A Breakdown of the Best Outfits in Stranger Things 4
*no spoilers*
Stranger Things has enjoyed four seasons of success thanks to nostalgia for the lost freedom of childhood, incredible production and of course, wonderfully real characters decked out in the 80s garb (I said garb, not Barb, put the Christmas lights down). Each character has a wardrobe which relates closely to their story line and in the case of Steve’s nail spike baseball bat, or Dustin’s Thinking Cap, their clothes become inseparable from our perception of them.
<3 Steve “The Hair” Harrington <3
"Always the babysitter. Always the goddamn babysitter!"
Pretty in Pink, Tuff Turf, The Breakfast Club. In an ode to just about every John Hughes film about rich vs poor teenagers, Steve Harrington has always maintained his preppy style. While his wealthy background becomes an important factor for the Nancy and Jonathan storyline in season 2, the costume department has maintained Steve’s striped polo shirts and members only jackets into season 4. Maybe he’s a bit cooler now via association with Dustin Henderson, but he’s still our favourite babysitter. Steve pairs polo shirts with the same pair of Levi's jeans in just about every scene across 4 seasons and Nike sneakers with a red (and sometimes black) swoosh.
Robin Buckley
"Okay, I'm warning you right now, I have terrible coordination. It took me six months longer to walk than all the other babies."
She might be a klutz but that didn’t stop her from breaking a secret Russian code overheard on a radio signal, venturing into a Soviet base below Starcourt Mall and risking her life to save Hawkins in season 3. In season 4 she finally makes her way out of Scoops Ahoy and into a new job at the Family Video Rental Store where the uniforms are more about vests which let you wear blazers with shoulder pads underneath, than sailor hats and red cravats.
This season she is seen wearing a blackWrangler jacket which actress, Maya Hawke, personalised with patches. She also wears high-waisted pants with boots and is seen in a short-sleeved print shirt which she wears open over a long sleeve top.
Max Mayfield
"Whatever it is - whatever you do. Try not to miss."
Back in season 2 Max was the new girl from California, tormented by her stepdad and stepbrother, she finds solace with her new friends. She skates, she plays video games, and this season, she plays an important role integral to the season 4 plot. Though her storyline becomes much darker, aspects of her bright and colourful style remain in defiance of the sinister forces moving into her life.
She still swears by Vans, Kate Bush and horizontal stripes and this season sports a pair of high-top purple Old Skool sneakers. She also wears a bright blue and yellow colour block zip up jumper making her stand out in the dusty tones of Hawkins, Indiana.
Eddie Munson
"I say you’re asking me to follow you into Mordor. But the Shire is burning. So, Mordor it is."
Chaotic, non-conformist Eddie Munson flies in the face of convention. He’s a metal head with a music library to melt your face off, but he’s also the dungeon master of his DnD club, Hellfire. He makes casual reference to the Lord of the Rings and worships wizard metal band, Dio.
Coming into the franchise at this late stage in the 5-season run of the show, Eddie is a character who captured hearts in his first two scenes alone. He dresses like a true metal head with a leather jacket, a denim jacket which he’s cut the sleeves off and DIY details all over. In the 80s, punks and rockers were worlds apart, so Eddie wears his high-top Reeboks with the tongues pulled out, signalling a tendency towards metal. Rejecting the clean denim looks of the 80s, his black jeans are ripped at the knees. Costume designer, Amy Parris, noted that in season 4, Mike Wheeler stars wearing black jeans and Converse - his interpretation of what Eddie would wear, reflecting the influence Eddie has on his younger friends.
Lucas Sinclair
"Flay this, you ugly piece of s***!"
This season, Lucas joins the school basketball team and tries on a new, more popular group of friends but feels torn in two directions. As such he makes some subtle changes to his wardrobe. He wears a sportier crew neck jumper, green trackpants in his team colours, and forgoes the graphic t-shirts and hachimakis of his youth. In the scenes where he joins his old friends, he reverts to wearing blue denim jeans to signal that he has perhaps chosen a side.
Nancy Wheeler
“It’s not all about comfort, ok? We’re academics.”
Nancy Wheeler leads the Scooby Doo adventure portion of season 4, taking charge with her investigative journalism which proves indispensable to the plot this season. She is nearing the end of school, getting ready for college and as such her wardrobe becomes more grown up.
According to the costume department, most of Nancy’s outfits were custom made to produce a look that is both undeniably 80s, but also put-together. She wears blue leather slouch boots with a matching belt. In keeping with the other seasons, Nancy wears stripes in the battle scenes, this time in the form of a cowl neck jumper. During the first episode she can be seen wearing a t-shirt with the crest of Emerson College on it, showing her big plans for the future.
Argyle
"Hold onto your butts, brochachos."
Argyle is Jonathan’s closest friend in Lenora, California, where the Buyers’ relocated with Eleven after the events of season 3. Save for a bad habit or two, Argyle is the sage, providing the boys with pizza, transportation, and subtle wisdom on their quest. He wears the yellow and red uniform for the Pizza Boy shop he works for with a white long sleeve layered underneath. He also wears a yellow visor (backwards and sometimes upside down), loud, patterned pants and low-top Converse. Argyle became an instant fan favourite with some of the best dialogue, the best fits, and definitely the best hair.
