Fashion on Film


Chanel was one of the first designers to get involved in film. Above left her work on Tonight or Never, 1930 and right L'année dernière à Marienbad, 1961. Below her last film work was Boccaccio 72, 1962.


Fashion has been the focus of popular films such as Qui êtes vous, Polly Maggoo?, Blow Up, Clueless, Zoolander, Bruno and Coco Before Chanel.


Mahogany (1975) which starred Diana Ross who also served as costume designer.


Films about models tend to paint a dark picture. Below Puzzle of a Downfall Child (1970)and Lipstick (1976).


Gia (1998) focused on the downfall of model Gia Carangi who rose to fame in the late 70's and dies of AIDS.

Above Frames from the Edge (1989) documented photographer Helmut Newton. Below Robert Altman's Prêt-à-Porter (1994) was a satiric look at the fashion industry.

Until recently, films about fashion designers were rare. Wim Wenders' A Notebook on Cities and Clothes (1989) was one of the first projects to take a close look at fashion design. Yoshi Yamamoto opened up his studios and life to the cameras.


More recently the exclusive circle of fashion has revealed its madness to the general public in many popular films.

Films that add drama to fashion design The Versace Murder from 1998 and the upcoming Gucci and Isabella Blow biopics.


One of the most notable moments of fashion on film is Gaultier's work for The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover (1989). The clothing changes color based on the scene's mood.



Above Pat Field calls herself a costume stylist as she sources couture and exclusive fashion design for films like Sex & the City (2008) and The Devil Wears Prada (2006). Read a profile of Field here.

The Devil Wears Prada cost $35 million total. The $100,000 budget for the film's costumes was supplemented by help from friends from throughout the industry. Ultimately, Field believes, at least $1 million worth of clothing was used in the film, making it one of the most expensively costumed movies in cinema history. Above Ivory Angora Coat from Yigal Azrouel, her hat and gloves are Chanel. The purse she carries, a Calvin Klein Gold Python Hobo bag. Below a website chronicles each and every look from the films and links to online sites where you can buy the looks.