The Lasting Look Of 'Stranger Things'

The hit television show, Stranger Things, is a sci-fi Netflix programme created by the Duffer brothers in 2016. The cast consisted of many child and teenage actors whose careers took off with the release of the show, such as Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven) and Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), as well as actors who had their largest roles in the 1980s – when the show is set. Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), Sean Astin (Bob Newby), and Paul Reiser’s (Sam Owens) presence serves to deepen this nostalgia, especially for those film buffs in the audience. 

The fifth and final season is due to be released in three parts: November 26th, Christmas Day, and the finale on New Year’s Eve. This will see the return of the previous cast, with the announced addition of The Terminator legend, Linda Hamilton.

For a show characterised by otherworldly supernatural mystery, nostalgia is a clear focus throughout the setting, music, and fashion. The costume team, led by Amy Parris, played a key role in cementing the show as a cultural phenomenon: Stranger Things’ influence helped actualise the return of 1980s fashion.

While the ‘80s had re-entered the public eye in the early 2010s, with Olivier Rousteing’s appointment as creative director of Balmain in April 2011 and the influx of shoulder pads on the runway, the vintage revival arose in full force with Stranger Things’ release.

Iconic Looks, Frozen in Time:

Loud Shirts:

This still from season 4 showcases the cast in a full spectrum of 1980s fashion, spanning from preppy, to nerdcore, to new wave, to grunge-precursor, to surfer style. Patterned shirts sure are aesthetically flexible!

Bold Summer:

This mall moment from the third season became instantly classic. Eleven’s bold geometric jumpsuit and Max’s striped tee with light-wash denim became Pinterest and Depop staples – bold, bright and easily wearable!

Vintage Academia:

Nancy’s trailer park exploration outfit nails ‘feminine preppy’, complete with typical ‘80s layering and accessories. The soft pastel allows for a reproducible retro look that encapsulates suburban academia.

The Tik Tok Takeover:

With the spike in the popularity of TikTok, users began to cosplay as characters from Stranger Things (think Eleven’s loud printed shirts, circa season 3). Additionally, more casual fashion inspiration was taken, especially with this alignment of this trend with 2019’s ‘VSCO-girl’ vogue, with scrunchies and mom jeans making a huge comeback.

The retro revival was furthered with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as online thrift shopping (such as on Depop) rose in online popularity. This gave people heightened access to vintage clothes, with sellers curating aesthetics towards this ‘Stranger Things-core’.

The Pandering of Fast Fashion:

Very quickly, fast fashion brands such as H&M, Zara, and Shein soon co-opted the ‘80s revival. While fast fashion can have its benefits, such as greater size inclusivity and affordability, overall – the trend’s once-sustainable nature was largely undone by commercial overproduction.

In the end, Stranger Things didn’t just bring the Upside Down to our screens – it brought thrift culture, neon palettes, and vintage layering back into the mainstream, one bold shirt at a time.