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Photography: @sonia_szostak
9 Fashion Documentaries to Watch Prior to Fashion Month
January 20, 2026
As Fashion Month approaches—when New York, London, Milan, and Paris set the rhythm—these documentaries shift attention away from the runway and toward the people, processes, and images that give fashion its structure. