The Style of Trainspotting

A cult classic of British Cinema, Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting is widely remembered for its dark humour, timeless soundtrack and grimey aesthetic, but it is the film’s sartorial style which has cemented its enduring legacy.

Centred around a group of hopeless heroin addicts living in Edinburgh, Scotland during the height of unemployment and drug abuse, Trainspotting reimagined the typical “junkie” by creating humanised and relatable characters. Capturing the cultural zeitgeist of the era through the musical and stylistic choices allowed audiences to become invested within the story, a huge factor behind the immense success of the film during the late 90s.

Renton, Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie are all their own very unique and distinctive characters, albeit whilst sharing the common bond of heroin. Although their clothing isn't important to them, their respective styles perfectly epitomise their personalities. Renton is a rebel by nature, displayed from his opening “Choose Life” monologue. His tattered and worn wardrobe stands as a middle finger to the conventional 9-5 lifestyle which he so openly rejects, whilst his antithesis that is Begbie is adorned in typically casual wear; loafers, sweaters and suits. Spud and Sickboy on the other hand display the balance between the two attitudes, dressed in mismatched suits alongside skinny jeans and boots.

Costume designer Rachael Fleming masterfully conveyed the traits of each  individual character within Trainspotting through her meticulous selection of garments. When discussing her inspiration behind the stylistic choices made within the film, Fleming cited reference to the Punk bands of the 60s and 70s such as The Clash with their carefree and wild aesthetic matching the characters perfectly.

To see the influence of Trainspotting you need look no further than the Fashion industry. The film may have reinvented the skinny jean for men, but it would be years later that the likes of Hedi Slimane would introduce the silhouette to the runway making it part of the norm, whilst other notable labels including Vetements and Balenciagia have channelled their inner Renton for their recent menswear collections.