Decades Day Spirit Week Ideas

Decade day outfits from clothes already at home, from the 1950s to the 2000s.

Decades Day Spirit Week Ideas

  1. Pedal Pushers and FlatsPants that stop at mid-calf, flat shoes and a printed scarf tied over the hair.
  2. Grunge FlannelA flannel shirt left open over a T-shirt, ripped or faded jeans and heavy boots.
  3. Skinny Jeans and Ballet FlatsThe narrowest jeans you own, flat ballet shoes and a headband in polka dots or an animal print: the look of the decade's last years.
  4. Belt Bag Up FrontA nylon belt bag worn at the front, an oversized sweatshirt and a baseball cap.
  5. Peasant Blouse and Maxi SkirtA loose, gathered blouse and a skirt or dress that reaches all the way to the ankles.
  6. Poodle Skirt and Saddle ShoesA wide skirt with a paper poodle taped near the hem, a white shirt, ankle socks and a small scarf knotted at the neck.
  7. Y2K MetallicsSilver, gray and shiny black from collar to shoes, with as many straps and buckles as you can find.
  8. Embroidered DenimJeans or a denim vest covered in stitched flowers. Paper patches taped on do the job for one day.
  9. The Wide-Lapel SuitA jacket with wide lapels, a vest and flared trousers, all in one pale color such as powder blue, beige or white.
  10. Butterfly Clips and Crimped HairRows of little clips across the top of the head, and zigzag waves: braid the hair in thin braids and undo them a few hours later.

Next step 1990s trivia for the assemblyDays for the rest of the week

How it works

These decades day spirit week ideas are outfits, not day names. Each line is one look of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s or 2000s, and every piece was checked against a fashion history of its decade.

Read the full guide

Decade day ideas, one decade at a time

Every decade has a group of its own, so a class that drew the 1970s sees only that. 60s day splits two ways: mod shift dresses and tall boots in the middle of the decade, tie-dye and beads at the end. The 2000s group is the place for Y2K spirit week ideas: silver, gray and shiny black.

Throwback spirit week ideas for a class or a team

The last group plans the day for many people at once, from a lunch table for each decade to a team's Thursday warm-ups. Blast From the Past Day allows every decade, with the year of each look on a paper tag.

  • Ask a parent or a grandparent first. The real thing may be in a closet at home, with a photo to copy.
  • One piece from the decade over ordinary clothes still counts, so nobody has to buy an outfit.

Questions and answers

What do you wear for decades day in spirit week?

Choose one decade and one clear sign of it: a poodle skirt for the 1950s, tie-dye for the 1960s, bell-bottoms for the 1970s, leg warmers for the 1980s, flannel for the 1990s or a tracksuit for the 2000s.

What are 70s day spirit week ideas?

Bell-bottoms with thick-soled shoes, anything satin or glittery for disco, a turtleneck with corduroy, a floppy hat with a long scarf, or a tennis headband with wristbands and striped knee socks.

What are 80s day spirit week ideas?

Leg warmers with a wide belt and an elastic headband, a blazer with padded shoulders, acid-wash denim, an oversized sweatshirt with slouch socks, or a sweater tied around the shoulders over a polo shirt.

What are 90s day spirit week ideas?

A flannel shirt over a tee with ripped jeans, overalls with a tiny backpack, a bucket hat with a baggy graphic tee, high-waisted jeans, or a ribbon choker with knee socks.

What are Throwback Thursday ideas for spirit week?

Throwback Thursday began online as a day for posting old photos. At school it becomes decade day for groups: each grade takes a decade, homerooms draw one from a hat, or a team dresses from one era for a black-and-white photo.

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All 71 outfits

1950s 9

  • Bermuda Shorts and a Tucked Shirt Shorts that reach the knee, a collared shirt tucked in, and loafers or plain sneakers.
  • Cardigan and Bobby Socks A buttoned cardigan over a collared shirt, a full skirt or slacks, and white socks worn down at the ankle.
  • Pedal Pushers and Flats Pants that stop at mid-calf, flat shoes and a printed scarf tied over the hair.
  • Poodle Skirt and Saddle Shoes A wide skirt with a paper poodle taped near the hem, a white shirt, ankle socks and a small scarf knotted at the neck.
  • Rolled Sleeves and Penny Loafers A short-sleeved button-up with each sleeve rolled twice, cuffed jeans and loafers.
  • Shirtwaist Dress and Belt A button-front dress with a full skirt and a belt at the waist, or a collared blouse tucked into a wide skirt.
  • Sock Hop Dancer Any 1950s outfit with the shoes carried in one hand: at a sock hop the dancers took them off to protect the gym floor.
  • The Twin Set A pullover with a cardigan of the very same color over it, and a string of beads standing in for pearls.
  • White Tee and Cuffed Jeans A plain white T-shirt, blue jeans turned up in a wide cuff, and a denim or leather jacket on top.

