular culture and celebrities was far-reaching, as there emerged a belief that straightened hair was clean, sleek and professional.
The 2010s and 2020s: Name brands and more recycling of previous fashion trends
A student participates in a rally by running around the gym in her zip-up jacket and yoga pants. Popular clothing brands for teens in the 2010s, namely Pacsun or Stussy, crossed over into the 2020s. Zip-up jackets and hoodies continued to define the student population. Following the widespread theme of functionality in fashion, zip-up jackets allowed students to be more adaptable with the changing conditions, whether it was chilly or a bit warmer. Athleisure became a mainstream style, with students often wearing joggers or track pants. Influencers and social media were able to encourage the growth of the athleisure, and they also emphasized name brands.
In the 2020s, many of the fashion trends have been ones we have already seen. The argyle V neck sweaters that were popular during the pandemic are similar to the ones seen in the ‘80s. Off-the-shoulder sweatshirts are still worn. Low profile shoes, after switching to bulky shoes in the 2010s, have returned to their popularity in recent years, as seen with the Adidas’ Sambas. Most students now either wear athleisure or streetwear styles to school.
While each decade introduces some new styles and fashion pieces, fashion is mostly cyclical, meaning that inspiration is often taken from previous decades and trends are recycled.
From the conservative and gender-based styles of the ‘60s to the bold colors of the ‘80s to the casual streetwear trend of the early 2000s, it is safe to say that fashion has changed with the times, reflecting the changing culture of the student body. Still, the repeated styles demonstrate how creativity isn’t always about coming up with something new — it involves adapting existing styles to fit an individual’s own sense of freedom.
Today, fashion at the school is as diverse as ever, a testament to the history of student beliefs, culture and expression.
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Alan • May 19, 2025 at 6:14 pm
Brilliant!