Wherever Hailey Bieber's Gap jeans go, the flip-flops trend follows. But when Kaia Gerber or Zendaya style summer denim, don't expect them to follow suit in open-toe shoes. This year, Hollywood's most stylish stocked up on warm-weather flats, leaving pedicure-forward sandal trends behind them.

While Bieber rotated between her favorite kitten heel and sky-high flip-flops, other VIPs held down the flats fort in closed-toe styles that will remain in rotation through winter. Gigi Hadid wore the soft loafers trend with everything, but especially sky blue denim; Zendaya's baggy jeans and Maison Margiela Tabi Ballet Flats proved they're a match made in freaky shoe heaven; and Gerber stayed loyal to the ballet flats she designed with French footwear brand Repetto.

Don't expect Bieber to retire jeans and flip-flops outfits anytime soon. (Seriously, the uniform even starred in her Gap campaign.) However, if you have ballet flat separation issues or your pedicure could use a touch-up, you can still style denim The It Girl Way: by studying and shopping the summer flats trends below.

Gigi Hadid's Summer Jeans and Loafers

Toward the end of spring 2026, Zoë Kravitz, Jennifer Lawrence, and Gigi Hadid made the soft loafers trend a must-have for fashion-forward New Yorkers. Hadid, for one, didn't hibernate ruched high-vamp slippers for summer. Days before the 2026 Met Gala, her beloved burgundy pair from Miu Miu matched the nostalgic feel of her striped Guest In Residence top and flared Frame jeans.

Zendaya's Summer Jeans and Tabi Ballet Flats

Maison Margiela Tabis are right next to Christian Louboutins on Zendaya's press tour packing list. Before The Odyssey, she saved spots in her luggage for two pairs from the brand, including split-toe loafers and matching ballet flats. The actress's velvet plum purple ballerinas embarked on their own epic journey, appearing beneath plenty of light-wash denim looks.

Kendall Jenner's Summer Jeans and The Row Loafers

Meanwhile, Kendall Jenner traded the soft loafers trend for The Row's sold-out Canal style, which features more structured soles and black leather toe boxes. By pairing the loafers with cigarette jeans, a black bowling bag, and the perfect white tee, Jenner looked fresh from a '90s J.Crew catalog.

Dakota Johnson's Summer Jeans and High-Vamp Flats

If Dakota Johnson could've attended Taylor Swift's wedding with high-vamp flats as her plus-one, I believe she would've. The summer 2026 shoe trend rarely leaves her side. Just last week, Phoebe Philo's Gathered Flats (beloved by Rihanna, Tracee Ellis Ross, Bieber, and more) elevated her Levi's jeans.

Kaia Gerber's Summer Jeans and Block-Heel Ballet Flats

Kaia Gerber's denim collection gives Bieber some competition, at least where the sheer amount of shades and silhouettes are concerned. However, for each jeans outfit, Gerber returns to the Kaia Ballet Flats from her recent collaboration with Repetto.

The black suede style has everything you know and love about the classic ballet flats—including rounded toes and bow-tied vamps—but with distinct block heels. Since they stand less than 0.8 inches tall, yes, the shoes are still considered ballet flats. Itty-bitty heels can't hurt when you're sporting something as striking as the Chanel Maxi Flap Bag.

Millie Bobby Brown's Summer Jeans and Ballet Flats

The "baggiest bottoms of the season" trophy goes to Millie Bobby Brown's date-night look. The actress and her husband, Jake Bongiovi, matched each other's black-top-and-blue-jeans energy, but Brown cuffed her oversized hems to reveal a pair of leather ballet flats.

Instead of kicking up her heels after promoting Enola Holmes 3 on June 25, Millie Bobby Brown slipped into something more comfortable for the after-party. The actor's third and final outfit of the day also happened to be the most revealing: a naked, lingerie-leaning skirt set from It girl-beloved brand Mirror Palais.

To demonstrate just how sheer her after-party pick was, you must first see her red carpet gown at the New York City premiere. Stylist Summer Lahti tapped Brown's wedding dress designer, Galia Lahav, for what the label called "another unforgettable moment" on Instagram.

Channeling her wedding dress's intricate corsetry, the custom sweetheart neckline fit the Stranger Things alum like a glove. Glossy, cool-blue satin debuted in horizontal drapery, before giving way to the skirt's vertical, free-flowing pleats. Her waistband's slouchy bow helped marry the contrasting patterns. Once the silky train swept the carpet, the bottom layer's hidden petticoat revealed itself to be matte and semi-sheer. Perhaps Brown was teasing her after-hours attire?

Brown's premiere style did a complete 180 before the after-party. So much so, you'd think the two events weren't related at all. That's the beauty of after-party fashion, though. There's rarely a dress code, meaning Brown had full creative control. Plus, who's going to tell the star of Enola Holmes 3 to change?

She looked ready for a romantic, end-of-vacation dinner with her husband, Jake Bongiovi, in the matching Amantes set from Mirror Palais. Both separates were almost completely sheer, starting with an almost sold-out long-sleeve. The nude-tinted mesh clung to her figure like second skin. Then, floral lace appliqués—sprinkled in moderation atop her bust and waist—covered only what was necessary.

Brown coupled her top with the knee-length skirt, which featured the same mesh-and-lace combination. The only difference? The top of the 22-year-old's midi became increasingly opaque, thanks to a silk charmeuse-wrapped waistband. Brown's nude color story continued with an ultra-strappy take on the heeled flip-flops trend. To finish, she upped the Euro summer-ready energy with NYC-based brand Epona Valley's take on the head scarf trend tied around her beachy waves.

Mirror Palais has created quite a name for itself among fashion girls like Sabrina Carpenter, Barbara Palvin, Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa, Charli xcx, and more. Brown, for one, is especially fond of the New York label's after-party options. Last October, she celebrated the end of Stranger Things in a burgundy, lace-trimmed corset and a matching micro skirt from Mirror Palais. It seems her latest naked look will share its sold-out status in no time.

Brown's Mirror Palais pick took her recent naked dress streak to a whole new level of risqué. Her Bronx Banco gown during last year's Stranger Things press tour was partially transparent, but still relatively layered. If any designer can awaken an A-lister's sultry side, it's Mirror Palais. Carpenter and Lipa can't say no to the catalog's newest naked dresses.

10 years, 42 episodes, one stage play, and a whole lot of demogorgons have brought us here: the very last episode of Stranger Things. Netflix dropped season 5, episode 8 of the sci-fi series on New Year’s Eve, and, as the world prepared to count down the final hours of 2025, fans gathered around their screens at home—or, for some, in movie theaters—to find out what would happen when Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Will (Noah Schnapp), and the rest of the Hawkins gang as they faced off against Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) one last time.

Clocking in at over two hours long, the final episode of the hit series covers a lot of ground, including the climactic battle for Hawkins, Indiana (and the fate of humanity, no big deal) and its aftermath, closing with a lengthy epilogue that tries to offer a fitting farewell for each of these characters.

So, if you’re ready to enter the Upside Down one last time, make yourself an Eggo and read on as we break down what happens in the Stranger Things finale, “The Rightside Up.”

How does the gang save Hawkins in the 'Stranger Things' finale?

Obviously, yes, our heroes were going to pull through and save the world. In season 5’s volume 2 episode batch, a plan is hatched to stop Vecna from merging our world with the Abyss, the dystopian alternate dimension that’s home to the Mind Flayer, Vecna, and other creatures we’ve met, like the demogorgons. They intend to do so by blowing up the Upside Down, which is actually a wormhole connecting the Abyss to Hawkins. The keys to making that happen, naturally, are Eleven and her “sister”/fellow test subject, Kali (Linnea Berthelsen).

In the Upside Down, Hopper (David Harbour), Eleven, Kali, and Murray (Brett Gelman) head to Hawkins Lab so Eleven can take one last dunk in the sensory deprivation tank. Once in the Void, she, Kali, and Max (Sadie Sink) jump into Vecna/Henry Creel’s mind to find his memory of the Creel house, which is where he’s holding the 12 Hawkins kids he kidnapped to use as “vessels.”

As this is all happening, the rest of the gang has climbed the radio tower, where the Abyss crashes into the needle. For a moment, things look bleak—Steve (Joe Keery) is almost thrown off the edge, but is saved by Jonathan (Charlie Heaton)—but at the last instant, Eleven attacks Henry inside his mind and gets the children out of his grasp, stopping the collision before it truly takes out all our friends. They all then jump from the Upside Down into the Abyss to take out Vecna and the Mind Flayer once and for all.

After that triumph, it’s time for Murray’s explosives—set to detonate at the end of a listen to Prince’s Purple Rain—to eliminate the Upside Down for good.

How does Vecna die in the 'Stranger Things' finale?

This was the big battle everyone was waiting for. When the Hawkins crew enters the Abyss, they discover the tree-like structure known as Vecna’s lair is the Mind Flayer, in all its creepy, monstrous glory. While Eleven—who jumped from the Upside Down to the Abyss to join the fight—battles with Vecna inside the monster’s body, everyone else works to take it down from the outside. Nancy (Natalia Dyer) volunteers herself as bait, going full Ripley-in-Aliens with a machine gun to lure it into a cavern so everyone else can attack with everything they’ve got. (One of the highlights of the episode was Dustin stabbing at its underside, yelling, “This is for Eddie, you son of a bitch!”)

Both Vecna and the Mind Flayer feel the attacks—though, oddly, they don’t seem to impact Will, even though he’s tapped into the hive mind and using his powers to help in the fight. As Eleven and Vecna duke it out, Will taps into his mind and turns the tide: With his powers holding back Vecna’s attacks, Will and Eleven are able to rip Vecna’s arms off and impale him on a tree. But it’s Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) who delivers the final blow, channeling all the rage over what this monster did to her family into hacking his head off with a hatchet. (Go Joyce!)

