The industries of fashion and film go together like hand in glove. Be it the presence of fashion on the screen or the part the fashion industry has played in making the films what they are today, these two fields of creativity have always been a reflection of each other through the best movies on fashion.

Movies about fashion and style tap into the thinking of every creative profession of society and fascinate everyone else. They are a form of escapism for us audiences, a view into the life of glitz and glamour without having to make an effort to dress up and step out of the house.

Many iconic fashion movies have been made to either celebrate the iconic industry, talk about its history, indulge in speculation, or simply as an appreciation for a designer’s fulfilling journey over the years. Dive into this journey, and take a look at some of the best fashion movies of all times.

Coco Before Chanel

Audrey Tautoy’s Coco Before Chanel is a dose of the history of Fashion Design. It follows the life of Coco Chanel during her early years when she worked as a seamstress. This is followed by the journey she makes with her brand and the eponymous house of fashion.

This rare biopic from the fashion industry goes deep below the surface, panning out the inner world of designing and the industry of fashion through the eyes of a woman designer. Accounted for the redefinition of the modern woman’s wardrobe, Coco Chanel and her brand has retained their prominence in the fashion industry.

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Westwood

A movie about the last genuine ‘punk’ of Britain, Westwood outlines the life of Dame Vivienne Westwood, who ignited the punk movement in British fashion with ex-partner Malcolm McLaren. For over 40 years, she has been responsible for creating few of the most distinct looks in modern fashion.

Due to controversies, startling statements, and other claims, Vivienne Westwood is reluctant to participate in this movie, but the film focuses on how her style lives on through clothes and poses that she always turns to when in public.

The film uses archival footage and insightful interviews to create an image of Vivienne – from her childhood to her time in Paris and Milan.

Phantom Thread

Considered one of the best fashion films, Phantom Thread is a phenomenal storytelling achievement. It captures the exacting nature of haute couture and how the industry can get obsessive, claustrophobic, and eerie.

This movie captures the essence of the relationship between high society designer Reginald Woodcock, whose character is said to be based on Charles James, and a woman he meets at a cafe and makes his muse.

This so-called ‘fairy tale’ is dark, intoxicating, beautifully woven, and becomes a clear nightmare as you watch along. Post-war fashion and the head it turned is depicted in exacting manners through the captivating performances.

Iris

A documentary on the life of Iris Apfel, this movie follows the designer’s daunting and fulfilling life journey. She began with a textile business that she shared with her husband, and her enthusiasm for art, fashion, and design helped her build a style that was both different and tasteful.

An ode to the designer’s unique eye, this movie has been made with as much experiment as Iris put in her design and some of her best fashion dresses and her interior & furniture designs It was received as a grand and joyful testament of the designer’s act of artistic creation.

Valentino – The Last Emperor

A movie about one of fashion’s foremost names, Valentino – The Last Emperor, follows Valentino Garavani, of Italy, in the final years of his work as a fashion designer. The film reflects his journey to become one of the first designers to reach the ‘inspirational’ status.

The final act of Valentino’s life follows his suspicions about the corporation that was buying his clothing – the journey is riddled with his thoughts about this company not having the right intentions. A born dreamer and the last true couturier, Valentino takes us into his creative process and into the life he has built as a result of this process.

Valentino Garavani was a standard for the fashion industry, and he is celebrated with grace and beauty here. And, of course, his famous red dresses make an appearance, too.

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Manolo – The Boy Who Made Shoes For Lizards

This movie is an in-depth documentary that follows the life of designer Manolo Blahnik. Someone who began with the humble profession of a cobbler, Manolo’s dedicated work and confidence have gained him the title of the most famous luxury shoemaker of the world of the 20th and the 21st centuries.

Manolo still humbly calls himself a ‘cobbler.’ However, this movie is a depiction of the most influential, intellectual, and romantic fashion figures of today – all the behind-the-scenes action that goes into making the master shoe designs expensive, inimitable, and luxurious.

With the use of colourful animations, time leaps, archival footage, and flashbacks, this movie spans a 40-year career from the vortex of Manolo’s imagination.

To end with

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Filmmaking in the fashion industry is an expansive field that holds a wide variety of opportunities for fashion enthusiasts and fashion students. With an increase in the number of influential designers, brands, companies, and houses, the need for filmmakers and documentary creators has increased multifold.

To step into the field of fashion filmmaking and make the best movies on fashion, the correct first step would be to gain knowledge and experience in the field of fashion design. So, why not choose a 3-month Diploma in fashion design from the JD Institute of Fashion Technology? This course acquaints you with the fundamentals of fashion design, including the creative and the technical processes.

Take your chance and enrol now, and the next best movie about fashion can be something you have created!