Even ifyou haven’t spent the majority of your life as a top-secret government asset, findinga sense of self during adolescence canbe hard enough. At the start ofSeason 3 ofStranger Things, Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) is finally getting to participate in regular teenage activities including first boyfriends and hanging out with friends without the added pressure of saving the world. However, there are still times where itfeels like she is being pulled in several different directions by the very people whohave her best interests at heartbut aren'tfactoring in her autonomy.
Clothing doesn'tnecessarily define us, but it is a way to express who we are and so far Eleven hasn't had a lot of agency in this arena either. Instead, thissartorialjourney has mirrored her integration into society as these garments are thrust upon her rather than curated carefully. Even after she escapesher experimental prison, she endsup squirreled away by Hopper (David Harbour) out in the wilderness and dressed in items that were probably his (or at least acquired from work).
Spoilers within for Season 3 ofStranger Things.
Credit: Netflix
Each season has featured aversion of the classic makeover scene, but it has taken three years for Eleven to figure out that clothing as a form of self-expression doesn't have to come from someone else's closet. Before her trip to the mall with Max, every outfit haspretty much been picked for her or is a hand-me-down of some variety. In Season 3, Eleven gets to choose her own clothes for the first time.
“How do I know... what I like?” That's the question Eleven asks Maxwhen they enter the Gapat Starcourt Mall; the sheer amount of options is incrediblyoverwhelming to this person who has never gone shopping. Rather than selecting clothes for her, Max simply responds,"You just try things on. Until you find something feels like you.” Personal style is not something Eleven has really considered before.
Credit: Netflix
In Season 1, shebounced from a hospital gown to an oversized T-shirt courtesy of Benny (Chris Sullivan) before he got gunned down. At Mike’s (Finn Wolfhard) house, she was gifted a pair of clean sweats before changing into somethingtraditionally feminineso she could blend in at their school. This was the first makeover Eleven received, which consisted of Nancy's (Natalia Dyer) oldpink dress and blonde wig. This ensemble by Season 1 costume designer Kimberly Adams — whodesigned the first four episodes —is one of the most instantly recognizable looks from the whole series.
Concepts of prettiness are instilled in us from an early age, so when the boys pick out the girliest of outfits for Eleven in “The Body,” it underscores the expectationsabout how girls are supposed to dress. They don’t think they can get her into the school unnoticed in sweats with a shaved head, but dressing her like a doll in a frock from the '70sjust alienates her further. Mike is clumsy in his reaction telling her she looks “Pretty...good.” However, this does turn into a sweet moment later on when Mike tells her she's pretty without the wig.
Credit: Netflix
The second season sidelined Eleven away from her friends whenHopper’s best intentions essentially made her a prisoner once more. When she crawled back out of the Upside Down, the pink dress was all she had, but this was quickly replaced byoversized clothing from Hopper’s cabin. The real-life doll aesthetic was replaced bytomboy attire.
Plaid shirts, baggy Adidas tees, dungarees, and grey sweatshirts madeup her Season 2 wardrobe ofborroweditems. Hopper was trying to keep her presence a secret so a shopping trip for tween girl clothes would've raised a few eyebrows.
Credit: Netflix
When Eleven did break free, she spenttime with a bunch of teens who possessed powers similar to hers in “The Lost Sister.” This episode was a series low point; instead of givingEleven more of backstory, itfelt like a backdoor pilot for a futureStranger Thingsspinoff.Rather thangiving us anyone to root for, this gang of outcasts is mostly a cartoonish and unsympathetic portrayalof 'punks.'
Eleven gets another makeover, but once again her outfit and makeup are pickedfor her. Instead of a picture of girlhood, she is now sporting slicked-back hair, super smoky eyes and black attire with the sleeves pushed up to reveal an arm full of bracelets. This costume change by designer Kim Wilcox is arguably the best thing about this story detour.
Credit: Netflix
In the Season 2 finale, Eleven has wiped off the makeup switching this act of teen rebellion for another rite-of-passage as she attends her first school dance. Her grey dress is far more age and era-appropriate than her pink number from the first season. This is the first sign that Eleven is going to experience regular activitiesrather than getting hidden away on account of her powers.
Credit: Netflix
Cut to this season!Baggy plaid shirtsare back and Elis still being kept at arm’s length from the rest of her peers. Sure, the three-inches-open-door rule makes sense, but the earlier curfew and not being able to go to the mall (there are too many people) are kind of excessive. After Mike blows her off — atthe behest of Hopper — sheturns to Max for advice. Last season pitted these two as rivals, but thankfully theshift istowards friendship this year. Instead of telling her what she should do, Max gently encourages Eleven to enjoy new experiences including the quintessential teen hangout:a day a the mall.
Awardrobe overhaul linked to a break-up or a fight is somewhat cliched, but Eleven's desire to explore what she likes is less to do with Mike and more about her burgeoning friendship with Max, as well as this path of self-discovery."I like the new look, by the way. It's cool," Mike later tells Eleven in "The Flayed." This style change-up is not about him, but she still thanks him for his compliment.Shehas come a long way since her hospital gown-clad introduction when she barely spoke a word. Now she is also discovering the language of fashion.
Credit: Netflix
As the boys trawl the stores to find a suitable apology gift from Mike to Elle,Madonna’s “Material Girl” provides the montage soundtrack. Eleven finally has a carefree momenttrying on clothes in the Gap with Max providing emotional support (and getting a pair of sunglasses). This gives costume designer Amy Parris the chance to showcase the epitome of mid-80s trendsincluding an outfit featuring the trifecta ofbraces, beret, and suspenders. Thegraphic print romper Eleven lands on from the Gap (in reality, it is fromTarget) is a fun look for Eleven, which automatically feels right. It isn’t a dress fit for a doll or an attempt at blending in with the cooler kids. Max has a strong sense of who she is, but at no point does she forceoutfits in Eleven’s direction that mirror her own. She is not stylingEleven to be amini-meinjorts and striped tees.The only time the two girlsmatch is when they both play dress-up to look like the Madonna of the “Material Girl” era. Again, this is a fun nod to the big, bold accessories and silhouettes of this periodbut without having to commit to this aesthetic full-time.
Unlike the other makeover moments from previous seasons, Season 3'sis not fraught with tension and self-doubt. Elevenis not dressing up to sneak into somewhere or pass as a regular teen. With a look she's chosen for herself, she is a regular teen.
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