The most iconic fashion films of all time
By Liam Hess
There are few creative mediums that go as closely together as fashion and film. Whether it's a director's ability to capture the dramatic movement of a dress on film, or the contributions to the world of cinema made by fashion designers over the decades, the symbiotic relationship has created some of the most memorable moments on the big screen.
So, whether it's to satisfy your curiosity about an industry often shrouded in mystery, to learn the background to some of the biggest moments in fashion history, or just to indulge in a little curiosity, here you will find all the most iconic movies about fashion.
‘Funny Face’ (1957)
When it comes to fashion movies, there's nothing happier than 'Funny Face.' Audrey Hepburn stars as Jo Stockton, a shy New York bookstore clerk who dreams of studying philosophy in Paris. Her aspirations are realized through the most unlikely means after she becomes the muse of celebrated fashion photographer, Dick Avery, played by Fred Astaire. Filled with magnificent Parisian sets, wondrous melodies by George and Ira Gershwin, and stunning gowns crafted by both legendary couturier Edith Head and the 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' star's regular collaborator Hubert de Givenchy, the film is a perfect ode to the pleasure of Haute Couture.
‘Blow Up’ (1966)
One of the most sinister films on the list is this darkly glamorous thriller directed by Italian filmmaker, Michelangelo Antonioni. The film is set in 1960s London, and weaves together an unlikely story of intrigue centering on lusty fashion photographer Thomas, played by David Hemmings, whose character believes he has accidentally photographed a murder. In retrospect, the protagonist's complicated attitude toward his female subjects is largely a product of his times, but the film's menacing emotions are fueled by a series of fabulous cameos, from Richard Avedon's model and muse, Veruschka, to the iconic Jane Birkin. 'Blow-Up' is today a fascinating scenario that illustrates a pivotal moment in the history of fashion.
'Who Are You, Polly Maggoo?' (1966)
'Who Are You, Polly Maggoo?' was released the same year as 'Blow-Up,' however, its vision of the Sixties is more surreal and deliberately satirical. Directed by American photographer and filmmaker, William Klein, the film mocks the excesses and frivolities of the fashion industry in a way that manages to be both glamorous and grotesque. Be drawn to the film's wardrobe—offering a brilliantly realized 1960s-style time capsule that has since inspired Jean-Paul Gaultier and Marc Jacobs—and stick around for Grayson Hall's brilliant performance as Miss Maxwell, an imperious Diana Vreeland-esque fashion editor whose scathing comments can make or break a career.
‘Mahogany’ (1975)
When it comes to film portrayals of fashion designers, there's nothing more downbeat than Diana Ross' role as design student Tracy Chambers, whose clothes become an unlikely hit in high-end salons. society of 1970s Rome. Directed by Berry Gordy of Motown Records, the film celebrates fashion at its most extravagant and excessive, with a political message that remains relevant today as the protagonist is torn between her love for an activist of color fighting the gentrification of her hometown Chicago, and the glamorous but ultimately empty promises of her modeling career in Europe. With a soundtrack worthy of any era, 'Mahogany' is a daring and surprisingly self-aware fashion fantasy.
‘Prêt-à-Porter’ (1994)
In Robert Altman's sprawling, stellar, and highly satirical ode to the fashion industry, nothing is as it seems. Using the filmmaker's signature mockumentary style, there are celebrity cameos from the likes of Julia Roberts, Sophia Loren and Lauren Bacall, all playing various fashionistas who flock to Paris Fashion Week in the wake of Olivier's death. de la Fontaine, head of the city's fashion council. Although the film was a critical and commercial bombshell, the initially puzzled response from the fashion industry has mellowed over the years into affection. As a document of the heady heights of the catwalk of the time, there is no better film about fashion in the '90s to watch.
‘The Devil Wears Prada’ (2006)
When it comes to bringing the rarefied and secretive world of fashion media into the spotlight, few films have been as successful as 'The Devil Wears Prada'. Starring Academy Award nominee Meryl Streep in her role as the editor-in-chief of Runway magazine, we follow the journey of the initially fashion-illiterate Andy Sachs, played by Anne Hathaway, as she is drawn into this cutthroat world as Miranda's assistant. . An endlessly quotable and funny glimpse into the obsessive nature of those who work in the fashion world, the film also benefits from brilliant supporting performances from Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci. But could Andy's boyfriend be the real villain of the movie? Just take a quick tour of Twitter to see that the debate continues to this day.
'Coco Before Chanel' (2009)
If you're looking for a dose of fashion history, you can't go wrong with Audrey Tautou's sublime performance as Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel in her early years as a seamstress, before founding her namesake house, which would redefine the modern woman's wardrobe. Aided by elegant cinematography and art direction—and perhaps most memorable, stunning style moments courtesy of French costume designer Catherine Leterrier, whose work on the film earned her a César Award—it's the rare fashion biopic that delves below the surface, offering a moving glimpse into the inner world of the iconic French designer.
By Esteban Villaseñor
‘The Neon Demon’ (2016)
Phantom Thread (2017)
Few films capture the obsessive and demanding nature of Haute Couture as deftly as Paul Thomas Anderson's claustrophobic and brilliantly haunting 'Phantom Thread,' which chronicles the relationship between high-society designer Reginald Woodcock—loosely based on Charles James—and a young woman he meets in a coastal cafe who becomes his muse. Oscar nominee Daniel Day-Lewis' performance is more than matched by his co-stars Vicky Krieps and Lesley Manville, who bring this dark fairy tale to life. This film's window into the world of post-war fashion is a heady, carefully intertwined fairy tale, but ultimately more like a nightmare.
Cruella (2021)
While Disney's fantastical take on the world of fashion may be a little far-fetched, it hits more than it misses. The film tells the origin story of the infamous and glamorous villain of '101 Dalmatians', Cruella DeVil, played by Emma Stone. Her beginnings as a renegade fashion designer—when she bucked the flowers and frivolity of 1960s London style and brought something darker and more dangerous into the mix—has many parallels to real-world figures such as Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano. The wardrobe may be ahistorical (although intentionally), however, the history of egos and excess in fashion is undoubtedly timeless.
This article was originally published in Vogue Magazine. vogue.com
