Did you know how Stranger Things makes sure that fashion indeed has the power to connect generations?
The thing about fashion is that it is cyclic, which means trends come back taking over a new era. It’s funny to think that what some people wore when they were young decades ago is now part of the life of Generation Z. The ’80s were all about exaggeration, volume, vibrant colors and a lot of brightness. The media plays a significant role in this phenomenon of bringing old customs to the present.
Today, the decade’s main trends have been invading not only the main fashion weeks’ catwalks in the world but also being generated by great streaming series. So, here’s how Stranger Things brought ’80s fashion closer to Gen Z.
Stranger Things Proves We Love Nostalgia
Directed by the Duffers brothers, Stranger Things debuted on Netflix in 2016. The series has a suspenseful script that revolves around the disappearance of Will, a child who lives in Hawkins. Today, in its 4th season, the plot already straddles several thought-provoking narratives. The numbers show it as one of the most-watched series on the digital platform.
According to the producers, “the most challenging season yet, but also the most rewarding one” broke records. Stranger Things 4 — Volume 1 clocked in at 286.7 million hours viewed. CNN said that it surpassed the second season of Bridgerton, which brought in 193 million hours viewed in March.
The series catches such a big audience because it gives an 80’s TV show vibes. The whole aesthetic is exceptionally detailed and undoubtedly impacts those who lived that age, but also those who didn’t live that time. And Stranger Things brought that nostalgia to fashion too.
Why The ’80s?
So far, you understand that the ’80s were very creative and influential, having the rise of VHS marking this age. According to Katy Sommerfeld from Legacybox, “this device not only brought all of our favorite movies to the small screen in homes around the world – but it also made recording TV programs possible for the first time ever.”
The Cinema
In that decade, some of the most influential movies in history emerged and cinema audiences became more fanatical. We are talking Blade Runner (1982), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Ghostbusters (1984), Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and many more.
In fact, there are several movies and TV shows from the ’80s that the series used as inspiration. It can explain why some adults have an attachment to Stranger Things. They grew up with everything that inspired the series creators.
The Music
By the way, you’ve probably considered how many pop music artists are bringing ’80s music back. The sonority from that decade is in many great hits from the last few years. All of that proves how that age was a pioneer in many creative innovations.
And it’s not only about new artists getting into the ’80s music vibe. Since this season’s 1st volume came out, Kate Bush’s song “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” began climbing the music charts. The hit is from 1985 and warmed the hearts of two audiences: adults who used to listen to the hit on VHS and young people attached to this musical style and everything related to old school.
If you like pop culture, read this article later: Euphoria & The Male Gaze.
Stranger Things’ Impact On Fashion
Cinema, music and now fashion.
The series has had such an impact on fashion that brands created clothing lines inspired by the show. Labels such as Levi’s, Converse and Nike launched partnerships to bring to the public the ’80s unique style in the 3rd season. This year, the 4th season inspired Quicksilver to launch a line of clothing inspired by the series.
The series then created an affection of Generation Z for the fashion trends of that time, combined with the influence of the actors, who are also part of this generation. In this case, a sense of closeness is also created, in addition to a source of inspiration for the young ones.
This phenomenon allows us to reflect on how trends from decades ago come back strong. Furthermore, it reinforces the presence of affective memory to pass trends from generation to generation.
Fashion & Affective Memory
Besides the role in terms of identity, acting between the individual and society, fashion creates memory and affection.
According to the article Memory, Time and Emotion: A Concept for a Fashion Collection, “the entire human identity builds around preserving individual and collective memory in narratives, archives, photo collections, backup hard drives and artifacts.”
It means that there is an excellent alliance between clothes and affection. With that in mind, it brings us to the concept of affective memory. It happens when your senses come into contact with some element that triggers a memory.
The emotions that touching or seeing an object, listening to music or a specific sound, or feeling a smell causes in you is an affective memory. The success of ’80s clothing is mainly driven by affective memory and the power of nostalgia.
Stranger Things Season 4 Key Outfits
Stranger Things costume designer Amy Parris shared to The Upside Down Podcast that a few outfits from the series were inspired from other ’80s films, but nothing super-specific. Many outfits marked the first part of the series last season. It is fascinating how fashion is constantly circulating from time to time and how the media has an important role in this.
A few outfits were key to this season. Examples are checkerboard clothes prevalent among musicians in the ’70s and ’80s. This one seems to be Will Byers’ favorite print in the entire series. Also, Nancy Wheeler showed up with another retro denim jacket, a timeless piece.
In addition, it is impossible not to mention the many vintage t-shirts worn by the characters. The Hellfire Club shirt is one of the many vintage prints on the show and resembles rock band t-shirts from the ’80s.
But one that has taken place everywhere on the internet since the episode was released was Max Mayfield’s fun and athletic blue sweatshirt. She wore it in one of the most important moments in the show. It has a nostalgic high collar and contrast woven tape across the chest and sleeves.
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