Our Favorite Films About The Fashion Industry!

Whether you followed couture week obsessively, or are only just developing an interest in fashion, you’ll be happy to know there’s a world of films centered around the industry. Here’s a list to add to your watchlist, including everything from horrors and crime dramas to sweet romance flicks!

1. House of Gucci (2021, dir. Ridley Scott)

Starring none other than Lady Gaga, this crime drama follows the ups and downs of the fight for control of the Gucci brand. Gaga plays real-life socialite Patrizia Reggiani, who pursued an heir to the brand, Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver), after meeting him at a party. That chance meeting is the beginning of a whirlwind love story, and you can follow up the movie with the book it was based on, The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by Sara Gay Forden.

Written by Becky Johnston & Roberto Bentivegna. Stream on MGM+.

2. Phantom Thread (2017, dir. Paul Thomas Anderson)

If you’re in the mood for a historical drama, Phantom Thread needs to go to the top of your watch list. Set in 1950s London, Phantom Thread follows young waitress Alma Elson after she is taken as the muse of haute couture designer Reynolds Woodcock. At first, the way Alma’s life changes overnight seems like a dream come true, but it's a dream that unravels just as quickly.

Written by Paul Thomas Anderson. Stream on Netflix.

3. Love, Fashion, Repeat (2022, dir. Ken Friss)

For a more lighthearted romance, check out Love, Fashion, Repeat! This sweet meet-cute story brings together fashion designer Lina and Colin, the author who got assigned to edit her upcoming biography. While Lina is insistent she return to her hometown for fashion inspiration, not love, Colin has a way of opening her mind to new possibilties.

Written by Jason Delaney. Stream on Prime Video Premium.

4. The First Monday In May (2016, dir. Andrew Rossi)

If you affectionately refer to the Met Gala as “my Super Bowl”, then this documentary is right up your alley. The film takes viewers behind the scenes of the prep work leading up to the 2015 Met Gala, from the curation of the corresponding art museum gallery to what exactly Anna Wintour’s role is in all the hullabuloo.

Stream on Hulu, YouTube, Pluto TV, and Tubi.

5. Personal Shopper (2016, dir. Olivier Assayas)

If a combination of Kristen Stewart and the supernatural sounds like your idea of a perfect flick, then it’s time to tune in to Personal Shopper. The film follows the personal shopper Maureen (Stewart) for a supermodel in Paris as she tries to balance her work life with the questions she has in the wake of her twin brother’s death.

Written by Olivier Assayas. Stream on Hulu, Pluto TV, and Tubi.

6. Ambrosia (2012, dir. Baharak Saeid Monir)

A new job can make you question everything. In Ambrosia, fashion designer Leila learns this quickly when her new boss’s more than professional interest pushes her out of her comfort zone and into some hard questions.

Written by Baharak Saeid Monir. Stream on Tubi, Freevee, and Roku Channel.

7. The Neon Demon (2016, dir. Nicolas Winding Refn)

For a model-centric psych horror flick, turn off the lights and turn on The Neon Demon. The film stars Elle Fanning as aspiring teen model Jesse. New to Los Angeles just after the death of her parents, Jesse realizes the industry isn’t all that it’s made out to be, but it’s a realization that comes just a little too late. 

Written by Nicolas Winding Refn, Mary Laws, and Polly Stenham. Stream on Prime Video.

8. Westwood (2018, dir. Lorna Tucker)

The first film to tell the full remarkable story of Vivienne Westwood’s life, this documentary takes viewers on a journey through the designer from igniting the punk movement to all the fashion designing and redesigning she did throughout her decades-long career after. 

Stream on Tubi and Roku Channel.

9. The Devil Wears Prada (2006, dir. David Frankel)

This classic fashion-centric comedy is considered iconic with an enduring legacy for more than one reason -- from its stacked cast to its cultural impact. The plot follows aspiring journalist Andrea Sachs (Anne Hathaway) in the wake of her landing a job as a personal assistant to fashion magazine mogul Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep). As Andrea learns the ropes of the fashion industry, she earns the admiration and trust of her boss. But her newfound confidence in herself lands her into some trouble too! 

Written by Aline Brosh McKenna. Rent on Prime Video, Apple TV, and YouTube.

10. Last Night in Soho (dir. Edgar Wright)

This thriller takes us along for quite the ride with Ellie Turner (Thomasin McKenzie), a 16-year-old girl obsessed with everything 1960s. It might seem like dreaming of the era she’s fascinated with would be Ellie’s idea of a perfect night, but things go haywire when she realizes the lines between her dreams and reality are blurring.

Written by Edgar Wright and Krysty Wilson-Cairns. Stream on Max.

11. Mahogany (1975, dir. Berry Gordy)

A rather sordid tale about an aspiring fashion designer (played by the iconic Diana Ross) who stumbles upon a fashion shoot and soon finds herself the muse of an obsessive fashion photographer (Anthony Perkins). All of her dreams seem to be coming true as she becomes one of the biggest models in the world, but all that glitters isn't gold. This movie, directed by Motown legend Berry Gordy, gives us a look at not only fashion from the Black perspective but also the darker side of the fashion industry in the 1970s.

Written by John Byrum and Toni Amber. Rent on Prime Video, YouTube, and Apple TV.