‘Stranger Things’ Costume Designer Amy Parris on Curating the ‘80s-Inspired Clothes for the Final Season

For Amy Parris, “costume designers are storytellers.” That’s the approach she took to curating the wardrobe for the “Stranger Things” cast during the final season’s production. “We tell our version of the characters’ story; at times the story can be very obvious and other times it’s told subliminally through fabric type, how well clothing fits or how well the clothing is made,” she said.

The costume designer spoke with WWD about the process of curating the “Stranger Things” costumes and what audiences can expect in the final season.

(L-R) Gaten Matarazzo, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin and Noah Schnapp in “Stranger Things” Season Five.

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Parris began working on the hit Netflix series during production of the show’s third season, which takes the ensemble of actors, including stars Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Sadie Sink, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo and Noah Schnapp, on a series of summertime adventures in ’80s-set Hawkins, Ind.

“I was working in Atlanta already in another Netflix show when I got a call from my agent asking if I would be interested in interviewing for ‘Stranger Things.’ Obviously I said yes,” Parris said.

Despite the established aesthetic “look and vibe” the show already possessed following Seasons One and Two, Parris “didn’t show up empty-handed. I brought inspiration boards, knowing this next season would be a year further and in the summer. I had so much fun going through old family photos and magazines from the ’80s. I think [Matt and Ross Duffer] and producers were really excited to see the show in a light, brighter tone.”

David Harbour, left, and Millie Bobby Brown in “Stranger Things” Season Five.

Since the bright, neon-infused clothes of Season Three, however, “Stranger Things” has continued to grow darker in tone and visual language. Season Five, which is being released in three installments, has prompted fresh challenges for the costume designer and her team.

“This season finds less costume changes for all of the cast,” said Parris. “The challenge in that is making sure the outfit is something telling their story, while being pleasing to watch, comfortable for the actors to wear for all weather in Atlanta, complementary to each other as this is an ensemble cast who work together as a group and multipliable — meaning something I can find many more of or make many more of for all the stunts, blood, rifts, goo, etcetera.”

The final installment of “Stranger Things,” Parris said, “has a lot of action so many, many multiples were needed for all that the cast goes through this season.”

(L-R) Joe Keery, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Maya Hawke, Finn Wolfhard, Winona Ryder, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo and Caleb McLaughlin in “Stranger Things” Season Five.

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So much of the series’ appeal comes from its ’80s-infused pop culture references. From “A Nightmare on Elm Street” to “The Goonies” and more, ’80s cinema provided Parris with the foundation she needed to costume the final season.

“I was looking at movies with school bullies in 1987,” said Parris, who referenced films like “Three O’Clock High” for a new “Stranger Things” character named Derek, played by Jake Connelly. “When I saw Jake I realized we could go in a completely different direction. The movie ‘Adventures in Babysitting’ has a great collective color palette for fall weather. ‘Red Dawn’ is great [inspiration] as well,” said Parris.

The final season’s impending arrival has also prompted Parris to look back at the many characters she’s created through her costuming, including Joseph Quinn’s breakout role as Eddie Munson from Season Four. “I’m really happy with how he turned out because he feels so authentic to the wizard metal music dude of the ’80s that was at every high school and I’ve had so many people tell me how much they resonate with him,” Parris said.

(L to R) Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Joe Keery, Charlie Heaton, and Gaten Matarazzo in “Stranger Things” Season Five.

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Moreover, Parris reflected on how she’s been able, from Season Three to the final batch of episodes, to watch as “these characters go from adolescence to young adults and the clothing grows with them. You’ll see patterns and silhouettes change and become more mature,” Parris said.

“You’ll find a person’s disposition can be conveyed from lighter to darker colors if they are feeling angsty, like Dustin this season. From the armor as clothing Hopper wears for protection to the training gear Eleven wears to show her new strength and ability, the clothing always complements a character’s journey.”

In Season Five of “Stranger Things,” “the clothing goes through a lot,” said Parris. “Much will be revealed in the finale but I don’t want to spoil it for you!”

Millie Bobby Brown, left, and Finn Wolfhard in “Stranger Things” Season Five.

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Season Five of Netflix’s hit sci-fi series “Stranger Things” follows telekinetic teen Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, as she and her friends try to defeat the evil Vecna, played by Jamie Campbell Bower, from the Upside Down once and for all. Part One of the series is available to stream now. Part Two debuts on Dec. 25, with the series finale out Dec. 31.