If you are like me, you watched Halston on Netflix as soon as it came out for your fashion history fix. (I was a little dozy after my first vaccine, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it!) Drama, love, power, scandal, heartbreak- these all describe Halston and they all describe fashion. I was asked by several friends if the show was actually true or mostly embellished (actually true!). And as it just so happens, today is still Style File Friday. So, I’ve decided to share my favourite fashion documentaries to watch after Halston!
Though I could probably share fifty documentaries with you, I wanted this list to be focused. I’m going to be highlighting Halston’s contemporaries and forward. (A list of documentaries on older designers will be coming in the future!) Of course, his life is fascinating, and there is a lot to take in, but there are many other designers who were as exciting! And some of us are interested in the show for the fashion side of things, so I’ve covered that, too. Here are 5 of my favourite fashion documentaries to watch after Halston on Netflix…
Versailles ‘73: American Runway Revolution (2012)
The Battle of Versailles looms large in the Netflix series (I mean, it fairly looms large in a lot of things…). As one of the newer designers from the oft-mocked American-side, Halston’s participation cemented his name in the world of fashion. This is an interesting documentary, and certainly takes you into the heart of the show. Several participants are interviewed, and there is a lot more to it than part of an episode in a limited series can give you. However, one downfall that I find most documentaries/books on the Battle of Versailles is that the American contingent is given a lot more space. If you are interested in Halston, that works well, but if you are interested in everyone, tough luck for the French. (If you want to read further on the Battle of Versailles, Robin Givan’s The Battle of Versailles: The Night American Fashion Stumbled into the Spotlight and Made History is a great in-depth look.)
Valentino: The last Emperor (2008)
Valentino, Halston, and several other designers are rather in limbo at the moment. They aren’t quite in the era of Dior, Balenciaga, Fath, etc (they tended to study under them), but they aren’t so new as to be trendy nowadays. (Here is my hoping they become subjects for fashion historians soon…) Valentino was Halston’s contemporary, and faced many of the same battles that Halston faced, though he is still with us today. (Out of this list of documentaries, Valentino is the only designer still alive and designing for the same house.) He is a big personality, like so many designers are, and I loved all of the interview footage with him. This has got to be one of my favourite designer documentaries out there.
Dior and I (2014)
I don’t think that anyone will be shocked by the inclusion of a Dior documentary. (However, as much as I adore the House of Dior, Raf Simons is not my favourite designer from the house- though, also not least favourite!) I think that Dior and I gives you spectacular insight into modern design processes, and how a collection goes from a design to the runway. The documentary follows Simons’ first collection for Dior that went from his designs to being seen on models on the runway in 8 weeks. It includes some interesting interviews, though I will warn you that it includes Harvey Weinstein. My only quibble is that he says that Dior’s autobiography is odd- to think! (You can see my review of Dior by Dior here). All in all, a wonderful documentary with great insights.
Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel (2011)
Diana Vreeland isn’t a designer of course, but ever present in the fashion world for several decades. Editor-in-chief at Vogue after working at Harper’s Bazaar, Vreeland left her mark on fashion in countless places. What I think is most notable is her work with the Metropolitan Museum of Art (aka the Met). From 1973 to her death 1989, Vreeland was a special consultant for the museum, and it was largely her work and ideas that brought costume and dress history into the limelight in the US. The fashion world (and cultural) hung on Vreeland’s word for decade, and she was the person to watch. The documentary does a great job at bringing you into her world and understanding her life.
House of Cardin (2019)
Pierre Cardin was another of Halston’s contemporaries. (He might sound familiar from recent news- he passed away in December 2020.) Much like Halston, Cardin created groundbreaking designs- his bubble dress in the mid-1950s was an instant success. In the 1970s, he transitioned again to ready-to-wear, and was the first to combine the mini and maxi dress with different embellishments. And like Halston, Cardin also licensed the Cardin name to the masses. Starting in the late 1980s, Cardin also licensed his name widely in countless contracts. It did bring in a lot of money, but also corroded the weight of Cardin’s name. His life was by no means identical to Halston’s though, and completely stands on it’s own.
Bonus: Halston (2019)
I think that a list of documentaries to watch after Halston would be pointless without including the 2019 documentary on Halston itself. (From what I’ve read, it was the basis for the Netflix series.) The filmmaker behind Dior and I also made Halston; Frederic Tcheng has a talent for showcasing designers, and was a good choice. He captures the chaos, energy, and vibrancy of Halston’s life and his work, and if you loved or even like Halston on Netflix, this is a must-see.
Want to Read More?
If you are interested in reading more about notable designers of the past, these are some of my favourite posts!
Dior: Designer of Dreams, Part I
My Favourite Fashion History Books: Part I and Part II
What documentaries are you going to watch after Halston?
Cheers,
The Historian
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
