My Favorite Movies About Fashion

Valentino: The Last Emperor

The reason why I find this movie entertaining is the fact that is shows a rare glimpse into the extraordinary world of fashion designer Valentino. Valentino has been a couturier for more than 45 years, he has spent his life not only understanding beauty, but also creating it. The movie also describes the relationship between fashion and business. It creates a link between creating art and selling it too the masses, thus losing some of its value and power. It depicts savvy businessmen that ultimately force Valentino to conclude his career and leave the empire that he had built during decades.

The Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada is a movie based on the fictional novel of one of Vogue's Anna Wintour former assistants. It describes the cold world of fashion in which millions of girls would kill to work. Rumors have it that it is based on what really happens in the backstage of Vogue. Smart, witty and highly entertaining, the movie was a huge blockbuster success that drove even more attention to fashion industry.

The September Issue

Why do I like it? Because it gives a raw insight of the world of Anna Wintour. Even though many people portray her as an ice woman, I admire her very much. She is a woman capable of making decisions, standing up for herself and commanding respect from others. She is both feared and idolized by the industry she leads. The movie shows the incredible amount of work that is needed in order to create such a successful product. It also gives a glare behind the cold mask of Anna, she becomes more human, more sensitive. The movie shows her copping with anger and family issues and how she doesn't let all of these external factors influence her rational decision-making process.

Coco Before Chanel

Coco Chanel was an iconic woman was able to forsee the changes in society and how these would affect the market demand for hats, perfumes and clothing. First of all being of an obscure origin she was able to overcome great personal difficulties in order to pursue opportunities and create the person that was later on known as Coco Chanel. The movie show an inspirational tale that is worthy to be seen by anyone who feels neglected, an outcast and that is fighting to overcome personal troubles. By the way the soundtrack by Desplat is incredible.

Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky

This movie takes off from where Coco Before Chanel ends. We now see a grieving and successful Coco Chanel that overcomes her grief by having an affair with renowned composer Igor Stravinsky. Even though I do not support Chanel's moral motivation for the affair and the movie shows a darker side of Chanel, I still believe that it is worth seeing due to its incredible cast, well played scenes and interesting storyline.

Picture Me: A Model's Diary

I have yet to see this movie, but it seems to be worth watching. The trailer promises an insight to the dark side of modeling. I personally know models that have told me about this side of the fashion world, where models aren't seen as being smart or as even being human, but as a means of mass consumption. As a coat on a hanger they must do what they are told and accept certain compromises in order to be successful.

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Why do I love Coco Chanel ?

"Elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just escaped from adolescence, but of those who have already taken possession of their future."

Coco Chanel has an inspiring story that should be known by any girl who is ambitious and has big dreams. In fact, she is the only couturier to have made it in the list of the 100 of the most influential people of the 20th century.

What makes her stand out?

Gabrielle Chanel, later known as Coco, was born into a poor family and became an orphan by her mother and abandoned by her father when she was very young. She spent most of her childhood in an orphanage and convent where she also learnt how to saw. Growing up under such harsh circumstances made her increasingly ambitious, having dreams of moving to Paris and starting a career there.

One of her first relationships was with baron Etienne Balsan. Although she moved in the baron's estate, he didn't treat her very well. He didn't like to be seen in public with her, didn't introduce her to his friends and made fun of her on account of not wanting to wear dresses and having a sense of style inspired by menswear. She soon became bitter of the relationship, but was hesitant in leaving the baron because she didn't have any other place to go to, she didn't have anything. Instead, she spent her time designing hats and creating clothes for herself that were made out of cheap materials such as jersey.

Soon, she met the love of her life, Captain Arthur Edward 'Boy' Capel. After finding out that Capel had no intention of marrying a mistress but that he was set up to marry an English woman, she gave up on the idea of love, but not on men. Her affair with Capel lasted for many years and he along with Balsan helped her move to Paris and open her first hat shop. Soon, after Chanel became successful Capel died.

Chanel stands out because she realized that women needed a change. Women were becoming more independent and their style and social position would require a change. She was a pioneer of elegant simplicity, emphasizing on comfortable materials and pants. She invented the little black dress and changed the world of perfume, creating Chanel no. 5 by using chemical formulas rather than flowers. She said that she wanted to smell like a woman not like a flower. She revolved in the social world of Igor Stravinsky, the duke of Westminster, Salvador Dali, Picasso and Jean Cocteau.

Below you can find a Vogue presentation of Chanel's famous apartment and a trailer of the movie Coco Before Chanel, I highly recommend it.





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