How are Vecna and the Mind Flayer connected in 'Stranger Things?' And what really happened in that cave?

Despite all the fanfare about the play Stranger Things: The First Shadow being canon, this is the one place where those storylines really connect. The Netflix series teased bits of Henry Creel's backstory and how he became Vecna, but now we get the full story of what happened in that cave in Nevada and why that memory was so traumatic for him. When Henry opens the briefcase that the scientist was holding, what’s inside is particles from the Mind Flayer, which enter the young boy through the bullet hole in his hand. The Mind Flayer then bids Henry to find it, corrupting him and turning him to the dark side.

So, as Vecna explains to Will when he’s inside his mind, he doesn’t control the Mind Flayer and the Mind Flayer doesn’t control him: They’re one entity, hellbent on destroying humanity. Still, Will tries to appeal to the boy Henry once was—he was manipulated by the Mind Flayer, the same way he manipulated Will and the other children. He doesn’t buy it, though: He’s already too far gone.

What happens to Holly and the other kidnapped kids in the 'Stranger Things' finale?

As it turns out, Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) really lived up to her “Holly the Heroic” moniker! Let’s backtrack a bit: When they’re still trapped in the Creel home, Kali uses her powers to turn them invisible so they can see for themselves that Henry is the true monster. They then escape towards the cave, first helped by Eleven, Kali, and Max, but then when they get kicked out of Henry’s mind, Holly has to take over. She leads them through the cave, into the mine shaft and away to safety. When the Mind Flayer is defeated, Team Hawkins cuts them all down from where they were being held in Vecna’s lair and everyone goes home unharmed.

What happens to Eleven in the 'Stranger Things' finale?

Well, this is the question, so let’s get into it. Going into the big battle, Kali tells Eleven that they both should sacrifice themselves when the Upside Down is destroyed, so the military can’t keep experimenting with their blood to try and create new children with abilities. Kali is shot before the plan gets to that critical moment, but the point is that she had made her choice to die so nobody else would suffer like they did. But what about Eleven? Hopper begs her not to do it, saying she should fight for the better days waiting for them on the other side of this mess.

But once the C-4 is set to obliterate the Upside Down, Team Hawkins is ambushed the moment they cross back into the real world. Dr. Kay (Linda Hamilton) and her goons are all looking for Eleven, who’s nowhere to be found—until Mike (Finn Wolfhard) spots her on the other side of the gate, which is about to be blown to bits. She pulls Mike into the void, where they share a tearful goodbye, and everyone else watches on in horror as the Upside Down is obliterated and she disappears with it.

If that sounds tragic, that’s because it is. But is that really how her story ends? At the end of the episode, as the crew plays the last of their Dungeons & Dragons campaign, Mike uses the game to offer up a different story: one where Kali casts one final illusion before her death, letting everyone see a fake Eleven perish while the real one escapes. In this version, she moves somewhere far away from Hawkins, to a small village where she’s finally safe.

So, which story do you believe? The episode leaves things open for viewers to decide for themselves.

And what happens to everyone else in the 'Stranger Things' finale?

The back half of the episode flashes forward 18 months to explain what happens to the rest of the Hawkins kids. Whether that’s satisfying or feels like too much exposition at the end of what’s already a very long episode is, like Eleven’s fate, up to you to decide. But here’s what we learn:

Max and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) are together and happy, finally getting their long-awaited movie date; Mike continues his passion for storytelling, becoming a writer; Will moves away to a bigger city where he feels accepted, feeling comfortable enough to chat with a guy in a bar; and Dustin goes off to college, but caps off their Hawkins High education as the class valedictorian, giving an epic graduation speech that ends with him ripping open his robe to show a “Hellfire Lives” T-shirt. Dustin also still finds time for adventures with Steve, who stayed in Hawkins to become a teacher and little league coach.

Meanwhile, Nancy drops out of Emerson College to take a job at a newspaper, Jonathan goes to NYU to study filmmaking, and Robin is enrolled at Smith College. They agree to meet up once a month at Robin’s weird uncle’s house in Philadelphia, which is apparently the most central meeting point for everyone.

As for Hopper and Joyce, now that they’re empty nesters, they decide to move to Montauk, New York, where Hopper was offered a job as chief of police. (As eagle-eyed fans have pointed out, this seems to be an Easter egg reference to the first iteration of the show, once under the working title Montauk, and taking inspiration from the government program known as the Montauk Project, which researched parapsychology like the Hawkins lab.) Before they leave town, though, Hopper pops the question during a dinner date at Enzo’s.

How does the 'Stranger Things' finale end?

The final moments of the episode are poignant and fitting for the epic story we’ve just sat through. After Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Max tearfully finish their D&D campaign—the one where Mike offers up that hopeful ending for Eleven—the group puts their books on the Wheelers’ basement shelf one by one, saying goodbye just like we are. As they go upstairs, though, Holly, Derek (Jake Connelly), and their friends rush down to start their own D&D campaign, with this younger generation now taking their place and embarking on an epic adventure of their own.

After a 10-month hiatus, Moon Boot season has officially returned to New York City's street style scene. Millie Bobby Brown took it upon herself to revive the seasonal staple this week, with boots from a rare Chloé collaboration.

The Stranger Things actor styled her spaceman shoes on December 10, marking their second appearance this month. The circa-1969 boots were made to be worn with her comfy-cozies, beginning with a sherpa zip-up in baby blue. She paired it with baggy white sweatpants—the personalized pair she created before her May 2024 wedding, to be exact.

Brown could've popped on Ugg slippers and called it a day, but instead, she embraced her inner fashion girl: She brought Chloé's boho-chic collaboration with Moon Boots out of retirement. Her limited-edition, $1,025 pair mirrored Moon Boots' iconic yet cartoonish shape, from rounded toe boxes to lace-up shafts. The only difference? Brown calfskin leather replaced the brand's usual suede or nylon finish. Ivory shearling covered each boot's upper, before lining the entire ankle-grazing interior. Both Chloé and Moon Boots' logos were impossible to miss on either ankle.

As you can probably imagine, Brown's Moon Boots were the It-shoe of the Fall 2021 season. So, Chloé gave them a proper Paris Fashion Week close-up during the Fall 2021 runway show. The same Moon Boots—with slightly darker shearling—debuted alongside oversize patchwork coats, knitted maxi dresses, and boho handbags aplenty. The presentation also introduced chocolate brown Moon Boots topped with multi-color yarn instead of shearling. Should Chloé and Moon Boots team up again, house-slipper supporters would snatch up the shoes in a heartbeat.

Chloé's Moon Boots haven't been shoppable for years, but luckily for fans, the footwear brand collaborated with Gigi Hadid's Guest In Residence on a surprisingly similar line. Last month, Moon Boots married its nostalgic charm with Guest In Residence's prep, bringing 17 snow-proof styles to life. Knee-highs, ankle boots, and even mules built the Winter 2025 collection. Some silhouettes boasted statement laces, shoe charms, and even fur, while others were entirely lace-less.

Thanks to Millie Bobby Brown, Moon Boots are back in our orbit. (We haven't seen them in public since February, when Dua Lipa tested a puffed-up pair.) While you await their next landing, treat yourself to a best-selling Moon Boot or two, below.

Shop Moon Boots Inspired by Millie Bobby Brown

Time to grab your nail bats and steel yourself for the Upside Down: Stranger Things season 5 is here! Over three years since season 4 and nine years since it became a cultural phenomenon, the Netflix original series began its final season on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. However, as fans who impatiently logged on to Netflix that morning discovered, the release dates and times for season 5 are a bit complicated.

To celebrate the end of one of its biggest shows, Netflix seems to want Stranger Things season 5 to dominate our holiday viewing schedules. So, fans who planned to, you know, spend time with family and friends on the most festive days of the year, will have to decide between watching the ball drop or watching the people of Hawkins (hopefully) defeat Vecna once and for all.

Read on for everything you need to know about Stranger Things season 5, from what time the episodes drop to how late fans should expect to stay up watching.

When does each episode of 'Stranger Things' season 5 arrive on Netflix?

Netflix will release Stranger Things season 5 in three parts, with each installment pegged to a major U.S. holiday. The first four episodes arrived on November 26, 2025, the day before Thanksgiving, and the next three will hit the streamer on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025.

The super-sized series finale is set to arrive on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2025.

What time does 'Stranger Things' season 5 arrive on Netflix?

Each installment of Stranger Things season 5 will arrive on Netflix at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on its respective release day. With this primetime scheduling, the final season eschews Netflix's typical practice of dropping new shows at midnight PT on the day of release. (Tudum has a handy countdown clock for anyone who struggles with time zones.)

Here are the full details of Stranger Things season 5's release schedule:

• Volume 1 (Episodes 1-4): November 26, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
• Volume 2 (Episodes 5-7): December 25, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
• The Finale (Episode 8): December 31, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT

How long are the 'Stranger Things' season 5 episodes?

Leading up to season 5, the Duffer Brothers have been clear that the final season of Stranger Things will include longer episodes, similar to season 4. In October, Ross Duffer revealed the runtimes for the first four episodes, dispelling rumors that each episode would be at least 90 minutes long.

Here are the confirmed Stranger Things season 5 episode runtimes and titles:

• Chapter One: The Crawl – 1 hour, 8 minutes
• Chapter Two: The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler – 54 minutes
• Chapter Three: The Turnbow Trap – 1 hour, 6 minutes
• Chapter Four: Sorcerer – 1 hour, 23 minutes
• Chapter Five: Shock Jock – TBC
• Chapter Six: Escape from Camazotz – TBC
• Chapter Seven: The Bridge – TBC
• Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up – 2 hours, 5 minutes

Is the 'Stranger Things' finale going to be in theaters?

