Binged too much TV?
9 Fashion Films to Escape Into
You’ve watched all the hit TV series like Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, This Is Us, GLOW, Orange Is The New Black, etc. You have also binged your way through numerous docu-series and documentaries from The Tiger King to The Great Hack. Although these works have not particularly helped make you feel more optimistic about the state of the world. So what’s left to watch? Films.
Typically you would not watch a film on a week-day as they’re too long or more of a lazy Sunday viewing experience. However, with more time on your hands maybe you can indulge in a film or two. But may we make a suggestion? Instead of choosing the latest blockbuster, escape your everyday by watching one of these films that pay homage to fashion.
Dior and I
Shortly after the infamous dismissal of John Galliano, Raf Simons was appointed as Artistic Director at Christian Dior in April 2012. His mission is to create his debut collection for Dior’s Autumn/ Winter haute couture show which he must present in July. Working to an incredibly tight timeline, we see Raf find his feet at the iconic fashion houseT. We are privy to his design process and the fraught emotions that come with the work. An inspiring watch.
Little Women
Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women is a great homage to the original tale peppered with Gerwig’s flare and ideals. Rather than being an obstacle, the costumes help the cast better portray the different traits of the March sisters. For example, Jo’s outfits have a slightly masculine design with references to military styling; reflecting her passion to be heard as an equal. In contrast, Meg’s costumes tend to be made of lighter fabrics in pastel tones of purple and green. Her look is more feminine, illustrating her decision to follow a traditional path for a woman. A refreshing adaptation.
Mahogany
Starring the great Diana Ross, Mahogany is the story of a struggling fashion design student who becomes a leading fashion model through a chance encounter with a prolific fashion photographer. Ross designed all 50 outfits she wears in the film in eight months - no mean feat. They are a celebration of 70s style and the workmanship is supreme.
Nocturnal Animals
Tom Ford is a man of many talents, and Nocturnal Animals is his second foray as a film director. Based on the novel ‘Tony and Susan’, Ford creates a gripping watch and uses his language of aesthetics to help tell the tragic tale. The film jumps between two plots which Ford makes clear by juxtaposing Amy McAdam’s glamorous looks against scenes of violence in a desert setting. A must watch.
The Devil Wears Prada
Based on the book of the same name by Lauren Weisberger, a young woman comes to New York to work as an assistant for the infamous fashion editor, Miranda Priestly (who is supposedly based on Anna Wintour). This is a very watchable film with a star-studded cast and a wardrobe that celebrates the Condé Nast era of publishing.
The Dressmaker
A comedy-drama set in the 1950s, about a dressmaker returning to her Australian hometown after being accused of murder when she was a child. She tries to change the opinions of the townsfolk, but will she ever shake off her past? Gorgeous costumes that highlight the transformative power of clothes.
The Gospel According to André
André Leon Talley is no wallflower and his opinion is one of the most coveted in fashion. The film examines his life and the battles he has had to overcome as a black, gay man from the South in a world driven by status. It is clear that André's knowledge and love for beauty is what makes him a world class editor.
The Neon Demon
At the age of sixteen, Jesse is finding her way in the world of modeling in LA with no parents to protect her. The film's basic storyline is interspersed with surreal scenes which become more frequent and ominous. It is unclear whether our protagonist is completely naive or in control of the power her beauty wields. This film does little to dispel a sinister perception of the modeling industry.
Yves Saint Laurent
In 1958 Christian Dior dies, entering a twenty-something Yves to take up the reins of the great fashion house. The film is told from the perspective of Yves’ lover, Pierre Bergé, documenting Yves’ rise to fame and the birth of his famous creations; the Mondrian dress, tuxedo suits for women and luxury ready-to-wear clothes. Based on the biography by Laurence Benaïm, we discover Yves was a manic depressive who even at the height of his fame was deeply insecure about himself and his work.
Photos courtesy of sources above.