Stranger Things Star Sadie Sink's Stunning Style Transformation

While Sadie Sink's style is all spunky skater girl when playing Max Mayfield on "Stranger Things," the Texas native is quite a versatile fashionista off-screen. She's turned heads at red carpet events, walked the runway for designer brands, and even posed for chic editorial spreads. But her fashion prowess didn't appear overnight. In this way, just as her co-star Millie Bobby Brown has undergone a major style evolution, Sink has experienced her own style transformation since breaking into the industry.

The actor first gained traction on Broadway, performing in the 2012 production of "Annie" and later co-starring with Helen Mirren in "The Audience."  But it was Sink's role on the hit Netflix show catapulted her into stardom and allowed her to experiment with new looks.  "I have always had an interest in fashion and when I was little I dreamed of becoming a fashion designer," she told Buro247. "But you know, before Stranger Things, I was never given the opportunity to wear or experience any of the brands that I am able to wear now."

Not only has her acting career expanded to include projects like "Fear Street: 1978" and "All Too Well: The Short Film," but Sink has been able to find her fashion-footing and establish herself as a style icon. "I don't think I'm defined by one style," she explained to Who What Wear. "I'm not just edgy and I'm not just into a tomboy look and I'm not just girly. I do what I want, and if I like something, I'll wear it."

Before she joined the cast of "Stranger Things," Sadie Sink appeared in the Broadway production of "The Audience" as a young Queen Elizabeth II. At the time, the budding star was already showing off a piece of her style at the opening show's afterparty, posing in a sleeveless blue dress made with a lace overlay. She accessorized with trendy, ankle strap flats and a silver pendant, making for a simple, yet elegant ensemble that suited the occasion. Given that the Texas native was only 1- years-old at the time, this 'fit makes for a perfectly suitable style debut.

While it understandably took time for Sadie Sink to hone her sense of style, the star's love affair with designer brands was an early element of her fashion journey. "The Whale" actor appeared in a playful Kate Spade dress ahead of the "Stranger Things" Season 2 premiere, with the pleated number featuring flutter sleeves and a ribbon-tied neckline. She paired the garment's fun pattern, a modern take on '70s florals, with a sparkly pair of tennis shoes. So, while Sink was clearly drawn to some notable fashion brands early on, this look demonstrates that she kept her style young and playful in an age-appropriate way.

Next, Sadie Sink played with hard and soft aesthetics when appearing alongside her "Stranger Things" co-stars at 2018 PaleyFest, pairing a silky, empire-waist dress with combat boots. The soft elegance of the black-and-white gown is contrasted by the utilitarian footwear, marking one of Sink's favorite styling tips. "I love mixing classic, elegant silhouettes with a little bit of edginess," she told Harper's Bazaar. In the same month, the actor made her runway debut at Paris Fashion Week, walking in a monochromatic 'fit during Undercover's Fall 2018 show. In this way, the year marks an important milestone in Sink's fashion journey, as she was truly starting to show off her style-savviness.

In 2019, Sadie Sink made a stylish appearance at New York Fashion Week, repping Kate Spade at the label's runway show. The redhead wore a leopard-print shift dress over a silk lilac blouse, pairing the items with platform heels, light-toned tights, and a maroon, crocodile handbag. Not only did she look playfully chic decked out in the brand's pieces, she also collabed with Kate Spade for a spring and fall campaign that same year. "Kate Spade was and still is one of my favourite brands," she told L'Officiel in December. "When the opportunity to work with them came, it was a no brainer."

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Understandably, Sadie Sink served Kate Spade looks throughout 2019, appearing at the CFDA fashion awards in a romantic two-piece ensemble from the designer brand. The cream-colored garments, made up of a pencil skirt and high-neck top, featured applique-decorated chiffon over a floral lace, creating a delicate, but playful effect. In addition to demonstrating how the celeb has carried fun and feminine elements throughout her fashion journey, this is also around the time that the Texas native begins to find her personal sense of style. "As I got older, I started to, kind of, figure out what I actually liked and what I felt most confident in," she told Coveteur in 2022. "After I turned, like, 17, 18, then I got more comfortable with fashion."

When it comes to designer brands, Sadie Sink's style transformation features more than just playful Kate Spade ensembles. To celebrate the premiere of Netflix's "Fear Street Trilogy" in June 2021, the scream queen added another entry to the list of winning monochromatic outfits, wearing an all-black look from Prada. The ensemble consisted of a bandeau-style top, high-waisted pants, and leather loafers. Not only does this instance mark a notable career moment, with the celeb starring in "Fear Street: 1978," but it's also a standout in terms of her fashion journey. "I wore this, like, Prada look once. It was, like, really strong black pants and a little crop top," Sink told Coveteur. "That was the first time I was like 'oh, fashion!'"

Following "Fear Street," Sadie Sink earned more recognition by starring in "All Too Well: The Short Film" alongside Dylan O'Brien in 2021. Along with being one of the  best Taylor Swift songs about her exes, "All Too Well" gave the actor a chance to be seen in a more mature light outside of her previous teen roles. This shift was mirrored in the attire she wore to public appearance.  The actor stepped out at the New York City premiere in a Chanel ensemble, combining a black cropped top with structured white slacks for a classic look. The celeb styled the pieces with pointed-toed shoes, a quilted handbag, and an artfully messy hairstyle. Overall, the outfit manages to capture the fall vibes and casual sophistication of the short film while still feeling true to Sink's personal style.

Sadie Sink has proved that she knows how to rock a suit, with her tailored look ranking among the celebrity menswear outfits that will make you want to raid your boyfriend's closet. This was most evident when she stepped out in an all-black Givenchy set at the "Stranger Things" Los Angeles FYSEE Event in 2022, which consisted of an oversized blazer with notched lapels and a padlock button. The "O'Dessa" actor accessorized with pointed-toe heels and a mini handbag, wearing her long tresses in a middle part and opting for a slightly blurred lip. Here, Sink looks absolutely fierce, demonstrating just how much she's come into her style and confidence.

Sadie Sink continued to show off her love for high fashion in 2024, posing at the Chanel Cruise 2024-2025 show in a chic, leather look. The "Stranger Things" star sported a high-waisted, ankle-length skirt and leather top that she only buttoned at the top, pairing the pieces with sleek boots, a matching Chanel bag, and subtle, smokey eye makeup. "So, the silhouette of this look is very timeless, familiar—but when you break it apart, there's these little tough details that kind of edge it up a bit," she told Harper's Bazaar about the look. "The bows on the sleeves brought this sweeter element to it. So, I thought it was kind of the perfect fusion of edginess and classiness."

Sadie Sink turned heads at the Season 5 premiere of "Stranger Things," opting for another monochrome moment with an all-white outfit. The Prada ensemble consisted of a bralette top adorned with silver embellishments and a maxi-length skirt decorated with matching shimmer at the waist. She carried the minimalist, but chic feel into her beauty approach, opting for simple, face-framing layers in her hair and a nude-toned lip color. Clearly, Sink has had a major style transformation throughout her career, and it seems the future only holds more opportunities for the fashion icon to shine.