Yes! Netflix and the Duffer Brothers are bringing the Stranger Things series finale to select theaters in the U.S. and Canada. The fan screenings will show the final episode in more than 500 theaters on December 31 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, timed to the finale’s global premiere on Netflix at the same time. If you already have NYE plans, additional screenings will also take place throughout the day on January 1.

The full list of theater locations is now available at ST5finale.com.

"We’re beyond excited that fans will have the chance to experience the final episode of Stranger Things in theaters," series creators Matt and Ross Duffer said. "Getting to see it on the big screen, with incredible sound, picture, and a room full of fans, feels like the perfect…way to celebrate the end of this adventure."

Millie Bobby Brown's starring role in Stranger Things gave fans a front-row seat to her fashion evolution. Over the course of five seasons, she's traded in light-up sneakers and sequins for naked dresses aplenty. Now, the 21-year-old is saying goodbye to the Stranger Things-verse a full-blown style muse.

Brown reunited with her castmates at the London premiere on November 13, just two hours north of her hometown, Bournemouth. Fans suspected it would be a homecoming to watch on the style front. The actor proved them right the moment she stepped foot on the black carpet. Brown's stylist, Ryan Young, followed her fashion "funeral" briefing with her third black gown since Nov. 6, courtesy of Ashi Studio.

Look 17 from the Fall 2025 Couture collection began with a strapless corset, featuring a satin, champagne-colored foundation. Black tulle—including more opaque, vertical boning—garnished the cinched waist and ultra-padded hips.

Three-dimensional balconette wiring extended far beyond Brown's bust, revealing satin, sweetheart-shaped cups. Zoom in and you'll see the tulle was slightly distressed. Every element—from top to bottom—was still intentionally situated, while finishing touches looked fresh from a trip to the Upside Down.

As demonstrated on the Couture catwalk, Brown's floor-length skirt was less a skirt and more strategically-placed tulle. Partially transparent mesh was delicately draped from one hip to another. Then, the high-low train took over. Beige mesh lined the underlay of the cascading black fabric, adding dimension just like the corset. It appeared to boast metallic boning—similar to that of an umbrella—which kept the floor-length skirt voluminous as she walked.

Brown's custom patent pumps from Aldo were impossible to miss even under her billowing train. (According to the footwear label, each heel was embroidered with a small "011," an obvious homage to her character, Eleven.)

Ashi Studio is every bit a master corsetière—a fact universally-acknowledged by the Netflix's Gen Z stars. In late July, Jenna Ortega sourced the same Fall 2025 Couture line for the closing look: a hypnotizing latex gown, featuring a peplumed waist cincher. Hoop-like panniers stretched out from either hip, which drew viewers' eyes to the burnt hem. It wasn't your traditional corset, like the one modeled by Brown, but it created a similar fit-and-flare silhouette.

The Parisian label has undoubtedly won over Gen Z-aged fashion girls, mainly because of its couture-level corsetry. Everyone from Hailey Bieber to Raye has sourced the same Fall 2025 line. With nearly 30 designs to choose from, Ashi Studio's celebrity streak shows zero signs of slowing down. Before the Stranger Things Season 5 premiere trail wraps up, Millie Bobby Brown might even wear another one.

The naked dress trend simply won't quit. Just recently, we've seen Jenna Ortega, Hunter Schafer, and, now, Millie Bobby Brown spearhead its millionth coming. In fact, the Stranger Things actor wore not one, but two naked dresses in one week, setting a surprisingly sultry tone for Season 5's press tour.

Netflix went all in on "For Your Consideration" promo this weekend, hosting pre-award season events for Monster: The Ed Gein Story, Wednesday, and Stranger Things. On November 8, the latter cast took center stage, with Brown leading the charge. Stylist Ryan Young dressed the 21-year-old in a Bronx and Banco Fall 2025 gown with a mesh gridlock of sequins molded into a deep V-shaped neckline. A black velvet bow adorned waist, giving the risqué dress trend a festive, holiday-ready finish.

On the runway, a black thong peeked through the Bronx and Banco gown's floor-length skirt. Brown opted for an illusion nude underlay, which added a more modest look. It still felt in line with the naked dress trend, though. If you want the look, the Liora—minus a nude slip—is available for purchase, priced at $920. (Peek-a-boo underwear not included.)

In lieu of a statement necklace, Brown kept the attention on the near-navel-length neckline, and frosted herself in diamond hoop earrings instead. Also impossible to miss: her three-carat cushion-cut engagement ring—its halo setting on a pavé band sparkling just as much as the sequined Bronx and Banco number.

Brown has pledged allegiance to naked dressing long ago—at award shows, movie premieres, and date nights with husband Jake Bongiovi. This year especially, she's been on a see-through streak: During her blonde bombshell era, she cosplayed Gwyneth Paltrow in a transparent Giorgio Armani gown also worn by the actor at The Electric State premiere in February.

Weeks later, Brown presented Sabrina Carpenter with a 2025 BRIT Award in a sheer chainmail moment from Annie's Ibiza. (The back of the cowl-neck gown revealed a matching G-string thong.) While on-trend, it came with some backlash from critics, journalists, and so-called fans.

Two days after the 2025 BRITs, Brown addressed the "bullying" with a vulnerable Instagram video. "Disillusioned people can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman on her terms, not theirs," she shared. "I refuse to apologize for growing up. I will not be shamed for how I look, how I dress, or how I present myself."

Since then, Brown has stayed loyal to dressing unapologetically. Just last week, at the Stranger Things premiere, Brown stole the show in a custom Rodarte gown featuring sheer lace paneling. All in all, Brown (and other Gen Z'ers) reserve the right to wear whatever they want—no questions asked.

It's the end of the Stranger Things world as we know it. Season 5's release on November 26 marks the series' finale, meaning it's almost time to bid farewell to Eleven, Nancy Wheeler, and Joyce Byers (to name a few fan-favorite characters). So the star-studded cast is giving Stranger Things a proper send-off, beginning with the L.A. premiere on November 6.

The TCL Chinese Theatre transformed into the Upside Down, where sentient vines, membranes, and Demogorgons blanketed each backdrop. For Millie Bobby Brown, the premiere acted as "the funeral of the show." So, she dressed the part in a dramatic noir gown from Rodarte. "This dress embodies the darkness of the show this season," Brown told Variety on the carpet, while showcasing its corseted, lace foundation and ostrich feather embellishments.

Winona Ryder also followed Brown's funeral memo in all-black attire, courtesy of Timeless Vixen, a secondhand store in Beverly Hills. For Ryder, stylist Erica Cloud tracked down a skirt set from Yohji Yamamoto Spring 1998, which looked good as new. Jenna Ortega's stylist, Enrique Melendez—who has a fair share of black looks under his belt—teamed up with 19-year-old Priah Ferguson. She turned heads in a lace and pinstripe two-piece from ALISADUDAJ.

The Upside Down is looking mighty stylish so far—it almost makes fans forget about the looming "darkness" ahead. While you await Part One's release later this month, applaud the best red carpet looks from Season 5's first premiere.

Millie Bobby Brown wearing Rodarte

The British actor arrived early at the Season 5 premiere, ready for the "funeral"—her words, not mine. Stylist Ryan Young brought her look to life, starting with an off-the-shoulder Rodarte gown. The balconette bodice featured illusion lace, decorated with feather strands atop her hips and neckline. Diamond drop earrings from Chopard made up for her lack of necklace tenfold.

Winona Ryder wearing vintage Yohji Yamamoto

Always on board for monochromatic black, the Beetlejuice star styled a buttoned-up skirt set from Yohji Yamamoto Spring 1998. A peplum-ish waistline added some dimension to the singular color story.

Natalia Dyer wearing Vivienne Westwood

Stylist Brad Goreski proved Natalia Dyer is always one-to-watch on a red carpet. She broke up the funeral-worthy fashion in a blood red dress from Vivienne Westwood. The ombré train extending from her cinched skirt billowed behind her with each step. Strappy Jimmy Choo sandals and Cartier earrings acted as her only accessories.

Maya Hawke wearing Prada

Prada dressed brand ambassador Maya Hawke for her umpteenth Hollywood affair this year. This time, she elevated the naked dressing trend with a mint green gown—its sheer organza chiffon revealed black lingerie underneath.

Sadie Sink wearing Prada

Sadie Sink, one of Prada's newest ambassadors, also sourced the French label for the Season 5 soirée. Stylist Molly Dickson—who's simultaneously dressing Sydney Sweeney on her Christy press tour—outfitted her in a white skirt set. Its triangular bralette shined with silver rhinestones, which matched the high-rise waist of her shift skirt. She opted out of jewelry entirely, to ensure her set took center stage.

Priah Ferguson wearing ALISADUDAJ

Ferguson, who portrays Erica Sinclair in Stranger Things, made quite an impression on the red carpet. Melendez chose a halter-neck number from ALISADUDAJ on her behalf. Its partially-sheer lace bodice juxtaposed a pinstripe skirt, in black with crimson stripes.

If there’s a floral hair clip within the vicinity, I will find it, and thankfully, Millie Bobby Brown has done the legwork for me this go-round. On Mar. 27, the actor was spotted at the Miami Open with her husband Jake Bongiovi, and the pair was completely immersed in conversation. Brown, who has been spotted in various hairstyles and colors over the last few months, went back to her roots, opting to wear her natural espresso brown hair color for the event. She kept her hairstyle simple with a sleek updo, but the star of the show was the massive flower hair clip that immediately stole my heart.

Brown’s accessory looks like a small bouquet of flowers glued onto a clip, and it felt like the elevated version of the hair pin trend that we saw this past winter. She opted for red roses, matching her sunglasses and striped dress for the outdoor event. Her minimal makeup,. including a subtle flush of rosy color on the lips and cheeks, completed her look, and I couldn’t be more obsessed.

