23 Vintage Photos Highlighting Teenage Fashion and Culture in the 1940s

Teenage fashion has changed quite a bit over the decades. These days, it's all about low-rise jeans, crop tops, and platforms sneakers – a terrifying return of early 2000s trends for any Millennials out there. But back in the 1940s, the teen look was a lot more buttoned-up… literally. Long skirts, tucked-in blouses, cardigans, and saddle shoes were the coolest thing a girl could wear. It was neat, modest, and honestly pretty chic in an old-Hollywood kind of way.

Looking through these vintage photos almost feels like taking a peek into another world where Friday night meant performing the jitterbug at a dance in the high school gym instead of scrolling through Tiktok for hours. What's funny, though, is that this prim and proper style had a bit of a revival back in the 80s. I recognize a lot of these outfits from Twin Peaks, worn by Laura Palmer and Audrey Horn. Fashion always finds a way to circle back! Honestly hope these cute long skirts do so soon.