While Hollywood’s biggest stars graced the Met Gala’s iconic red carpet on the first Monday of May, one notable name was missing from the glamorous affair – Millie Bobby Brown.
The 23-year-old actress and producer, best known for her starring role as Eleven on the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, ultimately did not make her anticipated debut at the annual fashion extravaganza.
Brown’s absence, however, should come as no surprise to her legion of fans. The British talent has been hard at work in recent months filming the highly-anticipated fifth and final season of the beloved sci-fi series that catapulted her to fame as a child star.
With production taking place away from the Met Gala’s home of New York City, Brown’s schedule likely conflicted with the star-studded event.
Despite missing this year’s gala, 2024 has already proven to be a major year for Brown’s forays into the fashion world.
In January, the young trendsetter expanded her popular clean beauty brand Florence by Mills into clothing and accessories.
In an interview with ELLE.com, Brown opened up about her personal journey with a style that inspired the new fashion line’s creation.
“When Stranger Things took off, I was 10,” she explained. “I was going to these events and ceremonies, and all these big fashion brands wanted to style me.
I didn’t know what my personal style was, and the only time I got dressed, other than for ceremonies, was to go to work.”
As she grew older in the spotlight, Brown found herself on a relatable path of self-discovery when it came to fashion.
“As I got older, I was like, ‘What is my personal style?’ A lot of my friends already knew [their styles], but I didn’t know mine. For me, fashion has always been ever-evolving. It’s fluid.”
It was this universal experience of a young woman exploring her sartorial identity that drove Brown to expand Florence by Mills into clothing.
“I wanted to create something so that girls going through that similar experience have a resource to be able to try innovative new outfits and styles and phases,” she said.
Accessibility and affordability were also key priorities for the entrepreneur. “I wanted to be able to create something that was accessible to my generation, to my demographic, so that when they go into a store, they feel like they have that one corner—even if it’s a corner in the back—that they have what they’re looking for, and they’re able to afford it.”
While Brown may have skipped this year’s Met Gala festivities, her continued success in the fashion realm proves she is wise beyond her years.
From eco-friendly beauty products to trendy apparel and accessories, her brand is giving young people the tools to experiment with style with confidence and affordability.
Given her work ethic and business savvy, it seems inevitable that Brown will grace the iconic Met steps someday, perhaps even as a co-chair like her fellow actress Amanda Seyfried did this year.
For now, her fans can follow her stylish content on social media as she brings her fashion perspectives to the final episodes of Stranger Things.
Whenever Brown does ascend the Met’s famous stairs, the fashion world will certainly be watching with eager anticipation for her bold, trendsetting looks that empower youth to embrace their uniqueness through style.
After all, this is just the beginning of what’s sure to be a long, impactful career straddling the worlds of entertainment and fashion.