Brown has been experimenting quite a bit with her hair lately, and I’ve been loving the results. Most recently, she was spotted in a blond bob while at a Florence by Mills event. Before that, she’d worn everything from space buns to waves—even throwing a classic Pamela Anderson updo into the mix as well. There’s been a ton of hair inspiration coming out of Hollywood recently, and I’ve been slowly curating a list of over-the-top hair accessories that I plan to pair with each style. If you’re also ready to overhaul your hair drawer, keep reading to see which items I have my eyes on for a new hair accessory to add to my collection.

Millie Bobby Brown has had enough of people criticizing her appearance and frankly, so have I. On Mar. 4, the actor took to Instagram to share her thoughts on the harsh judgement she has recently received as she’s been on the press tour for her new movie The Electric State. Brown called out specific articles that used her name in the headlines for clicks, while simultaneously disparaging how she looks.

“Let’s talk about the articles, the headlines, the people who are so desperate to tear young women down,” Brown says in the clip, citing many of the stories and their writers. “‘Why are Gen Zers like Millie Bobby Brown Ageing so Badly?’ by Lydia Hawken. ‘What Has Millie Bobby Brown Done to Her Face?’ by John Ely. ‘Millie Bobby Brown Mistaken for Someone’s Mom as She Guides Younger Sister Ava Through LA’ by Cassie Carpenter. ‘Little Britain’s Matt Lucas Takes Savage Swipe at Millie Bobby Brown’s New “Mommy Makeover” Look’ written by Bethan Edwards.”

The actor went on to question why her appearance continues to create so much controversy, likening the articles to bullying instead of true journalism. “The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, and my choices, is disturbing,” Brown says. “The fact that some of these articles are written by women? Even worse. We always talk about supporting and uplifting young women, but when the time comes, it seems easier to tear them down for clicks.”

Brown isn’t the first star to be accosted for the way that she looks. In the early ‘00s, body shaming celebrities was so normalized, and it wasn’t uncommon to see full pages in magazines ripping apart everything from a celebrity’s weight to their latest hairstyle. Over the past two decades things have certainly calmed down on the traditional media front, but celebrities today have to deal with an entirely different beast: social media.

In her documentary, Simone Biles Rising, the Olympic gold medalist recalled numerous instances where people would disparage the way her hair looked. “People hate my hair for meet days,” the gymnast recalled. "The beauty standards—everything is just too much." Just a few days ago on Feb. 28, country singer Miranda Lambert clapped back at a fan who claimed that the leggings that she was wearing didn’t look good on people with “a little extra here and there.” The singer posted the comment on her Instagram Stories, with the caption: “Good to know! I’ll do better about displaying my ‘unattractive parts’.” Her post was immediately flooded with positive comments from her fans.

While not many of us have the experience of growing up in such a public way, self-criticism is likely one of the most unifying traits that humans growing up in the social-media era share. I can only speak for myself, but I can’t imagine what it’s like to be figuring out your identity as not only a woman but also a young adult and newlywed, all while having to wade through the negativity being hurled your way at breakneck speed. If there’s anything that I can add to the fodder, it’s this: Allow girls to grow into the women that they want to be without judgement. Stop creating hit pieces disguised as cultural commentary. And for the love of all that is good in this world, let women exist as human beings rather than objects to be consumed for society’s pleasure.

Millie Bobby Brown sees your leopard print trend and raises you five-fold.

The Stranger Things actor recently unveiled a personal style transformation, guided by stylist Ryan Young, while promoting her new movie The Electric State. Thus far, the makeover has involved hooded chainmail dresses, mesh naked looks, Britney Spears-inspired denim, and bombshell blonde hair.

The vibe shift was shocking, given Brown's affinity for fresh-faced skincare and colorful sweatpants—an aesthetic she built her Florence by Mills empire around. As with any change, her new look inspired criticism from the lowest pits of the internet. Those of us with taste, however, are living for this era of unapologetic fashion.

Brown has been churning out banger after banger, sartorially speaking, for weeks. Her best look, however, dropped March 4 while the star was in London doing press interviews. She went maximum maximalist, wearing leopard spots from head to toe, and beyond (she also sported a matching parasol).

The five-time leopard wearer layered animal print like an expert, stylishly mixing tones and spot sizes. She wore a short-cropped trench coat as a dress, then added a smattering of feline-inspired accessories, including: platform clogs, a shoulder bag, and a '50s-era cocktail hat.

This look may raise some eyebrows, but those in the know are already accustomed to the Hollywood-approved trend. Some of fashion's biggest names have taken to wearing spots-on-spots—like Hailey Bieber, for example, who styled her beloved YSL tote with a matching leopard statement coat.

I'm calling it now: This look will be fashion's North Star for the upcoming spring season.

Shop Leopard Print Separates Inspired By Millie Bobby Brown

Millie Bobby Brown was only 12 years old when Stranger Things premiered in 2016, so she's spent a lot of time in the spotlight and fans of the series and of her other work have seen her grow up. Unfortunately, though, not everyone is happy to just appreciate Brown's skill as an actor. Instead, she has had her appearance picked apart. Obviously, no one is going to look the same as a tween as they do when they're an adult. And no one can—or should be asked to—live up to the idea of how anyone else thinks they should turn out.

Brown spoke out about what she considers "bullying" by some in the media in an Instagram video—and in a lengthy caption—on Monday, March 3.

"I want to take a moment to address something that I think is bigger than just me, something that affects every young woman who grows up under public scrutiny," the 21-year-old writes. "I think it’s necessary to speak up about this. I started in this industry when I was 10 years old. I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can’t seem to grow with me. Instead, they act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time, like I should still look the way I did on Stranger Things Season 1. And because I don’t, I’m now a target."

Brown—who recently channeled Gwyneth Paltrow in an iconic naked dress—goes on to mention a few articles in particular and the names of those who wrote them.

"This isn’t journalism. This is bullying," Brown says. "The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices, it’s disturbing. The fact that some of these articles are written by women? Even worse."

The Enola Holmes star says that she "refuse[s] to apologize for growing up" and won't "make myself smaller to fit the unrealistic expectations of people who can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman. I will not be shamed for how I look, how I dress, or how I present myself."

Making it clear that she's not just looking out for herself, but for other girls and young women who are scrutinized for their looks, she concludes, "Let’s do better. Not just for me, but for every young girl who deserves to grow up without fear of being torn apart for simply existing."

Brown's post received an outpouring of support. As of publication of this article, the Instagram has nearly 2.5 million likes. Brown also received comments from a number of celebrities, who praised her for speaking up.

Brown's Stranger Things co-star Matthew Modine wrote, "Yes. Good for you! Brava." Sarah Jessica Parker commented, "Enormously proud of you." Enola Holmes co-star Susan Wokoma posted, "Calling 👏🏿 them 👏🏿 out 👏🏿 by 👏🏿 name 👏🏿 Bravo, Mills." Fellow young actor Mckenna Grace wrote, "No young woman or person deserves to feel pressure or cruelty for simply existing. You are so well spoken and so beautiful. Very well said, thank you for making this video."

Other famous faces who commented on Brown's post include Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, model Winnie Harlow, singer Lily Allen, and actors Aaron Paul and Sharon Stone.

After Brown posted her Instagram, comedian and actor Matt Lucas apologized to the Godzilla vs. Kong star. Lucas was mentioned in one of the articles that Brown brought up, because he compared her to a character from his series Little Britain. The article said it was a "savage swipe" from him.

"I thought you looked terrific and I was mortified when the press wrote that I 'slammed’ you," Lucas wrote on Instagram. "I would not have posted it if I had thought it would have upset you but I realise it has and for that I apologise."

This is not the first time Brown has talked about being a young star and the disappointing commentary that comes with that. For instance, back in 2020, on her 16th birthday, she posted on Instagram, "our world needs kindness and support in order for us children to grow and succeed. the last few years haven't been easy, I'll admit that. there are moments i get frustrated from the inaccuracy, inappropriate comments, sexualization, and unnecessary insults that ultimately have resulted in pain and insecurity for me."

She added, "but not ever will i be defeated. ill continue doing what i love and spreading the message in order to make change."

Since dying her hair blonde, Millie Bobby Brown has been dropping references to some of the world's biggest stars. Having already channeled Pamela Anderson, Brown decided to pay homage to one of Gwyneth Paltrow's most famous naked dress moments.

For the premiere of The Electric State in Madrid, Spain on Feb. 27, Brown wore the very same Giorgio Armani gown Gwyneth Paltrow wore to the New York premiere of Shakespeare in Love on December 3, 1998. The premiere took place at the Ziegfeld Theater and was attended by a plethora of celebrities, including Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Paltrow wore the completely sheer gown on the red carpet, and Brown followed in the Oscar-winner's footsteps at her own premiere. While Paltrow wore the gown sans bra, Brown appeared to have lined the dress or was wearing nipple covers of some kind. Brown's impeccable tribute wasn't lost on Paltrow, who commented on the Stranger Things star's Instagram post about the outfit, writing, "You wore it best!"

The 21-year-old Enola Holmes star tied the knot with Jake Bongiovi last year. Brown—who is styled by Ryan Young—recently responded to online trolls suggesting she was "looking older than ever" following her latest style update. The actress posted a link to British Vogue's "No One Cares How Old You Think Millie Bobby Brown Looks" story on Instagram, via The Independent.

In 2022, Brown spoke to Glamour about her experiences growing up in the spotlight, and shared the advice she'd give her younger self. "I'd say, hold on," she told the outlet. "You are going to go on a crazy ride! Try and remember who you are and not the people around you. People come and go into your life and they can negatively and positively influence it."

Millie Bobby Brown took a page from another Hollywood blonde's beauty playbook at the Los Angeles premiere of The Electric State, her new Netflix sci-fi adventure flick. Clad in a dazzling gold cap-sleeved gown from Annie's Ibiza and a matching gold choker, the 21-year-old was clearly channeling iconic sirens of the silver screen on the red carpet. The reference for her hair, however, felt much more direct.

