Decoding Priah Ferguson's Style Evolution

Priah Ferguson is a rising star renowned for her portrayal of the witty character Erica Sinclair in Stranger Things. She has graced our TVs for years as we’ve binged on one of Netflix’s best shows. As her fans, we have witnessed her style evolve off-screen from her pre-teen to teenage years. Interestingly, for someone who has been acting since she was 10 years old, Priah has been careful not to box herself into a specific style of fashion. She has been quoted in many interviews as saying she does not have a specific style and dresses according to her mood.

However, if you scroll through her Instagram page, you will appreciate that she is a stylish young lady. I guess, like any other teen, she loves the freedom to explore what fashion has to offer.

As she got older, her off-screen style changed to suit her personal taste. Inspired by the setting of the breakout show, Stranger Things, she embraced nostalgic fashion when she was around 15 years old. She has evolved her style to combine vintage thrift finds with modern clothes while adding a modern teenage twist to the look.

Aided by her stylist, she has endeavored to mix different elements and items that many would consider mixing. That being said, it is important to note that this fashion aficionado cares about sustainability. In 2022, she partnered with the thrifting brand ThreadUP. She has since shed fast fashion and opted for a more sustainable source for her looks.

Speaking with PEOPLE magazine, she said, “Once I found out fast fashion was bad for the planet, that's when I wanted to take the initiative to make changes — because I like eating fresh foods and I like eating my veggies, and I like going to festivals and swimming. I can't do those things if we're harming the planet, and thredUp educated me on why thrifting is best for the planet."

While it might not seem like it, fast fashion incentivizes fashion companies to overproduce clothes, which ultimately harms the environment. When over-manufactured products end up in landfills, they cause pollution. It is estimated that fast fashion is responsible for about 10% of all global carbon emissions.

Priah does not shy away from giving props to fashion trailblazers she admires. Sticking with her go-to style of mixing bohemian vintage Hollywood glamor with a modern twist, she is an admirer of Marilyn Monroe, Dorothy Dandridge, and Diahann Carroll. You know... the fashion icons of the 1950s and 1960s we all think of when vintage glamor crosses our minds.

But she doesn’t rely on vintage stylistic inspiration alone. She is appreciative of modern-day fashion trendsetters. Speaking to PopSugar in 2022, she mentioned her admiration for Rihanna and Zendaya, two notable trendsetters in fashion, and that she “hopes to emulate them a bit.” “I like to mix a lot of different things together that people might not be expecting," Priah added. "It's still funky and teenager-y, but it's not doing too much. I still have some youthfulness about it.”

We can expect Priah’s style to evolve some more in the coming years. After all, she is still in her teenage years. As a person who loves taking stylistic risks and exploring different styles, Priah is bound to switch it up and enjoy herself.