Absolutely Stylish: 5 Fashion Documentaries Worth Watching

Fashion has shaped so much of popular culture and has become such a huge part of everyday life — so much so that the clothing and apparel industry in the US has become the largest in the world, bringing in a staggering $368 billion annually. Whether you’re a fashion blogger or someone who wants to exercise your creativity and express yourself artistically by starting your own clothing line and becoming part of a global market valued at $1.5 trillion in 2020, it’s hard to resist fashion’s allure.

But where do you start? You can take inspiration from some of the icons that defined fashion as we know it today. Fortunately, their paths to their legendary status have been well-documented and put into the following insightful and inspiring films:

Dior and I (2014)

Dior and I chronicles the arrival of the then-new creative director Raf Simons, and, ultimately, the clashes between Simons’ modernity and the proud couture heritage of the House of Christian Dior.

Known for its extravagant and feminine creations, the House of Christian Dior was at a crossroads. Raf Simons was known for his minimalist menswear at the time. This created a palpable tension within Dior. Throughout the film, you can see Simons’ evolution as he steps into a very public role. This is a great example of an icon’s growth, because Simons would go on to revolutionize Dior and make it the great house that it is today.

Notebook on Cities and Clothes (1989)

All great designers are also artists. This much is evident in the Wim Wenders film Notebook on Cities and Clothes. This documentary about Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto has become somewhat of a classic in the fashion world. Ironically, it’s not even a straightforward fashion documentary.

The film shows how Yamamoto crafts his clothes expertly, the way a practiced and methodical artist would. After all, fashion is a medium of art. Through the eyes of the auteur director, you come to see that the documentary itself is also a mode of visual art. This is an important film to watch to ground you and remind you about what fashion can convey.

The Gospel According to André (2017)

In an industry that’s as constantly evolving and irreverent as fashion, André Leon Talley remains one of the most respected and recognizable names. In this documentary, you get to know Vogue’s former editor-at-large in a more personal way—from his childhood in the segregated South, all the way to his early years in New York and his eventual rise in the fashion industry.

You’ll see how the people he got to interact and work with helped him refine his tastes and build his character. You’ll even get to hear from some of these people as well, since they feature in interview segments throughout the documentary. The Gospel of André shows how a formidable fashion icon can come from anywhere, and go on to have everything.

Martin Margiela: In His Own Words (2019)

Most of the big names in fashion don’t shy away from the spotlight, but that’s not the case with the Maison Margiela founder. Unlike his contemporaries, Martin Margiela has always let his creations speak for themselves.

The documentary manages to leave out his face, but you can hear him narrating the film in his own words. He talks about the over-commercialization of fashion and offers several personal insights about the industry, too. This is a great opportunity for you to hear about what the fashion industry is really like from someone who’s been both in and outside of it.

Fresh Dressed (2015)

This documentary doesn’t follow a single designer; instead, it recounts the history of hip-hop fashion. The documentary follows hip-hop fashion from its start on southern cotton plantations to gangs in the Bronx, and then to MTV and mainstream media. Hip-hop has left an indelible mark on fashion, from streetwear down to the fashion week runways.

Hip-hop icons-turned-fashion-trailblazers Sean Combs (Puff Daddy), Kanye West, and Pharrell Williams, among many others, talk about how freedom of expression helped hip-hop become as influential as it is now.

Just remember that all the fashion icons you looked up to were once like you and dreaming about the vast possibilities the fashion world presents. While you may not exactly walk in their literal footsteps, you can take a cue from their fashion wins and learn from their faux pas.