Stranger Things: The 80s Wind That Turned Fashion Upside Down

This publication is also available in: Français English (UK) Deutsch Italiano Español

The upside-down world didn’t just release the Demogorgon on Earth; by hitting our screens, the series Stranger Things has blown a breath of nostalgia and 80s style into the world.

As famous as Netflix’s *tum-tum*, the Stranger Things theme has become a hypnotic and recurring tune on everyone’s screens. With more than 64 million fans each season, the adventures of Will and Eleven have fascinated the entire world, turning the series into a phenomenon of a generation.

One of the keys to the show’s success is its polished and retro aesthetic, which gives a vintage vibe to the series. A return to the future that immediately sparked enthusiasm, to the point of seeing its universe shift fashion into another realm.

On the occasion of the reveal of the next season’s posters, coming to our screens on May 27th, let’s take a look back at the costumes from the series and the influence they’ve had!

The Aesthetic of Stranger Things

What has made the success of Stranger Things, beyond an intriguing and well-crafted plot, is its entire artistic direction. Creating a series is akin to weaving a whole white canvas. Between locations, sets, props, actors, hairstyles, costumes… All enhanced by staging and photography in perfect harmony. So many areas where one can let their imagination flow, giving life to script pages and creating an imaginative world where viewers can escape their daily lives.

A masterful gamble, raised by the teams behind the American series, led by the Duffer Brothers and Shaw Levy, along with Chris Trujillo as the artistic director, and Tim Ives and Tod Campbell in photography. And the multiple nominations for best drama series only confirm this.

Throughout its first three seasons, the series has successfully immersed viewers in a distinctly 80s universe. All creative departments have managed to work on this ambiance down to the smallest details. We see the famous Dungeons and Dragons game, from which the plot emanates, old BMX bikes, antenna phones, walkmans, vintage cars, mini-robots, iconic brands of the era like Coca-Cola… All bringing a nostalgic element to the series, which contributes to its charm.

Visual references are made to classics like The Goonies, Ghostbusters, Star Wars, Magnum, Back to the Future, and even E.T. with a storyline that directly references the imagination of Stephen King. This creates a “comforting” series that evokes many memories.

Beyond the creation of the town of Hawkins and all the game accessories that build its retro ambiance, one of the elements that contributes most to creating the 80s universe is the dressing of the actors.

The Retro Wave Through the Costumes of Stranger Things

The looks of the characters in Stranger Things were crafted by Kimberly Adams-Galligan and Malgosia Turzanska. The costumes, when combined with the rest of the universe, depict the idea of the American way of life in the 80s.

Their work was based on a clever mix of pieces with typical cuts and patterns from that era, infused with a slight modern touch to give them character. Notably in the colors and patterns chosen to bring true dynamism to the screen and not just blend into the background.

Jean pieces, plaid or striped shirts, collared t-shirts, bombers, sweatshirts with stripes, oversized clothing, extra-large scrunchies, calf-length socks, raincoats, vintage glasses, vests, skater skirts, pairs of sneakers… So many pieces that had remained at the back of closets, suddenly projected back into the spotlight.

Pieces once seen as tacky and ugly, but which, anchored in the world of the series, took on a whole new value and captivated millions of viewers.

To create realistic costumes representative of those years, the costumers surrounded themselves with top brands. Levi’s, an iconic brand of the 80s, provided valuable advice in the costume creation process. A mix of their know-how and the show’s DNA, which played out in the details, with Levi’s tags sewn upside down to reference the upside-down world of Stranger Things. For season 3, set in 1985, the brand created two looks, one for Dustin and one for Eleven, which fans of the series later found in stores.

Iconic outfits that have inspired fans’ wardrobes, particularly for costume events like Halloween, but not only…

The Series’ Influence Through Brands

The series, which has become a real phenomenon in pop culture, has inspired brands that have surfed the 80s wave blowing over Hawkins.

Alongside Levi’s creations, we saw Vans create shoe models inspired by the series, one wrapped in a map of the mall from season 3, to celebrate its release. Nike, also an emblem of 80s fashion, dropped a pair inspired by a model they released in 1985, the year in which the plot of season 3 takes place. Also wrapped in paper featuring Hawkins.

The DNA of the series has so captivated fans that brands like H&M have released capsule collections inspired by the series. H&M drew inspiration from season 3 of Stranger Things, iconic for its theme of the pool monitored by Billy, the bad boy lifeguard in his spare time…

A radiance that has also been illustrated through various brand collaborations with the actors. Actors Sadie Sink and Finn Wolfhard, who play Max and Mike in the series, have notably thought of collections alongside Pull And Bear.

Many other brands have also created merchandising related to the series. From Havaianas to Primark, many brands have filled their shelves with the colors of Hawkins.

When the Ugly Becomes Fashionable: How Stranger Things Brought Retro Pieces Back to Life

The strength of the Stranger Things universe lies in giving a new lease on life to the fashion world. Indeed, its retro vibe has immediately captivated, especially thanks to the series’ photography that showcases the costumes so well. Thus, we have seen more and more people develop a taste for vintage clothing.

Thrift stores are now being scoured for an old Levi’s piece or an oversized shirt like those worn by Eleven. Brands are launching collections completely focused on retro patterns, making this style a must-have for being fashionable. Recently with Stradivarius. Bucket hats, patterned caps, and large scrunchies have returned to adorn accessory racks, much to everyone’s delight. Jacquemus himself has revived the bucket hat! A vintage style that can be worn all the way to the tips of your nails, with nail art becoming increasingly popular on nails around the world.

A vintage 80s mood that also translates into lifestyle, with cassettes slowly overshadowing vinyl records, which had already resurfaced from closets a few years ago. Just like disposable and film cameras, or Polaroids.

And we observe on the streets, people swapping heels for four-wheel roller skates. Particularly with Impala Skate, which has just released a new pair of disco-colored roller skates. And with the few glimpses of roller scenes present in the trailer for the next season, we have a hunch that the roller skate brand’s sales are likely to soar following the series! Get ready to lace up yours and show off your moves at roller disco parties!

With the highly anticipated season 4 coming out in two parts, to prolong the enjoyment even further… We can’t wait to finally discover the next adventures of Eleven, Mike, and their friends! But especially to see what new costumes the iconic heroes of Stranger Things will wear, as well as the impact they’ll have on trends! One of the trailers already promises us a wide variety of costumes, especially thanks to different eras highlighted.

A quote from the directors announces a very promising series…

“With nine scripts, over 800 pages, nearly two years of filming, thousands of visual effects, and a runtime almost twice as long as any previous season, Stranger Things 4 has been the most challenging season to date, but also the most rewarding.”

See you on May 27th!