HBO’s The Last of Us is back for Season 2, and fans are already raving about Ellie’s evolving look—one that reflects the passage of time, trauma, and, perhaps surprisingly, a creative collaboration behind the scenes. Costume designer Ann Foley is the mastermind behind the series’ gritty, grounded wardrobe, and she recently shared some exclusive insights into how Ellie’s iconic outfit came together—right down to the hand-doodled Converse sneakers.
The Converse: A Tribute with a Twist
In The Last of Us video games, Ellie is rarely seen without her beat-up Converse sneakers—an unlikely footwear choice for surviving a zombie apocalypse, but one that stuck with fans. For the HBO adaptation, Foley saw those shoes as more than just a nod to the source material—they became a canvas for Ellie’s inner world.
“When I was putting the boards together for Ellie, I just kept coming back to the doodles,” Foley explained. “I really wanted her to have doodles somewhere on her clothes, like teenagers would do. I thought the Converses were the best place to do that.”
She pitched the idea to showrunner Craig Mazin and Bella Ramsey, and both immediately loved it. Ramsey even added the designs themselves, personalizing the shoes with doodles that viewers might spot if they look closely. “I never even asked Bella what the doodles meant,” Foley said. “To me, it was between Bella and Ellie.”
It’s a subtle, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it detail, but one that adds depth to the character—especially for fans who cherish the small ways The Last of Us builds emotional authenticity.
“That Gorgeous Tattoo”
Another visual milestone for Ellie this season is the tattoo on her right forearm, which hides a scar that fans of the game know all too well. The moth design, spiraling into an arrow motif, was faithfully recreated from the Part II game and holds emotional weight for Ellie. According to Foley, special care was taken to ensure the tattoo looked lived-in—something Ellie would’ve had done in the years between seasons.
As with the sneakers, it’s not just the tattoo itself but the thought behind it that makes it powerful. Foley emphasized how much of her costume work centers on grounding characters in their emotional reality. Whether it’s through ink, shoes, or scuffed jackets, each element reflects Ellie’s journey.
A Quiet Dialogue Between Performer and Character
While Season 2 brings more infected and higher emotional stakes, Foley says her proudest contribution is one that might never get a close-up: the Converse shoes. “They represent Ellie, but they also represent Bella,” she said. “That kind of detail is why I love costume design—those quiet little connections that audiences might feel even if they don’t consciously notice.”
And while Ellie eventually swaps out her beloved Converses, they remain a symbol of who she was—and who she’s becoming.
Related topics: