his June, in a glorious month between the end of classes and start of my internship at Marie Claire, I decided to brush up on my fashion knowledge. Did I do the scholarly thing and read a book? God, no. I am the laziest person I know and devised a plan to raise my fashion IQ without ever leaving bed – watch documentaries! Continue reading for the result of my hours of exhaustive (get it?) research.
The September Issue
Though an obvious choice, it would be sacrosanct to speak of fashion docs without The September Issue. It’s behind-the-scenes glimpse into the notorious fashion mag brought new life to the genre and served as a catalyst for the remaining films on this list. Highlights include all scenes with the fiery goddess that is Grace Coddington.
Dior and IFilmed during the first eight weeks of Raf Simons’ tenure at Dior, this documentary offers a candid look into the creation of an haute couture collection. Dior and I follows Raf and his partner Pieter Mulier from the preliminary design process to the atelier, where abstract ideas come to life. Raf has since departed from Dior in a highly-documented resignation and is now creative director at Calvin Klein. Expect big things.
Iris
Like Beyoncé, she is known by one name only. Iris (Apfel) has more style at 95 than pretty much every 20-year-old I know. Not to mention, she is an expert haggler. Whether it’s a Palm Beach vintage shop or an African clothing store in Harlem, Iris always gets the most bang for her buck. Let’s make this woman a visiting Negotiations professor. @AmyG
Bill Cunningham New York
The original street style photographer, Bill Cunningham is something of an enigma – even after watching this film. While it only briefly touches upon his personal life, his 40-year career at The New York Times is heavily chronicled. Scenes of Bill snapping shots in his signature blue coat are interspersed between interviews with those whom he inspired, painting a picture of an equally talented and humble man. In a lighter moment, the film takes us inside Bill’s “apartment”, which lacks a bathroom or kitchen and is instead filled with file cabinets storing Bill’s negatives. Beige Block is luxurious in comparison.
The Devil Wears Prada
Before you say that it’s not a documentary, let me remind you that this is an opinion column. I do what I want. From my experience at Marie Claire, I would argue that The Devil Wears Prada does not completely misrepresent the role of a fashion assistant. As I fetched one editor’s dry cleaning for the umpteenth time, I felt Andy’s pain when she learned that her job description was more similar to dog walker than journalist. As I lugged four boxes from Rodarte through the pouring rain, I understood how Emily was so focused on delivering those Hermés scarves that she walked straight into a moving taxi. Yes, The Devil Wears Prada is dramatized. I loved Marie Claire and was never once asked to fly my boss through a hurricane. However, the film nails its depiction of the fashion industry as competitive and emotionally-charged, and is therefore listed as a fauxcumentary (© IMHO).
So whether you’re nostalgic for fashion month or need to reignite your love of style, it’s time to clear your weekend for a Netflix binge. Fuck the midterms – this is real education.
– Allison Litt
Images courtesy of: Nylon, Roger Egbert, Buro 24/6, Complex, and Wikipedia.