Watching documentaries is one of the easiest ways you can learn about something while still being entertained. The 21st century has brought us documentaries that are groundbreaking in their findings and will never leave you feeling bored. The fashion industry is often thought to be elitist and closed off to people who want to learn more. These documentaries are a rare look into the fashion world and the stories behind some of the most notable individuals and events.
“Dior and I”
“Dior and I” documents Raf Simons’ first year as the creative director of the House of Dior. Since Dior is a classic haute couture brand, having Simons as the creative director was a radical change in the brand’s DNA. Simons, who is a minimal and modern designer, found it challenging to bring those elements to this famously feminine brand that has a consistent and iconic look. The documentary is a great inside look at all the different things that go into creating one season of clothing and its respective runway show. The director, Frédéric Tcheng, does a great job at showing the true story, and he includes multiple perspectives to show what it takes to create this massive production.
“The First Monday in May”
The Met Gala is known as the Oscars of the fashion industry. Every year, the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City hosts a ball to raise money for the institution. Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, handles the event and makes an invitation to it highly coveted. Celebrities work with designers to create extravagant looks to match the theme of the Costume Institute’s exhibition, and this process takes months of work. This film looks at what it takes to design the event and all the intricacies present in creating the most sought-after ball of the year. The documentary follows different individuals to see how they impact each area of the event and how it all comes together for the night of the first Monday in May.
“Mademoiselle C”
Mademoiselle C is the story of Carine Roitfeld and how she started her magazine, CR Fashion Book. Roitfeld was the editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris, and then she moved to New York to start her bi-annual print magazine, CR Fashion Book. The documentary highlights the challenges of starting a magazine from scratch and the process behind every editorial and photoshoot. I learned so much more about Roitfeld through this movie, and I developed a newfound appreciation for the work that goes into creating a print magazine.
These three documentaries are my absolute favorite fashion documentaries, but there are so many more incredible movies that every student or lover of fashion needs to watch. Below is a list of my other favorite fashion documentaries.
7 Days Out (2018)
Westwood: Punk. Icon. Activist. (2018)
McQueen (2018)
Alexa Chung: The Future of Fashion (2015)
Jeremy Scott: The People’s Designer (2015)
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documentaries