Piled high atop the newlywed's head was a messy bedhead bun that unmistakably paid homage to Pamela Anderson's signature updo from the 1990s. It was a pitch-perfect use case for the platinum blonde hair transformation Brown debuted earlier this month, and hairstylist Pete Burkill took the assignment seriously. He even added a set of faux bangs to replicate Anderson's wispy rounded fringe from that era. The loose, wavy tendrils that framed Brown's face marked a similarly stellar execution of the sexy flyaways that always complemented Pam's effortless top knot.

According to Anderson herself (and this live demonstration she once performed for British Vogue), the secret to nailing her tousled '90s beehive is using a G-string in lieu of a scrunchie. Understandably, Brown chose not to take that approach here. Instead, Burkhill secured her updo with a series of U-shaped gold hair pins. Bigger than a bobby pin but smaller than a full-size French hair pin, U-pins are perfect for adding modest support to looser styles such as messy buns, French twists, and chignons.

Pamela Anderson basically invented the concept of sexy bedhead, and generations of It girls—from Sabrina Carpenter to Megan Fox—have been copying the look ever since. But I have to say, Millie Bobby Brown really did look like the spitting image of Pammy in this historic hairstyle. How soon can we start casting the biopic?

Although some celebrity couples love nothing more than to make a public appearance together, Millie Bobby Brown and her husband Jake Bongiovi tend to keep things relatively private. However, at the 31st Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, the two were spotted hand in hand.

While Bongiovi opted for a classic black suit set paired alongside patent leather shoes, Brown chose to embrace a pop of color. She stunned in a peach-toned custom Louis Vuitton gown on the 2025 SAG Awards red carpet, styled by Ryan Young.

Brown’s sumptuous dress flaunted a cowl neckline, a figure-hugging silhouette, and a short train stitched at the back. The Stranger Things star paired her sophisticated look with dazzling canary yellow diamond earrings and of course, her wedding ring—which can be seen from a mile away.

As for glam, the actress stuck with an elegant makeup look consisting of warm brown eyeshadow, radiant punk blush, and shimmering lipstick. She also kept things elevated by assembling her newly-dyed platinum blonde hair in a simple updo.

Although Brown and Bongiovi first tied the knot during a private wedding celebration with their families in May 2024, the couple decided to host another nuptial ceremony a few months later in October. Held in Tuscany, the dreamy event was set amongst the background of Cetinale, a gorgeous 17th-century Baroque villa.

For the romantic moment, Brown wore not one, but four designer wedding gowns. The first was an archival Valentino masterpiece pulled straight from the Italian label’s 1993 collection. Brown followed this vintage frock with a custom Galia Lahav dress, an Oscar de la Renta slip gown, and a bustier mini dress.

It’s unclear when we’ll see Brown and Bongiovi out and about together again. What we do know based solely on their few appearances? The lovebirds are certainly becoming one of Hollywood’s best-dressed celebrity couples.

Millie Bobby Brown has been a consummate brunette for most of her time in the public eye. Generally speaking, she seems to prefer experimenting with cut over color. But sometime between now and her over-the-top double wedding to Jake Bongiovi in October of last year, the Stranger Things star must have grown nostalgic for the long blonde hair she had in 2023. So much, in fact, that she decided to run it back.

On Feb. 1, the 20-year-old stepped out for date night with her husband and a brand-new head of platinum blonde hair. Admittedly, it's a very different shade of blonde than the dimensional beige balayage she had two years ago. This year's take, on the other hand, can only be described as Heidi Montag blonde: bright, Barbie doll-esque, and bleached all the way to her roots.

The beauty founder debuted her new look during a night out at the private members club Maison Estelle in London. In keeping with the early 2000s vibe of her hair, the Enola Holmes actor dressed up in a black bodycon mini accessorized with oversize black stud earrings. (The bandage dress, I fear, really does seem to be making a comeback.)

The British ingénue also sported a small black shoulder bag with a shape vaguely reminiscent of the Miu Miu Aventure and black pumps adorned with a rhinestone-lined onyx jewel—a style likely inspired by Manolo Blahnik's iconic Hangisi heels. But in this instance, I believe Miss Brown is sporting an under-$500 alternative from Retrofête.

Perhaps she'll take her bleach-and-tone for a spin in a Juicy Couture tracksuit next? Or maybe she'll try out for Jon Chu's highly anticipated Britney Spears biopic. Either way, I'm seated.

After five seasons, Netflix's horror hit Stranger Things is coming to an end. While fans won't have to fully grapple with the end of the series until the final episodes air (which is currently expected to happen sometime in 2025), the cast and crew had to say their goodbyes when filming wrapped on the final season (a milestone Netflix confirmed in a post on X—née Twitter—on December 20).

"THAT'S A WRAP ON STRANGER THINGS. See you in 2025," the streamer wrote in the post, along with a collage of images from the Stranger Things set.

Netflix may have kept it short and sweet and generally chill when it posted about Stranger Things wrapping for good, but since she's a human and not a giant corporation, Millie Bobby Brown had a much more emotional take.

The 20-year-old actress, who landed what turned out to be her breakthrough role as Eleven on the series when she was just 11 years old, shared an emotional post on Instagram, with a carousel that included seven pictures commemorating her time playing the character.

While she didn't say much in the post's caption (which was simply, "with love, el ❤️"), the let the words flow in a video the end of the carousel. That place of honor is where Brown shared a clip form her last day on set, in which she read an emotional speech comparing wrapping the series to graduation day.

“And isn't graduation supposed to bring relief? Like you're glad to leave behind the teachers and classmates. Not me. I am nowhere near ready to leave you guys,” she said to an audience of cast and crew members who gathered around as she read the message off her phone (proving that it was something she put real thought into, as if the emotion in her voice didn't do that on its own).

Brown kept her remarks (or at least the portion she was willing to share with strangers on the internet) brief, and ended by adding, "I love each and every one of you and I will forever carry the memories and bonds we created together as a family. I love you, thank you.”

The Damsel actress wasn't the only member of the cast to post a goodbye tribute to Stranger Things are the series finished filmed. On Friday, Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler in the show, shared a carousel of three favorite images from his time on set.

"We just wrapped Stranger things Season 5. I’m still in shock. We shot it for a year and I’ll miss all of my friends and our characters terribly," he wrote in the post's caption. "When I think of the show, I picture this first photo. A bunch of goofy young people making something they think is cool but really have no clue what’s to come. I feel like we’re still those people and I’m lucky to still stand beside them today. I hope you’ll love this season as much as I do. See you all next year. 🚲🚲🚲🚲"

Noah Schnapp, who plays WIll Byers on the series, shared a Stranger Things tribute of his own in the form of a top 10 list commemorating some of the things he's most grateful for about members of the cast and crew.

"Growing up I always felt like an outcast, unsure of where I fit in. Navigating life in the spotlight while carrying this feeling, through every awkward phase and embarrassing moment exposed for the world to see, has definitely been an unusual experience. But I’ve been honored to share it with my incredible co-stars, who understand it in a way that no one else can," he wrote in a personal note at the end of the lengthy post caption. “'Stranger Things' was more than a job; it was a lifelong dream. A dream made reality thanks to the Duffers. Thank you for taking a chance on me when I was just a 10 year old kid and entrusting me with something so important to you both. Together, this cast + crew has built something so very special, and I couldn’t be any more excited for the world to see the final chapter. Stranger Things is a never ending story for me - it’s in my heart forever.❤️"

Sadie Sink (aka Max Mayfield) also focused on gratitude in her post commemorating the show's final day of filming.

"That’s a series wrap on Stranger Things," she captioned her own carousel of behind-the-scenes pictures from set. "This show, character, and every person involved made me who I am. It gave me the most amazing childhood. It brought me to my best friends. Saying goodbye is so painful, but I leave with memories and love to last a lifetime. I’m eternally grateful ❤️"

Celebrity dog-walking outfits are a special kind of street style beast. While anyone with a pet knows they can tend to start dressing like their companions over time, A-listers take coordination with their emotional support accessories to another level.

Case in point: the way Millie Bobby Brown matched her miniature poodle, Winnie, on a Dec. 16 walk through SoHo. The Stranger Things star must have had her dog's curly coat in mind when she choose her designer Moon Boots, the result of a Winter 2021 collaboration between the retro boot brand and French luxury house Chloé. They're coated in fluffy cream shearling and contrasted with camel suede—a near-perfect match to Winnie's golden-brown fur.

From afar, the rest of Millie Bobby Brown's dog-walking outfit could have come from my own early-morning-errand wardrobe. Up close, the tags were a reminder she already has a net worth of $14 million at the tender age of 20.

The Enola Holmes actress cuddled up in a black faux fur coat, layered over light-wash jeans. The finishing touches? A Louis Vuitton monogram scarf retailing for $995, plus an LV pink beanie. All signs point to the star stopping by Louis Vuitton's NYC flagship for a winter shopping spree. (Here's hopping Winnie got a matching damier collar.)

Designer Moon Boots and Louis Vuitton accoutrements put my gray dog-walking sweatpants to shame. But they're hardly uncommon for the most pampered pets and dog-walkers of Hollywood. Anora star Mikey Madison walks her chihuahua in head-to-toe Loewe; Zendaya takes Noon Coleman, her miniature schnauzer, on strolls in everything from Reformation sweaters to more Louis Vuitton accessories. Brown even brought Winnie to The Tonight Show this spring, where she walked onstage in a sequin Cult Gaia dress and Jimmy Choo pumps.

Celebrity dogs live in the lap of luxury. Their owners are just matching their energy.

Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi tied the knot for the second time in Italy, following an intimate wedding ceremony with their families in May. On Wednesday, the Stranger Things star shared a photo dump from the Tuscan celebration on Instagram.

"Forever and always, your wife," the Florence by Mills founder captioned the post, which gave followers a window into their fairytale nuptials.

Taken by photographer Sandra von Riekhoff, the photos also showcased a series of designer wedding gowns Brown wore throughout the weekend. The day before the ceremony, the 20-year-old kicked things off with a Fall 1993 Valentino gown styled by Ryan Young and procured from Happy Isles bridal salon, which specializes in vintage designer sourcing. Bongiovi, meanwhile, wore a classic black tuxedo and white dress shirt from Tom Ford.

For her big day, the actress wore a custom Galia Lahav gown with a basque waist, boned bodice, and dramatic train.

"Designing her custom gown was such an exciting journey, fun & creative journey and we couldn’t have done it without the incredible @cryoungin," the designer wrote on Instagram in a tribute to Brown and her stylist.

She accessorized the bespoke lace corset gown with a custom Monvieve veil, a diamond bracelet, and an elegant updo that left a couple strands loose around her face. The groom also wore white to the ceremony, combining an ivory jacket with black pants and a black bowtie.

At the reception, Brown let her hair down and changed into an Oscar de la Renta ivory floral lace slip gown.

Later, she closed out the reception with another costume change, this time opting for a very Vivienne Westwood-esque off-the-shoulder bustier mini dress worn with her husband's discarded bowtie as a choker. It would be crazy for two Brits to get married without a little bit of Westwood in the mix, no?

Brown's choices speak to a broader trend toward that emphasizes a complete wedding wardrobe featuring three or more looks in lieu of a singular wedding dress and an optional reception costume change. Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper, for instance, wore seven stunning dresses over the course of her wedding weekend in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Although Brown seemingly fell short of that record, it's impossible to say exactly how many bridal gowns she wore this year between her secret ceremony in May and her second wedding in October. But wouldn't it be delightfully fitting if the total turned out to be eleven?

While other celebrities are leaning in to summer color trends—Hailey Bieber's dousing herself in butter yellow, while Princess Kate is trying plum purple—newlywed Millie Bobby Brown is still very much on the bridal white beat.

Two months after her under-the-radar marriage to Jake Bongiovi, Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown was spotted hand-in-hand with her husband en route to a summer vacation from a New York City helicopter pad. Rather than building her travel outfit around a trending palette, she went for the bridal special: head-to-toe white, courtesy of a lightweight polo sweater and linen pants from Banana Republic.

Bobby Brown's style is very much in the honeymoon phase. In addition to her white-on-white layers, she also wore a crop top from Free People (in creamy ivory). She rolled an on-theme suitcase by her side.

Millie Bobby Brown's commitment to bridal white takes a page from Katie Holmes's travel outfits. The actress also hit the road this summer in ultra-wide leg white jeans—never mind the perils of transit that could ruin her pristine look.

It's clear that Bobby Brown's styling choice was more a nod to her new stage in life than a wink at other stars—or an outright rejection of color trends. Since reports began surfacing in May that the actress had gotten married, she's worked several playful references to her nuptials into her wardrobe. One day, she'll post photos in "Wifey" shorts; the next, she'll wear a charming off-the-shoulder sundress in the same ivory hue.

Brides-to-be, take note: Millie Bobby Brown's Banana Republic set is a relaxed, comfortable way to channel your special day. And clearly, you can wear it long after the ceremony.

Shop Millie Bobby Brown's Honeymoon Outfit

Millie Bobby Brown is proud to be a "wifey."

The actress, who married her partner Jake Bongiovi in May, posted new photos of the two of them enjoying a fun day out at Universal Studios Orlando, in which she's wearing denim shorts that say "wifey" on the back in a collegiate font, plus a hat that says "wife of the party," and a t-shirt that seems to say something similar but is hidden in the pictures.

Bongiovi, as for him, opted for a pair of American-flag shorts. He was also wearing a white hat, which might have said "the party," because that's A Thing.

If you're looking for some similar kitschy items for your honeymoon or bachelorette, you can shop them below!

Bongiovi's famous father, Jon Bon Jovi, confirmed last week that his son had married the Stranger Things actress. Asked how they were doing during an appearance on BBC's The One Show, he said, "They're great. They're absolutely fantastic. It was a very small family wedding. The bride looked gorgeous, and Jake is happy as can be, and yeah, it's true!"

After the event, the newlyweds headed straight to the Hamptons, and now seem to be continuing their honeymoon tour in Orlando.

Brown received some unsolicited comments about getting engaged at 19 years old (she is now 20), but she explained to Glamour in 2023 that she didn't see any reason to wait. "It’s like—I know I should make this movie now. I know I should write this book now. I know I should do this now," she said.

"It’s not because I can’t do it in 10 years; of course I can do it in 10 years. But why, when I know that it’s going to work now? Just like Florence [by Mills, her beauty line] will be there in 10 years. You’ll be able to see my movie in 10 years on TV. And I know that Jake and I will be OK."

Meanwhile, Bongiovi's rockstar dad has been vocal about his support of the sweet young couple, even comparing them to his own relationship with his wife of 35 years, Dorothea Hurley.

Wishing the lovebirds many happy years ahead!

Jon Bon Jovi will be there for son Jake Bongiovi and his new wife Millie Bobby Brown when they need him, that's for sure.

The proud dad opened up about the lovebirds' recent wedding during a new interview, and he made it clear once again that he's entirely supportive of their relationship.

Asked on BBC's The One Show whether he could confirm reports that Jake and Brown had tied the knot, and how they were doing, the rockstar said, "They're great. They're absolutely fantastic. It was a very small family wedding. The bride looked gorgeous, and Jake is happy as can be, and yeah, it's true!"

A source confirmed to People on Friday that the Stranger Things actress had secretly married her beau, while another insider told The Sun, "Millie and Jake quietly said their vows in America last weekend.

"They are planning a bigger ceremony in the U.S. later this year but now they have legally married and done all the paperwork.

"It was a very low-key, romantic affair with their closest family with them as they said their vows."

Meanwhile, Page Six published paparazzi photos of the happy couple enjoying a post-wedding trip to the Hamptons, in which the two are clearly wearing wedding rings.

Jon has previously spoken out about how happy he is for his son and his famous partner, who received criticism for getting engaged so young. (Brown, now 20, was 19 when they got engaged. Jake is 22.)

"I don't know if age matters," the musician previously told Andy Cohen. "You know, if you find the right partner and you grow together. I think that would be my advice, really, is growing together is wise. Growing together. I think that all my kids have found the people that they think they can grow together with and we like 'em all!"

Jon has also compared the relationship to the one he has with his wife of 35 years, Dorothea Hurley, who he married at 27 (but first met in high school).

The Enola Holmes star has also defended her choice to get engaged (and subsequently married) at a young age.

"It’s like—I know I should make this movie now. I know I should write this book now. I know I should do this now," Brown told Glamour last year.

"It’s not because I can’t do it in 10 years; of course I can do it in 10 years. But why, when I know that it’s going to work now? Just like Florence [By Mills, her beauty line] will be there in 10 years. You’ll be able to see my movie in 10 years on TV. And I know that Jake and I will be okay."

The two's romance certainly seems to have a solid foundation of love. Exhibit A: In March, the actress called the model "my forever prince." Swoooooon.

Jon Bon Jovi knows his son and his fiancée are young, but their relationship has his blessing.

During a wide-ranging interview with The Times published on Saturday, the legendary rock star discussed Jake Bongiovi and Millie Bobby Brown's engagement, likening it to his decades-long marriage to Jake's mom, Dorothea Hurley Bongiovi.

"I've gotten to know her in the last year. She works really hard, and she and Jake will grow together in their own way,” Bon Jovi said to The Times (via Us Weekly). "It is an accelerated version of what I went through 40 years ago. And I think, with the support of family around them, they're gonna be great together."

Brown and Bongiovi announced their engagement last April—and the Stranger Things star is perfectly content with tying the knot in her early 20s. "I know that Jake and I will be okay," Brown said to Glamour in November. "It's like, why wait? Let's go for it."

Bon Jovi has been supportive of his son's engagement in previous interviews, too. In early February, he told E! News the couple was "growing together" and was "madly in love."

The couple hasn't announced a wedding date yet, but there's at least one more A-lister who will be in attendance. Brown's Stranger Things co-star (and onscreen "papa") Matthew Modine will officiate the ceremony. Their loved ones all seem to be on board with their relationship, so maybe it's time for fans to give the whole "are they too young?" discussion a rest.

Millie Bobby Brown's wedding was always going to be a star-studded affair. After all, the Stranger Things actress—an A-lister in her own right—is marrying the son of one of the most famous rock stars of all time, Jon Bon Jovi. But now, the ceremony itself just got a little more star power: actor Matthew Modine will officiate Brown's nuptials.

Brown and Jake Bongiovi got engaged last April, with Brown shaking off criticism about how she was only 19 when the engagement started. "I know I should do this now," Brown said to Glamour at the time. "I know that Jake and I will be okay.” The pair hasn't announced a wedding date yet, but the lovebirds have been dating since 2021.

Modine, who played Brown's captor-slash-father-figure on the Netflix series, shared with Access Hollywood that he'll be officiating the ceremony. "I have one of those licenses to get people married," Modine said, "and Millie thought it'd be great, and then Jake said it would be a great idea, so I wrote the wedding vows. And they loved what I wrote for them to join hands and to become husband and wife."

It won't be the actor's first time officiating a wedding, he added; he had the honor of officiating an outdoor COVID wedding for two of his pals, too. "It's such a beautiful thing, to be able to join two people in holy matrimony," Modine said. He would know—he and his wife, Caridad Rivera, have been married for 44 years.

While their Stranger Things characters' relationship was more than a bit twisted, Modine and Brown clearly have a healthy offscreen friendship. Modine is friends with the rest of the cast, too—he and Caleb McLaughlin, who plays Lucas on the show, recently attended a Knicks game together.

