The 22 Best Fashion Documentaries You Can Stream Now
Only six months in, 2024 has already proven to be a good year for fashion documentaries. We hadn't gotten one in a while — but, so far, we've had two hits with "High & Low: John Galliano" and "Brandy Hellville & the Cult of Fast Fashion." Of course, these are just the latest additions to a long list of worthwhile fashion documentaries available to stream.
Whether you're specifically looking to brush up on your industry knowledge (with a biographical film like "McQueen") or simply want to get a closer look at an all-time great runway collection (see: "Dior and I"), there's something out there for you. Ahead, we've curated 22 of the best fashion documentaries available to stream on Netflix, Max, Tubi and more right now. (Note: While we aimed to highlight free streaming options, several of these films are also available to rent or buy elsewhere.)
"7 Days Out: Chanel Haute Couture Fashion Show"
See what the week leading up to an haute couture fashion show looks like at a fashion house like Chanel through the eyes of former Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld and his team.
Streaming on: Netflix
"About Face: Supermodels Then and Now"
Christy Turlington, Pat Cleveland and more supermodels divulge how the highs, lows and pressures of the fashion industry have impacted their perception of beauty.
Streaming on: Max
"And Just Like That... The Documentary"
Leading ladies Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis discuss the fashion in the "Sex and The City" reboot alongside costume designer Molly Rogers.
Streaming on: Max
"Bill Cunningham: New York"
Bill Cunningham's photography captured the eccentric and inspiring street style of New York City. This intimate profile of the late artist includes interviews with Anna Wintour, Michael Kors, Iris Apfel and more.
Streaming on: Max
"Brandy Hellville & the Cult of Fast Fashion"
This film documents the allegations of racism, fatphobia, sexism and other offense waged against Brandy Melville, the one-size-fits-all fast-fashion brand with a predominantly Gen-Z cult following.
Streaming on: Max
"Dior and I"
Follow Raf Simons and his team as they prepare for his first haute couture collection at Dior.
Streaming on: Tubi
"Donyale Luna: Supermodel"
Learn the lesser-known story of Donyale Luna, the woman who, in 1966, became the first Black model to grace the cover of Vogue.
Streaming on: Max
"High & Low: John Galliano"
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald examines the story of controversial designer John Galliano. In an interview with Fashionista, he said, "[Galliano] made it clear that nothing was off-limits."
Streaming on: Mubi
"Iris"
Acquaint yourself with Iris Apfel, an unapologetic and free-spirited fashion legend renowned for her ultra-vibrant maximalist and bold personal style.
Streaming on: Apple TV
"Made in L.A."
This Emmy-winning documentary follows the lives of three Los Angeles-based Latina immigrants over the course of three years as they work in sweatshops and fight for labor protections.
Streaming on: Amazon (rent or buy)
"Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton"
Step into the world of Marc Jacobs as he tackled the role of creative director at Louis Vuitton in 2007 — how he ran photoshoots, planned runway shows and designed "It" items during his time at the French luxury brand.
Streaming on: YouTube
"McQueen"
"I don't want to do a show feeling like you've just had Sunday lunch...I want you to feel repulsed or exhilarated," says the late Lee McQueen in the trailer for his eponymous documentary, which follows the iconic designer's journey to stardom and the legacy he left behind.
Streaming on: Max
"Paris Is Burning"
Explore 1980s ballroom culture in New York City and hear firsthand accounts of competitions from noteworthy drag performers including Pepper LaBeija and Dorian Corey.
Streaming on: Max
"RiverBlue"
Follow conservationist Mark Angelo as he shows how the fashion industry pollutes the environment and impacts communities by dumping toxic chemical waste into the world's rivers.
Streaming on: Vimeo
"The First Monday in May"
This 2016 documentary takes viewers behind the scenes of the Met Gala, which — aside from being one of the biggest red carpets of the year — is an annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. It gets into how Anna Wintour decides on the seating chart, which designers are featured in the exhibit and more.
Streaming on: Tubi
"The Gospel According to André"
The late André Leon Talley tells the story of his life and career, from growing up in the segregated South to becoming one of the most accomplished and respected fashion editors of all time.
Streaming on: Max
"The September Issue"
Watch as Wintour pieces together and prepares Vogue's 2007 September issue, long considered the most important rollout of the editorial year.
Streaming on: Tubi
"The True Cost"
Gain a deeper understanding of the fashion industry's often detrimental impact on both the environment and the lives of those working within the production process.
Streaming on: Tubi
"The Ugly Truth"
In this episode of "Patriot Act," Hasan Minhaj discusses how the constant release of new products from fast-fashion brands encourages mass overconsumption and significantly harms the environment.
Streaming on: Netflix, YouTube
"Very Ralph"
Filmed during the 50th year of Ralph Lauren's business, this outlines how the acclaimed American designer built his multi-billion-dollar clothing brand from the ground up.
Streaming on: Max
"Westwood: Punk. Icon. Activist."
See how Vivienne Westwood made a name for herself as a rebellious designer in the late 1970s and melded the business of her brand with her passion for climate change activism.
Streaming on: Tubi
"White Hot: The Rise and Fall of Abercrombie and Fitch"
Learn about Abercrombie and Fitch's climb to the apex of mall culture in the '90s and early 2000s, and how its exclusionary and discriminatory practices led to its downfall.
Streaming on: Netflix
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