We love that you loved our Fashion Correspondent GRAHAM FRASER’s pick of his 5 favorite fashion films available online.last week, so we asked him to choose 5 more to view at home during ‘lockdown’. ALL of the films can be found on Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play etc depending on which part of the world you live, you just need to search a bit.
McQUEEN: the fearless, rebellious and extraordinary life of Alexander McQueen. (1969 – 2010)
McQueen, from South London, started his fashion career as a tailor’s apprentice in Saville Row moving on to study fashion at the famous Central St.Martins Design School in 1992. From there, after graduation, he defined the London fashion scene of the 1990s. This film analyses his origins and delves behind the design process of his design work. Great archival footage of McQueen and his notorious fashion shows, with many interviews. Ultimately a sad film showing the fragility of this very sophisticated creative genius. Concluding with his suicide in 2010 on the eve of his own mother’s funeral. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York staged a wonderful homage exhibition in his name which later transferred to the V & A museum in London. Such a fitting tribute to this talented man.
Full review : https:// queerguru.com/mcqueen/
FRANCA : Chaos and Creation – a film about Franca Sozzani (1950 – 2016) by her son Francesco Carrozzini.
Sozzani was one of the most creative fashion editors in our time, working for Vogue Italia from 1988 until her death in 2016. 1988 happened to be the same year that Anna Wintour became editor in chief of American Vogue.
Sozzani pioneered the careers of many models, stylists and photographers including Steven Meisel, Paolo Roversi and Tim Walker and many more who all added to her boundless creative pedigree. This made the magazine a self-portrait, Roversi says in the documentary “it reflects her, she takes what she needs from each photographer to build this self portrait”. Watch out for the many taxi ride conversations she takes with her son.
DIANA VREELAND : The Eye Has To Travel . Co-directed by her granddaughter-in-law Lisa Immordino Vreeland.
The film features interviews and an exploration of her childhood and formative youth of the formidable Diana Vreeland (1903 – 1989). The film focuses on her move to New York City with her husband Reed Vreeland in the 1920s. When the second World War broke out she was approached to do a column for Harper’s Bazaar called “Why don’t you?”and soon with her flare and sense of style she became the magazines fashion editor and went on to revolutionise fashion with her innovative reporting with such articles on blue jeans for girls and the new bikini. She was at the helm of Bazaar for 25 years.
Much of the film looks at her work at American Vogue, a much loved bible of fashion, and many of the people she worked with including models, iconic photographers and fellow editors. In 1971 Vogue let her go – leading to her becoming fashion consultant to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Some famous witty quote of Veeland’s, never to be forgotten is “shocking pink is the navy blue of India” or “I loathe narcissism, but approve of vanity”.
Full review : https:// queerguru.com/diana-vreeland-eye-must-trave/
IRIS: the story of Iris Apfel : a film by Albert Maysles (“Grey Gardens”)
“ You have to play around with an outfit, like doing a painting” so says Apfel in this luxurious look at her unique style. She is a bona-fide fashion icon with a lifetime spent on collecting couture and designer clothing, costume jewellery and as many trinkets that catch her eye. Most are stored in her many apartments or in warehouses from where she regularly donates to museums or auctions them off. She approaches fashion with a “More is More” approach. Apfel also has a hankering for global and tribal costumes and jewellery mixing it uniquely with her couture clothing and thrift store finds. The whole of her look is finished off with oversized glasses.
In September 2005 the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York staged a solo exhibition of her wardrobe and style which brought her to the world’s attention. If you like your fashion eclectic and one could say off the wall and camp this is definitely a film for you.
Full Review : https:// queerguru.com/iris/
Queerguru’s Interview with Iris Apfel https:// queerguru.com/icon-fashion-legend-iris-apfel-96-years-old-and-going-strong/
THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE: Anna Wintour and the making of Vogue.
If ever you wondered how a magazine is put together this film shows it all. The September issue is the biggest edition in the fashion calendar with heaps more advertising and spectacular fashion editorial spreads often shot on glamorous stars in exotic locations, you need to have had a gym workout to lift it. The film follows the creative process steered by it’s editor-in-chief (bob haired) Anna Wintour and her senior creative fashion editor (the flame haired ), Grace Coddington. The sparks fly between these two giants of the fashion world as the magazine emerges on the ever important story/page boards. It is mesmerising to watch ‘The Devil Wears Prada ‘ come to life.
GRAHAM FRASER Queerguru’s Culture, Fashion and Arts Correspondent was once half of the award winning fashion designer duo WORKERS FOR FREEDOM. Years spent working in the luxury end of International fashion he now lives with his partner the artist RICHARD NOTT and their two Cavapoos Albert and Raf in a stunning renovated 1950’s house on the edge of the Sussex Downs with distant sea views.