1960s 10

  • Beehive Hair Hair piled high on top of the head and pinned in place, with a tidy dress or a blouse and skirt.
  • Go-Go Boots Tall boots in a bright color, or knee socks pulled high over plain shoes to look like them, with a short skirt over tights.
  • Love Beads and Sandals Every string of beads in the house at once, a medallion cut from cardboard on a ribbon, and sandals if the school allows them.
  • Mod Shift Dress A straight, simple dress, or a long plain tee worn as one, in a block of color or a black-and-white houndstooth check.
  • Paisley and a Fringed Vest A paisley shirt or scarf under a vest with fringe: cut the bottom of a paper bag into strips and wear it open.
  • The Pillbox Hat A small round hat with a flat top and no brim, made from a strip of card, worn with a neat jacket and skirt.
  • Polka Dots and a Chain Belt Dots on the shirt or the skirt, with a chain of linked paper clips worn low at the waist as the belt.
  • Psychedelic Prints The loudest swirling pattern in the closet, in neon colors, worn with a second pattern that clashes with it.
  • Striped Blazer, Mod Style A blazer with bold stripes, a slim shirt with a button-down collar and neat trousers.
  • Tie-Dye and a Headband A tie-dyed shirt, jeans that flare at the ankle with the hems left frayed, and a strip of cloth tied across the forehead.

1970s 10

  • Bell-Bottoms and Platforms Trousers that are snug at the hip and flare over the foot, with the thickest-soled shoes in the closet.
  • Disco Satin Anything satin or sequined in the brightest color you own, glitter on the shoes and sunglasses shaped like a pilot's.
  • Embroidered Denim Jeans or a denim vest covered in stitched flowers. Paper patches taped on do the job for one day.
  • Floppy Hat and Flowing Scarf A soft hat with a wide brim, a long scarf left loose and jeans with frayed hems.
  • The Jumpsuit A one-piece jumpsuit or a pair of coveralls with flared legs. A top and trousers in one matching color give the same line.
  • Mood Ring and Shell Necklace A paper ring colored to show today's mood and a string of white beads standing in for puka shells, over a tee and jeans.
  • Peasant Blouse and Maxi Skirt A loose, gathered blouse and a skirt or dress that reaches all the way to the ankles.
  • Tennis Headband and Striped Knee Socks A headband, a wristband on each arm, a plain T-shirt, low-top sneakers and knee socks in bright stripes.
  • Turtleneck and Corduroy A turtleneck sweater, corduroy trousers and a chunky belted cardigan in brown and white.
  • The Wide-Lapel Suit A jacket with wide lapels, a vest and flared trousers, all in one pale color such as powder blue, beige or white.

1980s 11

  • Acid-Wash Denim The palest, most faded jeans you can find, with a denim jacket to match.
  • Aerobics Class Leg warmers over leggings (the sleeves of an old sweater work), a wide belt over a long tee, an elastic headband and sneakers.
  • High Ponytail and Headband Hair gathered into a bouncy ponytail on top of the head and held with a fabric hair tie, plus a headband across the bangs.
  • Jelly Bracelets and Fingerless Gloves A stack of thin bracelets up one arm, gloves with the fingertips cut off and several strings of beads at once.
  • Message Tee An oversized white T-shirt with a short, kind message in big black block letters. Tape paper letters on to save the shirt.
  • Neon and Geometric Earrings A neon top, a wide bright belt, and earrings or pin-on buttons in big bright shapes cut from card.
  • Oversized Sweatshirt and Slouch Socks A sweatshirt two sizes too big over leggings or tight jeans, with thick socks pushed down into folds.
  • Parachute Pants Loose, swishy nylon pants, a plain tee and sneakers.
  • Power Shoulders A blazer with a rolled pair of socks tucked under each shoulder, a blouse and a prominent belt: the power-dressing look.
  • Preppy Sweater A polo shirt with a cable-knit sweater tied around the shoulders by its sleeves, and boat shoes or loafers.
  • Rolled Jeans and a V-Neck Jeans rolled at the ankle so that slouchy socks show, a V-neck sweater and sneakers.

