Enter the world of fashion movies.
Sometimes there are moments when our closets are ho-hum and we “definitely have nothing to wear“: these are the times that we need inspiration from other places, so take a look at my best fashion movies 😉
Whether you want to channel your inner Cher Horowitz from Clueless and be the queen bee in knee socks, or work at Runway with The Devil that Wears Prada, there’s a cinematic icon for that.
Fashion movies at their best are an escape, and we like them even more when we’re provided with style inspiration or a little bit of new knowledge we can share with our savvy friends.
Because everyone likes to learn new facts, right?! That’s when documentaries like The September Issue, which tracks Vogue editor Anna Wintour as she creates the annual fashion bible, and Bill Cunningham New York, showing us the first street style photographer as he goes about his work, take over our lives for two hours or so. They give us an inside look at an industry we may never actually be a part of.
So, (and I can bet you know where I’m going with this, assuming the title hasn’t given me away!) I’ve compiled a list of ten of my favorite fashion movies.
Breakfast At Tiffany’s
No list of fashion films could possibly be complete without Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about this film is that its fashion continues to be emulated today. Over half a decade later, women are still sporting dark-lensed, black framed sunglassses, liquid-lined cat-eyes and, possibly the most recognizable image from the film, the Givenchy created Little Black Dress. Even Audrey’s haute hair style is still much sought after.
Clueless
Cher Horowitz is everything. Clueless is a trip back to the 90s and all the fashion we still wish was socially acceptable. Mini backpacks, fluffy pens and knee highs are classic Cher accessories. It’s a lesson in fashion and provides for some comedic relief. The skirts were short, the socks were over-the-knees and the computer program that mixed and matched Cher’s wardrobe was enviable! Goodness knows we have had many a day when, after the pain of the morning alarm clock wears off, we would have loved to have a computer choose our outfit for us! Plus, Cher’s line about her party clothes being “too binding” is priceless (and all too relatable!).
Prêt-à–porter
Costume designer Catherine Leterrier with Jean-Paul Gaultier, Sonia Rykiel, Christian Lacroix, Thierry Mugler, Robert Altman’s foray into the world of fashion may have struck some people as a little too avant garde, but there’s no question that this is one of the great movies about the industry. Smart and at times irreverent, it is a look at fashion through the eyes of one of cinema’s all-time great directors.
The Devil Wears Prada
We know it, we love it, we’ve read the book and seen the film (some of us countless times), and though it has permanently instilled the fear of – ahem – Miranda Priestly a.k.a. we-all-know-who in us, it cannot be disputed that this is one of the best fashion films to come out in the last ten years. Meryl Streep’s “blue sweater” monologue (you know the one) is pure cinematic and screen writing genius, and may be the best scene in the movie. That is all.
Lagerfeld Confidential
This intimate portrait of one of the fashion world’s most influential and iconic figures, Karl Lagerfeld, is a must-see. Following him as he creates his Chanel, Fendi and eponymous collections, it offers a revealing insight into his busy world – working into the night, dreaming up collections and managing a Diet Coke addiction.
Sex And The City
It’s no surprise that after its reign as the most fashionable show on television, that SatC the Movie would be assured a place on this list. We tuned in to the TV show so we could see not only what was happening in their love lives, but even more so to see what the girls would be wearing. SatC was fashion forward and inspired many a trend, from the nameplate necklace, to the oversized flower pins to the never-ending parade of luxury shoes; we loved them all (even when we hated them). And when the fab four hit the big screen, we were there to see every dress, every accessory, and every shoe. Natch.
Coco Before Chanel
We’ve read the Coco Chanel quotes. Oogled over the classic quilted bags and oversized double C’s, but we don’t truly know the story of Coco Chanel without a small visual history lesson. A woman known for her own style has helped define women for generations to come. This is the story before she was at the peak of her career.
Valentino: The Last Emperor
A lookback at one of the most famous designers’ career and designs for some of the most iconic dresses.It shows the lead up to one of Valentino’s last couture collections and looks at his relationship of his wife. It helps us understand one of the most famous fashion houses. Prepare to enter Valentino’s fabulous world of excessive wealth (we’re talking pugs on private jets) in this heart-warming film about the Italian couturier. Focusing on his relationship with companion and business partner, Giancarlo Giammetti, it takes the viewer on a journey into the heart of his design house as he prepares to say farewell after four decades.
The September Issue
The editor-in-chief of Vogue doesn’t kid around. And while she has a reputation of being an ice queen, The September Issue provides insight into what it’s like working for her and being her. As the title suggests, it’s about the lead up to the issue’s launch and Wintour’s life before Vogue. A round up of the best fashion films wouldn’t be complete without this exposé of life at style bible American Vogue. What sets out to reveal the ins-and-outs of the September Issue, the biggest of the year, turns into a surprisingly human story about the relationship between Vogue’s infamous editor, Anna Wintour, and her foil, Creative Director Grace Coddington.
Bill Cunningham New York
Bill Cunningham is often called the first street style photographer. The New York Times photographer still shoots film, rides around on his beaten up bicycle and lived in Carnegie Hall. After seeing season after season of trends, Cunningham has an eye enviable of any editor or photographer. He knows a trend before it’s even a trend.
Zoolander
“I’m pretty sure there’s a lot more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking” – Derek Zoolander. Well, what may be more on the comedy side of the fashion spectrum, if you’re looking to have a good laugh at the fashion industry, that’s precisely what Zoolander can provide. And plus, you can practice your famous blue steel face.
…AND A BRAND NEW DOCUMENTARY
Mademoiselle C
Fabien Constant’s film about Carine Roitfeld is, in many ways, about rebirth. Following the fashion icon after her split from Paris Vogue, it sees her setting up a new magazine, CR Fashion Book, as she becomes a grandmother for the first time to Romy Nicole. This life change becomes a major influence on her work, inspiring that iconic cover of buxom Kate Upton clutching baby chicks. A heart-warming look behind the steely exterior of the fashion world, it’s thoroughly enjoyable to see Roitfeld interacting with fellow stalwarts Karl Lagerfeld, Tom Ford and Donatella Versace – all of whom come out smelling of roses.
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