Whether it’s a biopic about Yves Saint Laurent’s life, Gabrielle Chanel’s first steps in fashion, a behind-the-scenes look at a prestigious magazine or a look into the world of a model, this summer is the perfect time to plunge into the unorthodox stories and flamboyant tales that make up the fantastic, glittering and irresistible world of fashion.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
When Andrea Sachs (Anne Hathaway), a young journalist, finds herself in an assistant job to Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), editor-in-chief of Runway magazine, she experiences quite a culture shock. Sachs doesn’t care much about her appearance, and has a certain contempt for the superficialities of the fashion world, which Miranda Priestly is quick to pick up on and subsequently critisizes. With plenty of humor and five-star acting, this adaptation of Lauren Weisberger’s 2003 novel is a must-see.
Coco before Chanel (2009)
From her childhood in boarding school to her first dressmaking skills in Paris, via the birth of her fashion house, Anne Fontaine's biopic Coco before Chanel is a detailed review of the incredible life of Gabrielle Chanel, who throws herself as passionately into her work as she does into her love stories. Audrey Tautou gracefully embodies this great Mademoiselle who liberated women with her sleek, straightforward clothes. The French director decided to focus on the designer before her time of glory, to better understand the woman behind the fashion icon, and depicts a wounded woman, bruised by her neglected childhood and her tragic love stories. An elegant and touching film that finally portrays the real Coco.
Yves Saint Laurent (2014)
In Jalil Lespert's Yves Saint Laurent, we find a retracing of the life of one of the biggest names in French couture, where the personal and professional often intersect. From his lead position at Dior in 1957 to the creation of his own fashion house in 1961, including his relationship with Pierre Bergé, the film makes an attempt at embodying the complex creativity of the French couturier. Featuring his inspirations, failed attempts, and the infamous Russian Ballet 1976 collection, the film touches on all facets. Pierre Niney triumphed in his role as Yves Saint Laurent, earning the César award for the Best Actor, surpassing Gaspard Ulliel, who played the same role in Bertrand Bonello's Saint Laurent that same year.
Saint Laurent (2014)
Bertrand Bonello's Saint Laurent examines the mythical and sometime scandalous life of Yves Saint Laurent. The director plunges viewers into the 1970s, to a time where the designer was known for sporting both innovative and elegant outfits. In a divine odyssey into the mind of the designer, the director examines this era filled with folly and changing tides. Gaspard Ulliel offers an intense portrayal of the designer, who in order to forget his inner demons, dives into a world of drugs and partying.
The Neon Demon (2016)
A young girl heads to Los Angeles in hopes of starting a modeling career. Her quick rise to fame and look purity arouse feelings of jealousy in other models. While some models look up too her, others will do anything to disrupt her success. In competition at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, Nicolas Winding Refn's The Neon Demon features Elle Fanning in her most disturbed role yet.
Who Are You Polly Maggoo? (1966)
William Klein's satirical film about the fashion world is a must-see. In Paris, 1966, Grégoire Pecque (Jean Rochefort) meets a model named Polly Maggoo (Dorothy McGowan), as part of a television report titled "Who are you Polly Maggoo?" Purposefully ironic and wacky, this film features the best of 1960s charm and style.
Zoolander (2001)
In 2001, we were blessed with the comical duo of Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson, who have appeared in 13 films together over the past 20 years: Startsky & Hutch (2004), the Meet the Parents trilogy, two Zoolander films, and The Royal Tenenbaums by Wes Anderson. In this utterly hilarious film, viewers follow the adventures of male model Derek Zoolander, played by Stiller, who becomes brainwashed by one of the most ill-intentioned figures in the fashion world. Featuring cameos from David Bowie, Milla Jovovich, Tom Ford, Natalie Portman, and Lenny Kravitz, this film might have the most fashionable cast ever.
