Fall is here, the temperatures are dropping and the rain keeps pouring. Before you know it, snow will be piling up, and you will be cuddled up and watching Netflix. Here are the best films to help you get your fashion fix without venturing out into the cold.
Valentino: The Last Emperor (2008)
This documentary offers a look into the relationship and friendship between haute couture mastermind Valentino Garavani and his partner Giancarlo Giammetti. Viewers are given a look into the lavish world that Garavani lives in as he travels through Europe. Those interested in design can see the entire process that include sketching, creating delicate, handmade pieces, fitting the models and showing pieces on the runway. An emotional retrospective of Garavani’s work in Rome, the film portrays him as the last person to live the truly glamorous and extravagant lifestyle of a European emperor.
The September Issue (2009)
“The September Issue,” directed by R.J. Cutler, takes viewers inside the private offices of Vogue. Watch as the magazine staff assembles the September 2007 issue, Vogue’s biggest and most important issue. The film offers an inside look into the photo shoots and meetings, as well as the personalities of those involved in this exclusive world. The relationship between editor in chief Anna Wintour and creative director Grace Coddington is one to watch. Though they argue, the pair depends on each other’s creativity and perspective. This film is great for those who want to see how an important issue of the world’s most infamous fashion magazine is assembled.
Bill Cunningham New York (2010)
Cunningham is one of the world’s most beloved fashion photographers. His uniform — khaki pants, a blue jacket and a camera around his neck — has made him famous in the fashion photography world. He is credited for being the first street photographer and has been a staff member for The New York Times for decades. This film documents Cunningham who, at 80 years old, rides through the city on his bike photographing anything that catches his eye. The film shows the way Cunningham questions the idea of a celebrity. It also illustrates that he is not interested in people because of their money or status, and he values creativity and individuality.
Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel (2012)
If you prefer to venture outside to get your fashion film fix, catch “Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel” at select New York City theaters. This documentary shows the influence Vreeland, a famous fashion columnist and former Harper’s Bazaar editor, editor in chief at Vogue and employee for the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, has had on the fashion world.
“Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel” is currently playing at The Angelika Film Center New York (18 West Houston St.) and Lincoln Plaza Cinemas (1886 Broadway).
A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, Oct. 17 print edition. Olivia Weiss is a contributing writer. Email her at [email protected].