Millie Bobby Brown is a Karen, by her own admission.

Despite being just 20 years old, Brown has described herself as fitting the Karen stereotype, which one Urban Dictionary entry defines as a "middle-aged woman, typically blonde, makes solutions to others' problems an inconvenience to her although she isn't even remotely affected."

As you probably know, "Karen" is social media shorthand for a woman—usually middle-aged—who often asks for the manager in a business, or otherwise complains about the service she's received.

Appearing on a recent episode of the Table Manners podcast with Jessie and Lennie Ware, the Stranger Things star discussed leaving reviews after visiting a business, with both hosts revealing that they don't do it.

"I have a fake name," Brown admitted. "Because I think it's important, you know? Here's the thing: My whole life is people criticizing me, so I'm gonna give it back to you sometimes.

"Once, we were at a hotel, and the woman was pulling my fiancé aside like, 'we need to settle payment' or whatever, and I'm just like, 'yeah, we will, but at the end of our stay, like we're still staying here.' And she was like, 'yeah, but you could settle it now,' and I was like, 'but I don't want to!'"

In the end, her review said something like, "I really think that you should encourage guests to complete transaction of payment at the end of their stay."

After the actress told the story of leaving a review about a store employee who was unhelpful, Jessie burst out laughing and asked her, "Millie, are you a Karen?"

Looking a little sheepish, Brown admitted, "OK, I'm a Karen. And I do think it's important to know where you went wrong, and always room for improvement."

After the Twitter account Pop Base posted a clip of this discussion, commenters were divided in their reactions to Brown's admission.

While some felt her attitude showed "entitlement" and others pointed out that a bad review could compromise people's jobs, many people also thought it was funny.

"honestly she spilled so hard with 'my whole life is people criticizing me so im gonna give it back to you sometimes' i fear i stan her for that," wrote one person.

"period millie. imma start leaving reviews," said someone else.

Has a 20-year-old started a Karen movement or...?

In the new Netflix action movie, Damsel, Millie Bobby Brown subverts expectations playing a not-so-distressed medieval woman as the film's title might suggest. (In the movie, an engagement to a handsome prince doesn't bring a fairy-tale happy ending, but a bait-and-switch where the betrothed is sacrificed to a hungry dragon.) The Stranger Things star pulls off the premise masterfully, displaying a knack for playing female leads who are easily underestimated (thanks in part to her impressive physical performance). But offscreen, the 19-year-old is dealing with much more relatable problems: having Beyoncé's country hit "Texas Hold 'Em" stuck in her head.

In the latest episode of Marie Claire’s Pop Quiz, Brown sat down to answer our burning questions, including her secret talent and her best beauty advice. ("Everything you put onto your skin goes into your bloodstream.") Though she chose to stay mum about some personal subjects, such as her dream honeymoon destination with fiancé Jake Bongiovi, she did share the piece of—universally applicable—advice she'd gave her younger self: "Go to therapy."

Watch Brown in Pop Quiz, above, and then check out Damsel, streaming on Netflix now.

When Millie Bobby Brown got engaged to her partner Jake Bongiovi in April at the age of 19, unsolicited comments poured in from all sides.

The Stranger Things actress knows 19 is young to get engaged, but that doesn't mean she doesn't think it's right for her after over two years with Bongiovi. And if anyone should know what's right for Brown, I'd always place my bets on her rather than on some internet strangers, TBH.

In a new interview with Glamour, the Florence by Mills founder explained that she has a great understanding of her life's timing, when it comes to her relationship AND her professional projects.

"It’s like—I know I should make this movie now. I know I should write this book now. I know I should do this now," Brown said.

"It’s not because I can’t do it in 10 years; of course I can do it in 10 years. But why, when I know that it’s going to work now? Just like Florence will be there in 10 years. You’ll be able to see my movie in 10 years on TV. And I know that Jake and I will be OK."

OK, I'm sorry, I love this so much. Anyway, moving on: Brown went on to explain that her family taught her to seize opportunities as they come. "It’s like, why wait? Let’s go for it," she said.

As for her relationship with Bongiovi (who is 21 and the son of rockstar Jon Bon Jovi), Brown explained that a young engagement made sense for them considering both of their parents married young and are still happily together.

"We were modeled wonderful, loving relationships. So it’s something that we both had that mutual drive for," she said.

"His family were so wonderfully accepting of me and embraced me, and it’s so nice to find a second family in that."

She's right about this: Jon Bon Jovi himself told SiriusXM host Andy Cohen in May, "I don't know if age matters. You know, if you find the right partner and you grow together. I think that would be my advice, really, is growing together is wise. Growing together. I think that all my kids have found the people that they think they can grow together with and we like 'em all!"

The rocker also shares children Romeo, Stephanie and Jesse Bongiovi with wife Dorothea Hurley.

Millie Bobby Brown has been deeply entrenched in the spotlight since she appeared on season 1 of Stranger Things, when she was 12.

Now 19, the British actress sadly still carries many of the insecurities she developed as a child star, as she vulnerably admitted in a new interview with British Glamour.

"I feel like sh*t today" is one of the first things Brown said to the reporter.

"I have a huge pimple on my face," she elaborated. "And I’m going to go on Instagram, and I’m going to see five different girls that look beautiful! Flawless! Stunning! And, OK, slay." This, she said, would very likely leave her "sobbing, because I know, I know I don’t look like that."

These struggles are relatable for many of us, famous or not, but for Brown, it seems like they were painfully exacerbated by how young she was when she first became well known.

When she was just 13, the actress recalls being accused of "trying to steal the thunder" of her Stranger Things costars, and being called things such as "an idiot," "stupid," and "a brat" by adults, who clearly had nothing better to do than to bully a child.

"It’s hard to hear that at 13," Brown said. "You’re like, 'I don't want to ever talk again. I don’t want to be the loud person.'

"In interviews I couldn’t help but think of all the comments. So I just remembered to stay silent and speak when I was spoken to, even though I was dying to join in. I just felt it wasn’t my turn."

Because of these difficult experiences, Brown wants to help protect future child actors in any way she can.

"You cannot speak on children that are underage," she said. "I mean, our brains physically have not grown yet. To diminish and practically stunt someone’s growth mentally, strip them down, tell them, 'Hey, listen, you don’t look that great. Why are you wearing that? How dare you think you can wear that? How dare you say that?'"

These days, Brown has learned to protect herself and not let anyone's opinion of her cloud her own concept of herself.

"Nobody’s allowed in," she said. "Nobody can say sh*t." GOOD. FOR. HER.

Spoilers for Stranger Things season 4, volume 2 ahead. After nine years of '80s adventures (minus a three-year pandemic delay), we face the end of Stranger Things's run. The Netflix paranormal hit's horrifying fourth season aired to major success—becoming one of the streaming service's most popular shows of all time—in 2022, and the Duffer Brothers have confirmed that we have one season left with the Hawkins gang. So what will come next for a show that has given us a new iconic sci-fi villain (and the resurgence of Kate Bush)? Read on for what we know so far about Stranger Things season 5.

Is season 5 the last season of 'Stranger Things?'

The Duffer Brothers revealed that their series would get a fifth and final season in a letter to fans published in February 2022.

"Seven years ago, we planned out the complete story arc for Stranger Things," Matt and Ross Duffer wrote. "At the time, we predicted the story would last four or five seasons. It proved too large to tell in four, but—as you'll soon see for yourselves—we are now hurtling toward our finale. Season 4 will be the penultimate season; season 5 will be the last."

While the rest of the letter focused on the reveal that season 4 would be super-sized, executive producer Shawn Levy explained the creative team's reasoning in an US Weekly interview, saying that the Duffers have been contemplating a thoughtful, fully-formed ending since the show began.

"We don’t want to be one of those shows that outstays its welcome and is flailing while it searches for a way to stick the landing," he said. "We really want to stick the landing. I feel like we have been able to do that every season and we also want to do it for the series."

When will 'Stranger Things' season 5 be released?

Stranger Things season 5 will be released in 2025 in three parts. Netflix confirmed the release schedule during its Tudum event in May 2025. The first batch of episodes will drop on Wednesday, November 26 (the day before Thanksgiving), the second batch will arrive on Christmas Day, and the finale will air on New Year's Eve. So, plan to gather the family around the TV on your holiday downtime (or to escape them for your binge-watch!). However, it's unconfirmed how many episodes drop each date, but only the final installment will be saved for December 31.

To get fans excited, the streaming service shared a handful of first-look photos to coincide with the news, as well as a teaser featuring old and new footage. (More on that below!)

Netflix first announced that the final installment would air in 2025 on Stranger Things Day, or November 6 (a.k.a. the day Will disappeared to the Upside Down). The streamer also announced around that time that filming had wrapped by sharing the news on X (formerly Twitter). The post read, "THAT'S A WRAP ON STRANGER THINGS. See you in 2025," and included a series of heartwarming, very bitchin' photos of the cast in their typical '80s looks on set. You can check out the shots below.

Filming for the series' final season took longer than originally expected. Despite pre-production initially starting in August 2022 (and completing the first episode's script by November of that year), the 2023 Hollywood strikes delayed the show's filming. Production didn't begin until 2024, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Throughout production, Netflix tided fans over with a few updates. In July, the streamer surprised fans by sharing a dispatch-from-filming video. The clip shared an early look at the entire set and some highly-anticipated scenes (like one with the show's core foursome back together). Several of the hit's stars also make cameos in costume; early in the clip, Noah Schnapp shares that he thinks this will be “the best season yet."

Is there a trailer for 'Stranger Things' season 5?

Hell yeah! Netflix dropped the full-length Stranger Things season 5 trailer in late October, one month before the premiere date. The cast and crew have been hinting for years that the final episodes will be epic, and it looks like they're right.

The visual begins in the Upside Down, as ominous and disturbing as ever, where Vecna says, "At long last, we can begin." What he's beginning remains unclear. In Hawkins, the military continues to occupy the town and has it under lockdown, which leads our gang to decide to take matters into their own hands. As Mike instructs the group, they need to find Vecna and "end this once and for all." It appears that will amount to some dramatic battles in downtown Hawkins and the other dimension, Lucas taking Max, still in a coma, out of the hospital, Eleven putting the full capacity of her skills to the test, and more.

Perhaps most interestingly, the trailer teases that Will's continued ties to the Upside Down are finally going to reach a boiling point. "William, you are going to help me one last time," Vecna says to him, while drawing him closer.

If you're eager for more footage, a teaser also arrived in July. The two-and-a-half-minute clip follows the aftermath of Vecna's attacks in season 4, with Max still in a coma years later and the gang preparing to face off against him. There are more explosions than ever, flame-throwers, a bad-ass Linda Hamilton coming to save the day, high radio and electric frequencies, and, by the end, Vecna's ominous return as he says, "Found you."

As expected, everyone is game to try to settle this once and for all: "Wherever this blood leads, I need you to fight one last time. Let’s end this, kid," Hopper says to Eleven.

Netflix has shared a few other videos. In early June, the streamer shared a date announcement video compiling scenes from earlier seasons and new shots of Joyce speaking with Will about what happened on the fateful day he disappeared. "I think about that night all the time—the night it came for you, the night all of this started," she says to her son, who replies, "Everything changed. We failed, but we need to be ready."

Then, the teaser offers a first look at some of the upcoming action: the gang preparing to battle dark forces, Vecna growing stronger, government officials preparing to fight, and Will looking off into the distance as he shrieks, "Run!" in complete terror. November (and December) can't come soon enough!

The episode title teaser is also available. In order, the eight episodes in season 5 will be called: “The Crawl,” “The Vanishing of _____,” “The Turnbow Trap,” “Sorcerer,” “Shock Jock,” “Escape From Camazotz,” “The Bridge” and “The Rightside Up.” “The Vanishing of _____,” is the only title that appears incomplete, as the teaser blurred the name of whoever or whatever is "vanishing," presumably because of how much of a spoiler it is. Time to start theorizing!

Are there any new cast members in 'Stranger Things' season 5?

Just because we're about to say goodbye to Hawkins, it doesn't mean that Stranger Things will skip the chance to make its ensemble cast even bigger. Back in June 2023, Netflix revealed that an action legend will be joining the final season, with The Terminator star Linda Hamilton joining the hit in an undisclosed returning role.

Deadline also reported three other new stars who will appear in season 5: Evil Dead Rise actor Nell Fisher, Waco: The Aftermath's Alex Breaux, and newcomer Jake Connelly.

How long are the 'Stranger Things' season 5 episodes?

Based on the teaser trailer Netflix shared in November, Stranger Things season 5 features eight episodes—and there's reason to believe they'll be lengthy. According to cast member Maya Hawke, the forthcoming installment will continue the series' trend of super-long episodes. Season 4 was the first installment that had feature-length episodes, with the finale going for a full 140 minutes. Hawke confirmed on Penn Badgley's podcast "Podcrushed" that the massive episode length is here to stay.

"We’re making, basically, eight movies," she said during her June 2024 appearance, adding that the final season’s episodes are "very long."

"Our showrunners, Matt and Ross [Duffer], take a lot of responsibility," she added. "They have an amazing team of writers, but they’re very involved. They write a lot and they are very intense and serious about the quality of the continued writing, and so it takes a long time to write each season, and a long time to shoot them."

This update is a change of plan from back in July 2022, when co-creator Matt Duffer said that he expects the season 5 episodes to be shorter. He had hinted that the Hawkins kids would be getting straight to the action in the final season, which could have led to shorter episodes.

"The only reason we don’t expect to be as long is, [in season 4], if you look at it, it’s almost a two-hour ramp up before our kids really get drawn into a supernatural mystery," Duffer said at the time, on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast. "You get to know them, you get to see them in their lives, they’re struggling with adapting to high school and so forth, Steve’s trying to find a date, all of that. None of that is obviously going to be occurring [in season 5]."

Matt confirmed that there will be one "2.5-hour episode," though, at the very least.

As for the start, the creators shared that the season premiere will hit the ground running, though they didn't say whether it will start immediately after season 4's final scene.

"Characters are already going to be in action, they’re already going to have a goal and a drive, and I think that’s going to carve out at least a couple hours and make this season feel really different," he said. "I’m sure the wrap-up will be a lot longer, it’s going to be ‘Return of the King’-ish with, like, eight endings."

What is 'Stranger Things' season 5 about?

Netflix has shared an official season 5 synopsis: "The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished—his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming—and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone—the full party—standing together, one last time."

Where is 'Stranger Things' season 5 set?

Season 4 saw the kids and adults of the Hawkins crew split up across three locations, with the final battle against Vecna's hive mind taking place from the Creel House in Hawkins, a pizza parlor in Nevada, and a Russian prison (not to mention the Upside Down). The finale saw all of our characters finally reuniting in Hawkins, and the Duffers say season 5 will stay local.

"It's mostly in Hawkins, and there's a lot obviously in the Upside Down," Matt Duffer told Collider.

"I think one of the things that's exciting about season 5 is [that] season 4 was interesting to us because everyone was scattered to the winds," he continued. "That's what was unique about it. But this is about everyone finally coming back. Coming back together, coming back to Hawkins. Hopper is back in Hawkins. The original group [is] back together—the original group of boys plus Eleven. The OG group. There's something interesting to re-explore some of the season one dynamics again, except on this grander scale."

Will there be a 'Stranger Things' spin-off after the final season?

Though it hasn't been announced or confirmed by Netflix, the Duffers have been working on a Stranger Things spin-off for a while. Even in the letter announcing season 5 as the final season, the creators hinted that "there are still many more exciting stories to tell within the world of Stranger Things; new mysteries, new adventures, new unexpected heroes."

During a Variety interview, when asked if they would wait to work on the new series after season 5 is complete, the creators said they probably would.

"There's a version of it developing in parallel [to season 5], but they would never shoot it parallel," Ross Duffer said. "I think actually we're going to start delving into that soon as we're winding down and finishing these visual effects, Matt and I are going to start getting into it."

"The reason we haven't done anything is just because you don't want to be doing it for the wrong reasons, and it was just like, 'Is this something I would want to make regardless of it being related to Stranger Things or not?' And definitely," Matt added. "Even if we took the Stranger Things title off of it, I'm so, so excited about it. But it is not… It's going to be different than what anyone is expecting, including Netflix."

Though the duo says the spin-off will be different than what fans expect, they told Variety that one person with an intimate knowledge of the show was able to guess.

"We do have an idea for a spinoff that we’re super excited about… but we haven’t told anyone the idea yet, much less written it. We think everyone—including Netflix—will be surprised when they hear the concept because it’s very, very different. But somehow Finn Wolfhard—who is one crazy smart kid—correctly guessed what it was going to be about. But aside from Finn, no one else knows!"

What has the 'Stranger Things' cast and crew said about season 5?

Although the cast has been tight-lipped about season 5, some have teased a little bit of information. Jamie Campbell Bower, for example, told The Hollywood Reporter that he thinks there's a chance for the good guys to beat this uber-powerful Big Bad in the final season.

"There’s always an opportunity for the good guys to win," he told the outlet. "I think in this case, they’d have to be way smarter than they have been thus far because Henry is not one to forget and not one to let things slide."

In an interview with Vulture, Sadie Sink shared her thoughts on Max's mental state in the upcoming season, if (or more likely, when) she emerges from the coma.

"I think she’s at a place where she now really wants to fight. In episode 9, when she gave that monologue, she was ready to go and she was ready to make that ultimate sacrifice," she told the outlet. "She knew that there was no way she was going to make it out alive, but the fact that she was willing to make that sacrifice was brutal and heartbreaking. If she’s still out there, she definitely has a lot of rage and a lot of fight in her. So that’s where my hope lies in Max for season 5."

Noah Schnapp has also given his thoughts on season 5, and even confirmed a popular fan theory. In an interview with Variety, the actor said that Will is gay and that the show has been slowly building a storyline about his sexuality since season 1.

"Obviously, it was hinted at in Season 1: It was always kind of there, but you never really knew, is it just him growing up slower than his friends? Now that he’s gotten older, they made it a very real, obvious thing. Now it’s 100% clear that he is gay and he does love Mike," he told the outlet.

He added that the Duffers told him that for season 5, "they’re going to focus more on Will and build that storyline."

"There’s so many different things they have to address. Obviously, we hope for a coming out scene, and I also want to see them address this connection to the Mind Flayer and how that fits into the world. And I’ve always been wondering, why was Will the first victim and the first one captured? I just want to see it all tie in and all work out. So I’m excited to see what happens," he said.

Everyone is obsessed with the kids from Stranger Things, including Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe. According to Entertainment Weekly, he had a major fanboy freakout about the young actors during an interview on the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show earlier this week. 

When Radcliffe heard that the Stranger Things kids were coming on the show the day after him, he lost it and the gushing commenced. 

"Oh my god. Okay, can you, like, just tell them that I think they're amazing and also just say, like, that as a person who started out acting really young, how are they so good?" he said. "I wasn't that good when I was a kid. Have the decency to be less good at acting, please, when you're so young."

Host Nick Grimshaw made good on his promise to pass Radcliffe's praises along. The next day, when Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, and Caleb McLaughlin showed up for their interview, he played them the clip of Radcliffe's mini-freakout. 

Turns out, the Stranger Things kids love Daniel Radcliffe as much as Daniel Radcliffe loves the Stranger Things kids. 

"He says, 'I wasn't that good when I was younger,'—he was Harry Potter," Brown said. "Let's just review…I think he was doing pretty fine."

Touché, Millie. Touché

Listen to the full clip below.