The truth about the disastrous outfit of the female lead in Stranger Things

Eleven’s character design in Stranger Things 5 ​​is causing mixed opinions.

The sci-fi series Stranger Things 5 ​​reached 59.6 million views in the first 5 days of its release, setting a record for the best opening week for an English series on Netflix. In addition to the attractive script and impressive revenue figures, the outfit of the character Eleven (played by Millie Bobby Brown) is also receiving great attention from viewers.

In season 5, Eleven wore tiny red shorts over gray sweatpants, paired with a cropped gray sweatshirt and a dusty bandana around her neck. Because of this outfit, the hashtag #ElevenS5Outfit trended on social media platforms like X, Reddit, and TikTok with thousands of divided comments. One side loved the nostalgia, the other side mocked the fashion disaster.

Eleven’s outfit in Stranger Things 5.

Stranger Things 5 ​​has just been released but social networks have exploded with controversy because of… Eleven’s outfit.

Facing the controversy from the audience, designer Amy Parris, who is responsible for creating the 80s-inspired fashion style for Stranger Things over the past several seasons, shared with the New York Post. Amy Parris said that actress Millie Bobby Brown was not completely confident with the outfit of the character Eleven in the final season of Stranger Things.

Even the actress was quite surprised when she saw the design she prepared for Eleven and Parris herself also predicted the mixed reactions that this outfit would receive. Of course, this outfit was not “overthought”. Parris took inspiration from iconic characters of 80s fashion to create a new look for Eleven.

“It’s a mix of Josh Brolin in The Goonies and Punky Brewster, who was known for her ‘mix and match’ style of all kinds of cut-out clothes,” Parris explains. In The Goonies, Josh Brolin’s character Brand is remembered for his workout outfit: red bandana, cut-off gray T-shirt and especially black shorts worn over gray sweatpants.

Millie Bobby Brown in Stranger Things and Josh Brolin in The Goonies.

Parris added: “I find it funny because people are starting to say, ‘What, shorts over pants?’ But that was really the ’80s trend! I knew that kind of reaction would happen.” She also emphasized that the situation in the film further proves that Eleven is not a fashion-conscious person, especially when she is the only girlfriend in the group and in the situation where Max (Sadie Sink) is in a coma. “Eleven doesn’t think about dressing up. But in her situation, this is the most fashionable version of her that she can do,” Parris said.

In particular, the layering when combining multiple layers is a detail that Parris knows will easily cause controversy, even with Millie Bobby Brown. “Millie saw the initial sketch that I sent to the Duffer Brothers. Once the team agreed, we emailed it to Millie. I later learned that she had secretly emailed them privately asking, ‘Are you sure?’” Parris revealed.

Although Millie Bobby Brown was initially hesitant about Eleven’s costume, Amy Parris says she ultimately accepted it happily.

Millie Bobby Brown was also self-conscious about the outfit she wore in the film.