9 Documentaries To Cultivate Your Fashion Expertise

Named artistic director of Balmain at the tender age of twenty-five, in 2011 Olivier Rousteing was already following the course of a remarkable destiny. In this intimate documentary, directed by Anissa Bonnefort, we follow him through his daily life: from the frenetic offices where he prepares his collections, to his luxurious apartment at the end of the day, eating alone in an immense kitchen. But behind the shiny facade, the recognition and the bright lights, there is of course another story — that of a man born under no name, adopted by a family in Bordeaux, on a quest to unearth his personal history and that of his biological parents. A sincere, deeply moving quest for identity with, as its background, the vibrant energy of the fashion world.

Available on Canal VOD and in the Arte Boutique

Wonder Boy - Olivier Rousteing, né sous X (2019) — Trailer (English Subtitles)

Katy Perry, ASAP Rocky, Miley Cyrus, Rita Ora, and Kanye West are just a few of the superstars to appear in Vlad Yudin's documentary on the rise of American designer Jeremy Scott, the fashion world's enfant terrible. Here, we follow Scott from his native Missouri to the catwalk of Italy's Moschino, where he's worked as creative director since 2013. Today, Jeremy Scott is a celebrity of fashion and pop culture. Pop elements are indeed consistently celebrated in his colorful and joyful collections, always accompanied by a dose of humor. Deftly mixing popular inspirations, streetwear, and couture, his incredible imagination has propelled him to the forefront of the international scene. From Kansas City to New York, Milan, and Paris Fashion Week, Jeremy Scott lives life at a hundred miles an hour.

Available on Netflix

Jeremy Scott - The People's Designer - Official Trailer

By now it's common knowledge that Vivian Westwood is the British queen of punk. Subversive and free-spoken, since the 70s the designer has used clothes as her preferred medium for communicating her revolutionary idea and her desire to shake up the system. This documentary, signed by Letmiya Sztalryd, follows the journey of a woman — an artist, an intellectual, and a climate activist — whose causes are worn for the world to see, from corsets to suspenders to printed t-shirts. Her slogan, "do it yourself" continues to inspire new generations of artists and designers looking to push the boundaries of the fashion world. With Vivienne Westwood, punk is far from having disappeared. The proof is in the picture.

Available on Arte

A couple composed of dreams, glory, and pain, rendered through two complementary visions — this documentary by Pierre Thoretton tells the love story of couturier Yves Saint Laurent and his mentor, the businessman and patron Pierre Bergé, from their introduction in 1958 to the designer's death fifty years later. As Pierre Bergé prepares to separate himself from their shared collection of contemporary art, he looks back on five decades of their life and work; their common quest for beauty and contentedness. From the gardens of Majorelle, in Marrakech, to Normandy's Chateau Gabriel, this documentary takes us into the private life of one of fashion's most legendary couples.

Available on Amazon

Yves Saint Laurent: L'amour fou - Official Trailer (HD)

In this documentary by Richard Press, we dive into the life of one of fashion's greatest photographers. For nearly 50 years, Bill Cunningham devoted himself to immortalizing street fashion and its brilliant looks — sported by both celebrities and people like ourselves — in cities around the world. Before his passing in 2016, he lived in a small apartment filled with documents, the walls covered with photos from New York, Paris, Milan, taken as he explored the cities. He understood better than anybody that style wasn't limited to the catwalk, red carpet, or magazine cover. The film is a poignant tribute to the New York Times contributor, immediately recognizable from the blue work outfit he donned each day to hop on his bike and go out into the world, creating a singular body of work that's become central to street-style photography.

Available on Archive New York

Bill Cunningham New York (2011) - Official Trailer

The year is 2007. For the first time, Anna Wintour has opened the doors of Vogue magazine to lead us behind the scenes on the making of the September issue, the most important publication of the year. Over 800 pages long and read by an estimated 13 million women, one in ten in the United States, Anna Wintour has long been a household name. Indeed, director RJ Cutler introduces her as the most important figure in fashion, at home and internationally. A behind-the-scenes look at one of the most important industry events of the year, The September Issue offers us a realistic and exciting portrait of the stylish hydra that inspired The Devil Wears Prada, along with a clear look at the colossal amount of work that goes into each page of the bible of style.

Available on Canal+

The September Issue - Official Trailer

At the age of 93 (today she's 99), famous decorator, fashion legend, and New York socialite Iris Apfel invites the camera into her life — from party to party, through Manhattan's most beautiful boutiques and expertly-curated vintage shops. With her arduous treasure-hunting, her exuberant and glamorous Park Avenue apartment, arms piled high with bracelets, and a gaze framed by her signature glasses, she's a fashion force to be reckoned with. An ode to life and a gorgeous lesson in filmmaking from Albert Maysles, here we get a front-row look at the enchanting world of the self-dubbed "geriatric starlet."

Available on Amazon

Iris Official Trailer 1 (2015) - Iris Apfel Documentary HD

This portrait of the incredible Diana Vreeland, directed by Lisa Immordino Vreeland, Bent-Jorgen Perlmutt, and Frédéric Tcheng, leads us deep into the archives of Harpers' Bazaar and the life of one of its most iconic editors. From her office in Manhattan to Andy Warhol's Factory, or else through star-studded nights at Club 54, Diana Vreeland has inspired many generations of artists and designers, from Barbara Streisand to Cher, from Calvin Klein to Twiggy. A true visionary, she was the first to photograph Mick Jagger and see in him the light of a new era, marked by globalization and the emergence of the culture industry. A voyage through Vreeland's brilliant mind and fifty years of fashion history.

Available on Vimeo

Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel - Official Trailer (2011)

After launching the blog, The Blonde Salad in 2009, Chiara Ferragni has become one of the fashion world's most powerful influencers. With over 22 million Instagram followers, she's also founded two businesses whose combined turnover was to the tune of around 40 million euros in 2019. With cameos by personalities like Eva Chen, Jeremy Scott, Delphine Arnault, and Maria Grazia Chiuri, this documentary by Elisa Amoruso follows the girl boss through her extraordinary day to day life and the world of style, with glimpses of her beautiful marriage to rapper Fedez.

Available on Amazon Prime

CHIARA FERRAGNI - UNPOSTED (2019) - Trailer ufficiale HD