Ranking: the best fashion films
Cinema and fashion have always been linked by an indissoluble thread. After all, each parade represents a more unique than rare spectacle. The lives of stylists, models and newspaper editors almost seem like authentic feature films .
It is not difficult to imagine, therefore, that the universe of the Seventh Art has often drawn from the biographies, anecdotes and sentimental intrigues of the big names of the star system in terms of fashion. However, what are the works that deserve to be viewed at least once by fashion addicts? Let's find out together.
1 – The Devil Wears Prada
When we talk about cinematographic works freely inspired by the lives of big names in fashion, we cannot help but start with a must of the category: “The Devil Wears Prada“.
We know the plot of the 2006 film directed by David Frankel and taken from the novel of the same name by Lauren Weisberger quite well: the recent graduate Andrea (played by a very good Anne Hathaway) undertakes an internship at the prestigious magazine Runway. His task? Acting as assistant to the "diabolical" Miranda Priestly (a masterful Meryl Streep, who gives the public a character that is quite reminiscent of the director of Vogue Anna Wintour).
Will the naive but strong-willed Andrea be able to make her way in a ruthless environment characterized by a strong sense of fashion?
2 – House of Gucci
The film adaptation of the book "House of Gucci. A true story of fashion, greed, crime" by Sara Gay Forden was the cinematic sensation of 2021. “House of Gucci“, a feature film directed by Ridley Scott which stages the stages that led to the dramatic epilogue of the love story between Maurizio Gucci and Patrizia Reggiani, divided audiences and critics.
In the background, the glossy world of fashion, of which Maurizio Gucci is still considered one of its greatest exponents today. In the cast we find Lady Gaga in the role of Reggiani and Adam River in the role of Maurizio Gucci.
3 – Cinderella in Paris
Let's take a great dive into the past until 1957, the year in which “Cinderella in Paris” was released in cinemas starring the eternal style icon Audrey Hepburn: the name of the divine interpreter alone would be a sufficient reason to fish out this film!
Hepburn plays Jo Stockton, a shy librarian more interested in culture than fashion, who reluctantly enters the elegant world of fashion thanks to the intuition of a photographer, Dick Avery (Fred Astaire).
A musical steeped in fashion in all its facets: the character of Dick faithfully follows the figure of the well-known photographer Richard Avedon; Furthermore, Hepburn's wardrobe was created by the famous French designer Hubert de Givenchy.
4 – The Dressmaker – The devil is back
A caustic comedy to say the least, taken from the novel of the same name by Rosalie Ham and starring a Kate Winslet in a full state of grace. “The Dressmaker – The devil is back” focuses on the figure of Tilly, a young woman considered almost a devil by the bigoted community of a small Australian village in which she was born and raised.
Removed from her homeland, Tilly will return twenty-five years later. Placed in a new light by her fellow villagers, the woman begins to be loved above all for her stylistic abilities. When the old habits of the community return to materialize, it will be up to Tilly to implement her plan of revenge .
5 – Zoolander
A very successful parody on fashion and its stereotypes, “Zoolander” features the brilliant comic duo Ben Stiller – Owen Wilson.
Stiller is Derek Zoolander, a supermodel as handsome as he is foolish, who is hired by Jacobim Mugatu in order to kill a well-known politician after brainwashing him.
“Zoolander” also boasts a sequel, made in 2012; both films recorded dizzying returns at the box office.
6 – Blow-up
A director who needs no introduction directs one of his most famous and valuable films.
Based on the story “The Devil's Drool” by the Argentinian Julio Cortázar, “Blow-up” by Michelangelo Antonioni expertly mixes charm, mystery, suspense and dreamlike visions starting from the events of a bored fashion photographer.
One of the most awarded (and loved) films by the unforgettable Italian director.
7 – Yves Saint Laurent
In 2014 the biopic “Yves Saint Laurent“, directed by Jalil Lespert and played by Pierre Niney.
The feature film begins with the death of Christian Dior . A very young Saint Laurent inherits his prestigious maison from his master. During his first fashion show the designer will have a fundamental meeting for his profession and above all for his private life.
8 – Coco avant Chanel – Love before the myth
Having given up the role of the innocent and absent-minded Amélie, the French Audrey Tatou wears the very sumptuous ones of the French designer Coco Chanel, one of the greatest style muses of all time.
Her difficult childhood, her great love, her rise to the Olympus of high fashion: an acclaimed biographical film nominated for numerous awards that does justice to the famous French designer.
9 – The Neon Demon
Nicolas Winding Refn directs Elle Fanning in the disturbing 2016 thriller “The Neon Demon“, which shows the dark side that lies beyond the glittering catwalks.
Envy, competition, sex and death are the essential ingredients of this film, which focuses on the unhealthy competition between models, willing to do anything to get noticed.
10 – I Love Shopping
We couldn't close this extraordinary ranking with an authentic milestone of fashion cinema.
Based on the bestseller of the same name by Sophie Kinsella, “I Love Shopping” brings to film the funny story of Rebecca, a journalist with an obsessive passion for shopping, to say the least.
Played by Isla Fisher, Rebecca will learn the hard way how the desire to spend a fortune on the latest fashion item can turn against her with unthinkable consequences.
