16 Awkward Yearbook Trends from the Past
Old yearbooks are full of trends that once seemed cool but now feel strange, overdone, or just uncomfortable.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 5 min read
Yearbooks are snapshots of their time, and they’ve captured some truly awkward trends over the years. From strange fashion choices to overly staged photos, these trends once felt normal but now raise eyebrows or laughs. This list covers 16 real trends that shaped the look of school yearbooks across the decades.
1. Floating Heads in Collages
Kipikawi staff of 1915 on Wikimedia Commons
Some yearbooks in the ’80s and ’90s loved cutting students’ faces out and pasting them onto random backgrounds. These head-only collages were often poorly edited, with odd shadows and strange proportions. The result looked more like a ransom note than a memory page. Today, it’s more likely to be mocked than repeated.
2. Laser Background Portraits
Pittigrilli on Wikimedia Commons
In the late ’80s and early ’90s, laser beam backdrops were somehow seen as high-tech and cool. The glowing pink and blue lines looked futuristic then, but now they feel more like a sci-fi parody. Many students chose this background voluntarily. Now, it’s mostly remembered through memes and retro jokes.
3. Overly Serious Poses
Dominic Spinelli on Wikimedia Commons
There was a time when smiling wasn’t encouraged for yearbook photos. Students were told to look formal or “dignified,” which led to stiff, serious expressions. Combined with outdated fashion, it made many portraits feel more like mugshots. Today’s photos are far more relaxed and natural.
4. Feathered Hair Focus Shots
ABC Television on Wikimedia Commons
During the ’70s and ’80s, hairstyles often took center stage in portraits, especially feathered and blown-out looks. Students angled their heads to show off the layers and volume. Some yearbook photos looked like shampoo ads. Hair trends have changed, but those dramatic poses are frozen forever.
5. Matching Outfits with Friends
Mauro on Wikimedia Commons
Some friends planned matching outfits or color schemes for their photo day. It might have seemed like a sweet idea, but it made whole yearbook pages look oddly uniform or overly staged. This was especially common in the ’90s with denim and oversized flannel. Today, outfit coordination for portraits is pretty rare.
6. Cringeworthy Senior Quotes
Ronald Peterson on Wikimedia Commons
Senior quotes were supposed to reflect your personality, but many aged badly. Some were inside jokes no one else understood, or awkward attempts at being deep or funny. References to old trends, songs, or slang now make no sense. Schools today often review quotes more closely—or drop them altogether.
7. Glamour Shots for Seniors
Khalifa Yahaya on Pexels
In some schools, seniors paid extra for studio-style glamour photos with soft lighting and fake backdrops. These images often included outfit changes, serious expressions, and over-the-top editing. Some even had hand-on-chin poses straight out of a modeling catalog. It blurred the line between school portraits and awkward fashion shoots.
8. Huge Hair and Headbands
Maegan Tintari on Wikimedia Commons
Especially in the ’80s, big hair wasn’t just accepted—it was expected. Students used hairspray to build height and volume that looked like helmet shapes. Headbands, scrunchies, and clips were placed for maximum visibility. Looking back, the hair often took up more space than the actual face.
9. Superlatives That Wouldn’t Fly Now
Patsy Smith and Bill Conradt on Wikimedia Commons
Categories like “Best Looking,” “Most Popular,” or “Class Flirt” were once common. While seen as fun at the time, these labels often made students uncomfortable or singled them out unfairly. Some schools received complaints, especially when students didn’t agree with the title they got. Most schools now avoid these or use safer, more inclusive categories.
10. Themed Photo Pages
Martha Clark & Diana Garner on Wikimedia Commons
Yearbooks often included themed spreads where students dressed up for fake proms, beach scenes, or even wild west outfits. These pages were meant to be fun but often looked forced or confusing. Some had strange props or costume choices that didn’t age well. These days, photos are more candid or focused on real events.
11. Tilted Head Poses
Alexandru Busa on Wikimedia Commons
Photographers often asked students to tilt their heads or turn slightly for a “softer” look. While intended to make portraits look more flattering, it sometimes made students appear confused or uncomfortable. When done in large numbers, whole pages of tilted heads looked unnatural. Most modern portraits now aim for direct and simple angles.
12. Multicolored Page Borders
RDNE Stock project on Pexels
Old yearbooks frequently used rainbow borders, checkerboard frames, or wild patterns around photo pages. These designs often clashed with the photos and distracted from the content. It reflected the graphic design trends of the time, but now they make the yearbooks feel more like scrapbooks. Today’s layouts tend to be cleaner and more minimal.
13. Too Much Airbrushing
Airbrush on Wikimedia Commons
Before digital filters, some studios offered airbrushing to “smooth” skin or remove blemishes. In some yearbooks, faces looked flat, shiny, or almost plastic. It made everyone look the same and removed natural features. Now, there’s more focus on realism and healthy editing standards.
14. Full-Page Personal Ads
Sandy Campbell on Wikimedia Commons
Parents could pay for a full or half-page message to their graduating child, often with baby photos and heartfelt (or awkward) notes. While sweet in intention, they sometimes included embarrassing nicknames or childhood stories. Many students cringed at being called “Snugglebug” or “Pumpkin” in print. Some schools now limit ad space or screen content more carefully.
15. Odd Clip Art Everywhere
三沢克年 on Wikimedia Commons
In the pre-digital era, yearbook editors filled space with random clip art—graduation caps, musical notes, or stick figure sports icons. These graphics were reused year after year and often didn’t match the tone of the page, making some layouts feel messy or childish. Today’s design software has replaced these with more polished visuals.
16. Too Many Group Photos with No Labels
Kieronoldham on Wikimedia Commons
Yearbooks used to feature pages of group photos with no names, context, or explanation. Clubs, teams, or hallway candids were printed without captions, leaving future readers guessing. It made it hard to identify classmates or understand what was happening. Modern yearbooks usually include detailed captions for clarity and memory’s sake.