The Significance Of Yelena's Outfit In Black Widow's Post-Credits Scene
Contains spoilers for "Black Widow"
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has returned to the big screen with one of its most highly anticipated titles: "Black Widow." The character's long-overdue solo film puts Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) into the spotlight for an action-packed adventure set between the events of "Captain America: Civil War" and "Avengers: Infinity War." This, of course, means that Nat isn't back from the dead after sacrificing herself in "Avengers: Endgame." Nevertheless, it is entirely her story, and she's bringing some old friends along for the ride.
Long before joining SHIELD or the Avengers, Natasha was a Russian operative and ruthless assassin. This chapter of her life began as part of a "family" that replaced the real one she never had for a span of around three years. Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour), aka the Red Guardian, and Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz) acted as Nat's parents, and Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) became her younger sister — a title she held well into their Red Room training. However, once Nat left, she never attempted to reconnect with her old allies, causing resentment to build in Yelena that lasted until her reunion with Nat.
Thankfully, both Yelena and Natasha manage to reconcile over the course of their mission to take out General Dreykov (Ray Winstone) and his Red Room program. Simultaneously, these events positively impact Yelena on a personal level, as evidenced by the outfit she wears in the "Black Widow" post-credits scene.
Yelena's new outfit represents her newfound independence
The post-credits scene of "Black Widow" is a highly emotional one that you won't want to miss. It depicts Yelena visiting Natasha's grave, clearly post-"Endgame," and rearranging the various gifts and cards left behind for the fallen hero. Her outfit consists of a white crop top, a plaid jacket, and plaid pants, accompanied by various pieces of jewelry and platform boots. Additionally, Yelena's hair is no longer tied up and her grown-out nails are painted. This may not seem important to note, but when considering Yelena's past, this is a very telling detail.
For years, Dreykov used Yelena as a weapon, callously stripping away her humanity and individuality. When she's administered the antidote for his mind control serum, however, she wakes up determined to reclaim her mind and take down the Red Room by any means necessary. Her first step is to purchase a tactical vest, which is the very first piece of clothing she ever picks out for herself. But she doesn't stop there. Once Yelena's objective is complete, she's free to blaze her own trail, and she does so by expressing her autonomy and individuality as Yelena — and not just another Red Room Black Widow — through her clothing.
With her sights now firmly set on Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), the man who technically "killed" Natasha Romanoff, it stands to reason we'll see more of Yelena Belova in the MCU down the line. Hopefully, her personal identity will continue to blossom as she distances herself from her past and discovers who she truly is.
"Black Widow" is playing in theaters and is streaming on Disney+ with Premier Access now.