After years of perfecting 1980s nostalgia, Stranger Things has a rare slip that fans cannot unsee. In the recently released Season 5, sharp-eyed viewers spotted a major costume mistake. During a tense scene, a main character wears a shirt from a brand that did not exist in the show’s time period. This modern item has pulled fans out of the show’s immersive world, leading many to compare it to one of television’s most famous production errors.
The mistake happens in Episode 7 of the final season’s second part, which began streaming on Netflix on December 25, 2025. In the scene, Holly Wheeler is seen wearing a long-sleeve athletic shirt. The problem is the clear logo on her sleeve: it is from Under Armour. This sportswear brand was founded in 1996, nearly a full decade after the events of Season 5, which are set in 1987.
How Fans Spotted the Stranger Things Costume Error
The mistake was not obvious at first glance. It occurred in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment as Holly awakens in a dangerous location known as the Abyss. However, dedicated fans who examine every frame of the show quickly caught it. The discovery spread rapidly on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), where viewers shared clips and screenshots.
The reaction mixed humor with genuine surprise. Fans have long praised Stranger Things for its incredible attention to period detail, from the music and hairstyles to the props and clothing. This high standard made the modern logo seem even more out of place. One fan commented on the error, linking it to other production pressures on the show.
“If Stranger Things didn’t spend 24 HOURS in filming/reshoots for Will’s ‘coming out’ scene, they wouldn’t miss Holly Wheeler wearing a company’s shirt that didn’t even exist in the 80s (Under Armour). This is like the Starbucks cup in Game of Thrones S8.”
Another viewer joked about the seriousness of the error, writing, “Holly wearing Under Armour in season five is more unsettling than Vecna. Did she tear through the fabric of space and time and go into the future?”
Why This Mistake Reminds Everyone of Game of Thrones
The comparison to Game of Thrones was immediate and widespread. In 2019, during the show’s eighth and final season, a major production error went viral. In a scene set in the medieval fantasy world of Westeros, a modern Starbucks coffee cup was clearly visible on a table next to a main character. Like the Stranger Things error, it was a small modern object that shattered the illusion of the show’s carefully built world.
Both shows are massive cultural phenomena known for their deep, immersive settings. Game of Thrones created a complete medieval fantasy aesthetic, while Stranger Things is celebrated for its authentic and detailed revival of 1980s America. Because of this, fans are less forgiving when such mistakes appear, as they disrupt the very thing the shows are known for doing well.
The Show’s History of Attention to Detail
This error stands out because the Stranger Things costume department is typically known for its meticulous work. Amy Parris, the costume designer for Seasons 3 through 5, has explained the deep thought put into every character’s clothing. She states that each outfit is chosen to reflect where the character is in their personal story.
For example, Will Byers often wears stripes and juvenile prints, signaling he is still working through past trauma. Lucas Sinclair wears more athletic clothes as he trains, keeping his injured friend Max in mind. Even small details, like the patches on Max’s jeans in Season 5, are intentional Easter eggs made from the fabric of young Henry Creel’s shirt.
Parris also detailed the extensive work behind Holly Wheeler’s other iconic look from this season: a blue 1950s-style dress. The costume team had to print the vintage fabric themselves and build the dresses in-house because authentic children’s clothes from that era no longer exist in multiples. This high level of effort makes the accidental use of a 1990s brand even more surprising.
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Fan Reactions to the Season 5 Slip-Up
For many viewers, the mistake became a symbol of broader concerns about the final season. Some fans have expressed that the second part of Season 5 did not fully meet their expectations. Criticisms have included that the character Eleven felt sidelined and that certain story moments, like Will Byers’ coming-out scene, received mixed reactions.
The Under Armour shirt became a focal point for these frustrations about perceived carelessness. However, other fans saw it as a harmless, funny oversight in a show they still love. The debate highlights the intense scrutiny that a show of this popularity faces, where every detail is analyzed by millions.
This is not the first time fans have playfully called out the show for small anachronisms. Over the years, viewers have noted occasionally modern hairstyles, slang, or background props. These moments usually spark friendly debate rather than serious criticism. As one article noted, the error is likely a simple costuming oversight, especially since Holly is a younger character, and not a hint of a secret time-travel plot.
The Bigger Picture of 80s Authenticity
The conversation about this single shirt taps into a larger discussion about how well Stranger Things captures its era. A recent viral post from a Generation X woman named Jennifer Hill pointed out a different, humorous oversight: the distinct lack of characters named Jennifer.
Hill, who was born in 1974, called the show a “love letter to Gen X” that feels incredibly familiar. However, she joked that for a truly authentic 1980s experience, there needed to be multiple Jennifers in every classroom, as it was the second-most popular girl’s name throughout the decade. Her post received thousands of likes, with many users sharing their own experiences of having multiple Jennifers in their schools.
This shows that while the show’s visual details are usually precise, capturing the full social and cultural texture of the time is complex. The brand mistake is a clear production error, but the “Jennifer” observation speaks to the nuanced, lived experience of the decade that is harder to replicate.
Netflix and the show’s creators, the Duffer Brothers, have not publicly commented on the Under Armour wardrobe slip. As the series moves toward its conclusion, most fans are likely to focus on the fate of Hawkins and its heroes rather than a single costume glitch. The final episodes of Stranger Things are expected to continue streaming on Netflix, wrapping up the story that began in 2016.
Also Read: Stranger Things Season 2, Episode 8: How Steve Harrington Became a Hero We Can’t Forget
