The Iconic Supermodels of the 1980s

The faces that defined the decade.

"The Love Ball" to Benefit the Design Industries Foundation for AIDS (DIFFA)
(Image credit: Getty Images/Arthur Elgort)

Yes, the hair was bigger, but that wasn't the only thing to set the cover models of the '80s apart from the rest. The term "supermodel" may feel synonymous with the '90s—Naomi, Kate, and all the other greats that only go by one name—but the breakout models of the '80s paved the way for their cool-girl predecessors. And we continue to see the influence of these '80s models in fashion today: This season, Chanel sent byzantine jewelry pieces down the runway that resembled the Christian Lacroix sweater from Anna Wintour's first 1988 Vogue cover. There were also '80s influences in the looks of Saint Laurent and Louis Vuitton's fall 2020 runways. From new '80s babies like Cindy Crawford and Brooke Shields, to already established beauties like Jerry Hall and Gia Carangi, below we put together a list of the top models of this decade.

•••

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter (subscribe here).

Katie Attardo

Katie Attardo is the Accessories Editor at Marie Claire, covering all things fashion and jewelry-related.