Over the years, the women of the Kardashian-Jenner family have easily become style icons — and in the case of Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian, beauty icons, too. But there's one member of the family who doesn't get enough credit, and that's their matriarch, Kris Jenner. After all, the Kardashian crew wouldn't even exist without her, and this momager has some pretty sweet style.
These days, we see her wearing a classed-up, business-ready wardrobe, and she always looks so put-together. But even when she was younger, Kris did not come to play. In the '80s and '90s, she was just as much of a style icon as she is today — her family just didn't have a reality show yet.
If social media had existed when Kris was young, her followers would have absolutely lost it over the outfits she frequently sported. Need a few examples? Here are all of Kris' best throwback looks. It might even serve you a little inspiration for your own wardrobe today.
Having a Yellow Moment
It takes the baddest possible b—- to wear banana curls and a lemon yellow ruffle-sleeved dress with a matching hair bow — but young Kris Jenner (or Kris Houghton, as she was then) pulls it off like the ultimate queen. Bonus points awarded to MJ with that towering beehive.
Her Yearbook Photo
Kris further proved that she's made of magic in her yearbook photo, which looks like it could have been taken last week. NBD, just Kris casually killing it with shiny, center-parted hair, a shirt buttoned up all the way to the throat, and those flawless cheekbones.
A Little Black Dress — Kinda
Young Kris was wearing black velvet and ruffles before Chanel even dreamed about it. And yes, we know — we did a double take, too. That's Kris on the left, not Kourtney in a filtered Instagram photo! We'll never stop being amazed at how much those two look alike.
The Shag Cut
Somehow, a young Kris was pulling off literally every hairstyle, including the '70s-inspired shag that's definitely come back into style a time or two since Kris first wore it decades ago. And honestly, who else could look this chic in pink overalls?
Matching Athleisure
While Kim and Khloé get a lot of the credit for popularizing the athleisure look, Kris and Robert Kardashian did it first, long before any of their daughters even knew the word athleisure existed. Getting your partner to wear matching track jackets is a freaking superpower.
A Floppy Hat
Who knew that Kris invented Coachella style? The oversized hat, the lace … we could imagine Kourtney wearing a similar look (more modernized for the 2020s, of course) while out in the desert, rocking out to fiancé Travis Barker's band.
Winter Ready
Even on the ski slopes, young Kris is an absolute vision. It's not easy to look chic in a head-to-toe snow suit, but if anyone could pull it off, it's her. (Side note: How adorable do her kids look in their snow gear? This must have been such a fun vacation for them.)
Next-Level Cat Eye
Young Kris and her perm are too advanced for a simple cat eye. Nope, she really had to go the extra mile here and draw on some whiskers, too. OK, we're just kidding — obviously this is a Halloween photo. But still, she's kind of pulling off the cat look.
She's Bangin'
Nobody on Earth has ever worn bangs this flawlessly — her daughters included! This just proves that Kris can pull off any hairstyle she wants, because she's had all of them, including the super short 'do she's kept since her family first entered the reality TV spotlight.
Simple Style Pieces
A basic white shirt plus a plaid skirt plus big sunglasses = PERFECTION. Tell me you wouldn't wear this look now! In fact, we're pretty sure we've seen some of her daughters wear this look as adults in one form or another, which speaks volumes about Kris' timeless style.
Pretty in Pink
While young Kris lives to break style rules — like the frankly ludicrous idea that there's such a thing as "too extra" — there are a few style commandments that she appeared to live by, and that meant never shying away from a bright color. This pink would look like Pepto Bismol on some people, but not our Kris!
Accessorizing With a Bow
When in doubt, throw a giant throat bow on it. This style isn't something that's carried over into Kris' older years (and for good reason) but at the time, she looked pretty good in this top and red lipstick — and of course, the plaid skirt that matched her daughters.
Island Vibes
If we asked the Kris in this photo for a little style advice, we can only imagine she'd say, "Is there a flower on the table? Put it in your hair." Here, she's looking a little extra fancy with that hair accessory she's wearing — and maybe even a bit tropical?
All Business
Since Kris is always working, even when she's not, it's no surprise that she's made this type of outfit a staple in her wardrobe for many years now. After all, a blazer with strong shoulders is always a Jenner-approved look — and it looks good on her, too!
A Statement Necklace
When in doubt, a statement necklace and sequin-encrusted gown is always the look. Of course, if the event calls for it. But through the years, we know that Kris has had plenty of opportunities to get all dressed up to go somewhere fancy. Yeah, we're kind of jealous!
Coordinating With Friends
And if you have to wear something kinda out there, always remember that there's strength in numbers. Are you really the most powerful witch in Calabasas if you can't enchant your friends into wearing designer paper bags along with you? That's what we thought.
Plaid for Days
And yes, that also applies to your family. Someone get Kris a Burberry contract immediately. Why does it not surprise us that her daughters grew up to adore matching outfits with their own children as much as Kris loved to wear them with hers? It's such a sweet tradition.
Statement Earrings
Short hair and statement earrings were, are, and will forever be Kris Jenner's power look. (That is Nicole Brown-Simpson on the right. She and Kris were famously best friends before her 1994 death — and they were so close that Kendall Nicole Jenner was named after her.)
All Smiles
This is a master class in group styling, blush placement, and accessorizing. Your fave could never. Is it any wonder that two of her daughters grew up to start two very successful business companies after they grew up around their mother setting this kind of example?
Sharing With Kim
But when you're a style icon who has raised six other style icons, there's always the threat that they'll straight up steal your look. Kim stole young Kris' black and white dress — though we have to imagine this was a proud moment for Kris. Kim looks incredible!
Twinning With Kylie
Though Kim was wearing Kris' actual dress in the last photo, here we have Kylie copying her mom's beach style and making it her own. Kylie is "borrowing" Kris' pink high-legged swimsuit (and looking good doing it). This style was made for them both!
A Family Photo Shoot
But hey, icons know how to share the spotlight, and if Kris didn't, we doubt she'd have had all of her children wear outfits that coordinated with hers for this family photo shoot. Whoa! We only wish this picture was in color so we could really see it in all its glory.
A Real Queen
Here is Kris, posing with Paris Hilton — one of her daughters' longtime BFFs. Even Kris can fit in with the young and hip crowd, and here she looks happy and stylish, which is what really matters. We love you, Kris — please, never change!
