How “The Goonies” Shaped Stranger Things Season 5: The Story Behind the Iconic ’80s-Inspired Look

1. A Nostalgic Revival: Why Season 5 Looks to 1980s Movies

The final season of Stranger Things (Season 5) isn’t just about wrapping up supernatural storylines — it also delivers a powerful dose of 1980s nostalgia, especially in its costume design. The show’s costume designer, Amy Parris, confirmed that some of the most talked-about outfits in Season 5 were directly inspired by beloved ’80s films and TV shows.

This creative direction aligns with the series’ long history of paying homage to ’80s pop culture. Over the years, Stranger Things has woven in visual cues from horror flicks, adventure movies, and teen dramas of that decade — in its wardrobes, hairstyles, set design, and general mood. For Season 5, Parris and the design team dug deep into that cultural memory, pulling from a wide range of references to shape a world that feels authentically 1980s while still grounded in the show’s alternate-reality vibe.

The aim: evoke the feeling of 1980s America in small, nuanced ways — sometimes through a bandanna, other times through a worn-out sweatshirt — reminding longtime fans why the show captured their hearts in the first place.

2. The Mix That Sparked Buzz: The New Look of Eleven

One of the most striking wardrobe choices in Season 5 belongs to Eleven (played by Millie Bobby Brown). In several new episodes, she appears wearing a distinctive combo: little red shorts layered over grey sweatpants, paired with a cropped grey top. It’s an unusual — even jarring — look by modern standards, but in the context of 1980s fashion, it’s a deliberate throwback.

Parris explained that this outfit was a mash-up inspired by two ’80s icons: the character Brand (played by Josh Brolin) in the 1985 film The Goonies and the titular character from the TV sitcom Punky Brewster (portrayed by Soleil Moon Frye). According to Parris:

“[It’s] a mix of Josh Brolin from The Goonies and then Punky Brewster, with her mish-mash of cut-up clothes that she just kind of grabbed as she went.”

In “The Goonies,” Brand’s look included a red bandana, a cropped grey T-shirt, and shorts over sweatpants—very similar to Eleven’s Season 5 outfit.

Not surprisingly, the reveal of this new style generated a strong reaction online. Comments ranged from surprise and confusion — “shorts over sweatpants?” — to appreciation

Interestingly, Brown herself was initially unsure about the outfit. After seeing the concept art, she apparently emailed the show’s creators privately, asking, “Are you sure about this?” But once she tried it on and saw how it looked — comfortable and unique — she eventually embraced the bold choice.

3. Beyond Eleven: A Full ’80s Wardrobe to Match Mood and Story

The homage to ’80s fashion in Season 5 isn’t limited to Eleven. The entire cast — from the core group to newer characters — benefits from a wardrobe curated to reflect the decade’s mood, tone, and storytelling needs.

For example:

• Some of the show’s other characters get outfits that draw on a range of 1980s film references, depending on their role and arc in Season 5. Parris mentioned productions such as Three O’Clock High and Adventures in Babysitting among the inspirations when designing for certain new–season characters.
• For returning characters and ensemble scenes, costume choices reflect both continuity with past seasons and the darker, more serious turn of Season 5’s narrative — meaning fewer playful mall-clothes and more grounded, rugged, or worn-in style.
• The design team even used real vintage items or replicas thereof, to stay true to 1980s fabric, cut, and feel. For instance, denim from the ’80s era was sought — because “denim in the ’80s was really narrow in the hips for men,” a detail the designers considered important for authenticity.

All these choices underscore that costumes in Stranger Things are more than just clothes — they’re part of world-building, helping immerse the audience in time and place, even as the story blends supernatural horror with teenage angst.

4. Intentional Risk: Why Parris Expected a Reaction

Designing for such a popular show — especially at its concluding season — comes with pressure. Opting for outfits that look “wrong” by modern standards, but “right” for the 1980s, was always going to be a risk. For Parris, though, it was intentional — and part of the narrative.

As mentioned, the “shorts over sweats” look got immediate reactions. Some fans questioned whether it made sense; others wondered if it fit Eleven’s personality. But Parris stood by it: it wasn’t about making Eleven fashionable — it was about showing who she was in that moment of the story: unpolished, a bit lost, and disconnected from conventional teenage trends (especially considering her friend Max’s serious situation this season).

Moreover, the choice helped reinforce the era. The layered, somewhat mismatched clothing — shorts over sweatpants, cropped tops, bandanas — all worked as shorthand for 1980s youth culture, blending comfort, practicality, and a free-spirited DIY aesthetic. Parris admitted she “knew this would be the reaction,” but that’s exactly why she chose it.

In an interview, she also added that once Brown tried the outfit, she recognized how “cute” and “comfortable” it was — a point that helped the actress commit to the look.

5. The Power of Costume: How Fashion Can Tell a Story — and Conclude One

At its core, the decision to lean heavily on ’80s inspiration for Season 5 wardrobes is more than a stylistic flourish — it’s storytelling. Over the course of Stranger Things, outfits have helped express character evolution, mood shifts, and emotional weight. For Season 5, that tradition continues, but with extra resonance as the show heads toward its finale.

Through wardrobe choices like Eleven’s “shorts over sweatpants” or the subtle design cues in supporting characters’ outfits, the show evokes a sense of time, place, and cultural identity. It reminds viewers of the ’80s not just as a backdrop, but as a lived-in world full of tangible texture — worn denim, loose sweatshirts, DIY layering.

Furthermore, by using references like The Goonies and Punky Brewster (both emblematic of 1980s youth and adventure), the costumes echo the themes of friendship, escapism, and resilience that define Stranger Things. They contribute to the show’s emotional impact, grounding supernatural elements in relatable human norms — what kids wore, how they hid, how they coped.

In short: the final season’s wardrobe is a homage, a narrative device, and a fan-pleaser all at once — blending comfort, nostalgia, and story in every stitch.

From: Teetopiaworldus