Thirteen (2003)

Set in 2000’s Los Angeles, this indie film follows the semi-autobiographic story of Tracy, a 13-year-old girl starting high school, detailing her desire to fit in, befriending Evie, a toxic friend that pulls her into a lifestyle of drugs and underage sex, and the subsequent downward spiral of her mental health.

The ‘costume design’ of the movie largely comprised clothes already owned by the actresses, giving it a remarkable authenticity.

The silhouettes, textures, and patterns truly make the film a time capsule—flared jeans, fur, leopard print, pinned and laced-up shirts, featuring an abundance of handmade and altered attire, paying homage to the influence punk and grunge culture had on early 2000s fashion.

The clothing is integral to reflecting the personality change of the main character. In the beginning, she dresses in pastels, featuring items like capris and full-length tops that show her recent transition from middle school.

In the scene of her introduction to Evie, fashion plays a central role, as she is dressed in darker, more revealing clothes, which makes Tracy feel inferior and out of place. She feels to fit in she simply must retire her youthful look in favour of dressing like Evie, and it is exactly this decision that leads to the first conversation between the two and sparks a close friendship.

As the film progressively descends into increasingly more troubling and gruesome themes, including drug abuse and self-harm, the styling choices reflect that. Tracy’s clothing becomes progressively more revealing and distressed. Her makeup is darker and more smudged, and her hair turns from neatly brushed golden locks into a heavily teased, messy updo.

By Masha Gasynska, a student on the BA Journalism course at London College of Communication