Image via Complex Original
Documentaries document things (duh) and aim to be educational. The good ones, though, won't make you feel as though you're sitting in history class. After all, they're still films and should be entertaining. Fashion documentaries are no exception. By the grace of the film gods, there are ones actually worth watching.
Now, you might be asking yourself, "Why the hell should I watch films about fashion?" The obvious reason is to learn more about designers and their brands. But at times, these people and companies are relatively private, so it's also about having access to information you probably won't see elsewhere. Documentaries, unlike short interviews, offer more in-depth looks at the people and things that make up the industry. There are also cameos from hot supermodels. So there's that.
If you're not sure where to start, we've come up with a list of the best titles. These are available on DVD, Netflix, or YouTube (if you don't mind watching them in a series of clips), so they shouldn't be hard to find. From a look into Karl Lagerfeld's life, the murder of Gianni Versace, to Yohji Yamamoto in 1989, here are the 10 Fashion Documentaries You Need to See.
Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton (2007)
Director: Loïc Prigent
Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton tells the story of Marc Jacobs and also takes you through the creative process of his work at LV and his eponymous line. The film features great content, such as Jacobs' meeting with polka-dot artist Yayoi Kusama, his collaboration with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, and more. Not to mention, the film has one of the funniest and most interesting commentary of the bunch.
Watch it now on Netflix.
Bill Cunningham New York (2010)
Director: Richard Press
If you aren't familiar with Bill Cunningham, this documentary is a great start. Press, who reportedly spent eight years convincing Cunningham to be filmed, tells the story of the New York Times photographer and his importance to streetstyle photography—Anna Wintour will often only stop and have her photo taken by Cunningham. While the film is about his work, Cunningham reveals quite a bit about his personal life as well. He allows Press inside his tiny Carnegie Hall studio, discusses his stint as a hat designer, and more. We won't spoil everything for you, but one of the most interesting things about this man is how old school he is about everything, despite his popularity.
Buy the DVD now at Best Buy.
Fashion Victim: The Killing of Gianni Versace (2001)
Director: James Kent
As you know, the late Gianni Versace was murdered by Andrew Cunanan at his Miami home in 1997. Fashion Victim: The Killing of Gianni Versace aims to tell the story of Versace, as well as explores the events leading up to his death and the effects it had on the fashion industry. The documentary includes great interviews with family members and Pete Cunanan, who talks about his son, Andrew. If that's not enough, there's also footage of Versace's Miami home and the designer at his fashion show that took place just days before his death, as well as audio of the phone call made when Versace was found dead.
Watch it now on Netflix.
Notebook on Cities and Clothes (1989)
Director: Wim Wenders
German director Wim Wender tells the story of a young Yohji Yamamoto. He follows the designer as he prepares to debut another collection in Paris. Perhaps what makes this different from other Yamamoto portraits is that the documentary ends up being much about the skill, aesthetic, and work of the designer as it is about the relations Wender makes between film and fashion.
Certain parts of Yamamoto's scenes are in Japanese, so be sure to look out for a version with subtitles.
Watch it now on Netflix.
Lagerfeld Confidential (2007)
Director: Rodolphe Marconi
Rarely do we see an in-depth look at Karl Lagerfeld's every day life. The iconic designer is relatively personal, despite his outspoken nature. And until the release of Lagerfeld Confidential we were left to question what was really behind the "Karl mystery." This documentary aims to show an accurate portrait of the designer through candid shots and interview footage.
The film is in French but there are versions with English subtitles floating around as well.
Watch it now on Netflix.
J.Crew and the Man Who Dressed America (2012)
Director: Produced by CNBC
Basically, the segment explains how J.Crew gets these people to keep buying their products. CNBC picks the brain of CEO Milliard Drexler, also known as the "King of retail", and aims to understand how he decides what will and will not sell. The segment also includes interviews from key players from the brand, such as creative director Jenna Lyons. It's great for people who are interested in retail business, or just big fans of J.Crew.
Watch it here.
The September Issue (2009)
Director: R.J. Cutler
Cutler goes behind the scenes at Vogue as Anna Wintour and her team prepare the September 2007 issue. At the time, it would be the magazine's biggest with 840 pages. The documentary is good at showing the process of putting an issue together, from photo shoots to choosing the right cover. It's great for people who work at magazines, or would like to one day.
Watch it now on Netflix.
This is My Dream (2011)
Director: Theo Stanley
This is My Dream was released in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Yohji Yamamoto's Y-3 line for adidas. The documentary follows the designer from Tokyo to New York as he creates and prepares the Y-3 Spring/Summer 2010 collection. While Stanley uses the collection as a backdrop, the film is about much more. Yamamoto, a notoriously private person, offers insight into his inspirations and thoughts, wherein he explains his attraction to the dark side of life. There are also intimate clips included, such as Yamamoto playing the guitar.
The Stanley-directed documentary is the first significant portrait of the designer since Notebooks on Cities and Clothes, which was filmed in 1989. We included both on this list because it's interesting to see the evolution of Yamamoto and his brand within those 20 years.
Buy the DVD at the This is My Dream website.
A Man's Story (2010)
Director: Varon Bonicos
A Man's Story is a documentary about British designer Ozwald Boateng. Director Varon Bonicos began filming in 1998 and followed Boateng for 12 years. The result is an account of the highs and lows experienced by Boateng, including a burglary at his shop in London's Savile Row, becoming the creative director for Givenchy, and more. There are also cameos from Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, and Jude Law, amongst others, all of whom talk about how awesome Boateng's suits are.
Watch it now on Netflix.
OWN Visionaries: Tom Ford (2011)
Director: Produced by OWN
OWN gets rare access to Tom Ford for an intimate look at his lifestyle. The documentary includes clips of Ford at his London studio and on set at photo shoots. There's also interview footage where he addresses his work at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent and explains the inspirations for his controversial ad campaigns.
Watch the film in its entirety here.