1990s 10

  • Babydoll Dress and Boots A short, loose dress over bike shorts or leggings, with heavy boots.
  • Belt Bag Up Front A nylon belt bag worn at the front, an oversized sweatshirt and a baseball cap.
  • Bucket Hat and Baggy Tee A bucket hat, a graphic T-shirt a size too big and wide-leg jeans.
  • Choker and Knee Socks A ribbon or a shoelace tied close around the neck, knee socks pulled all the way up and chunky shoes.
  • Grunge Flannel A flannel shirt left open over a T-shirt, ripped or faded jeans and heavy boots.
  • High-Waisted Jeans Jeans that sit high and end at the ankle, with a T-shirt tucked in and a belt.
  • Overalls and a Tiny Backpack Denim overalls, long or short, over a T-shirt, with the smallest backpack you own.
  • Slap Bracelet Stack Bands of bright paper taped around one wrist, standing in for the slap bracelets that were a fad in the early 1990s.
  • Striped Track Jacket A zip-up track jacket with a stripe down each sleeve, sweatpants and sneakers.
  • Sweatshirt Over a Turtleneck A sweatshirt with a turtleneck showing at the collar, jeans rolled at the hem and slouch socks.

2000s and Y2K 11

  • Butterfly Clips and Crimped Hair Rows of little clips across the top of the head, and zigzag waves: braid the hair in thin braids and undo them a few hours later.
  • Denim Skirt and Leg Warmers A denim skirt over leggings, with leg warmers bunched at the ankles.
  • Flare Jeans and a Denim Jacket Jeans that widen at the hem, a denim jacket and flip-flops if the school allows them.
  • Popped-Collar Polo A polo shirt with its collar turned up, worn over a long-sleeved tee.
  • Skinny Jeans and Ballet Flats The narrowest jeans you own, flat ballet shoes and a headband in polka dots or an animal print: the look of the decade's last years.
  • Studded Belt and Shutter Shades A paper belt dotted with foil studs, a dark hoodie and sunglasses with slats in place of lenses, cut from card.
  • Tracksuit and Huge Sunglasses A zip-up jacket and pants that match, velour if there is a set in the house, and the biggest sunglasses you can borrow.
  • Trucker Hat and Cargo Pants A cap with a mesh back, cargo pants with the side pockets full and a hoodie.
  • White Belt and Hoop Earrings A white belt over jeans, hoop earrings or a newsboy cap, and sunglasses shaped like a pilot's pushed up on the head.
  • Y2K Day for a Whole Class Everyone dresses from the years around 2000: one row in silver and gray, one in tracksuits, one in cargo pants and mesh-backed caps.
  • Y2K Metallics Silver, gray and shiny black from collar to shoes, with as many straps and buckles as you can find.

Throwback Thursday for a class or team 10

  • A Decade for Each Row In a single classroom each row of desks takes a decade, and the teacher takes the one nobody chose.
  • Blast From the Past Day Every decade is allowed at once. Each person pins on a paper tag with the year of the look, and classmates guess it before they read it.
  • Club Shirt, Decade Style A club keeps its own shirt and adds one decade to it: every member in leg warmers, or every member in a headband and wristbands.
  • Decade Lunch Tables Sit by decade at lunch, one table for each with a paper sign. The fullest table takes the spirit points.
  • Four Grades, Four Decades in Order Hand the decades out in date order so the building reads as a timeline: ninth grade the 1960s, tenth the 1970s, eleventh the 1980s, twelfth the 1990s.
  • Homeroom Decade Draw On Monday each homeroom pulls a decade out of a hat and has until Thursday to raid closets at home.
  • Staff Yearbook Throwback Teachers come dressed as they did in their own school photos, and students match each one to an old picture on the board.
  • Team Photo From Another Era A whole team picks one decade, dresses for it and poses in two rows, kneeling in front and standing behind, for a black-and-white picture.
  • Throwback Warm-Ups A team wears one decade to Thursday practice: striped knee socks and headbands for the 1970s, or track jackets with a stripe down the sleeve for the 1990s.
  • Two Decades, One Pair Two friends take neighboring decades, the 1970s and the 1980s for example, and stand side by side as a before and an after.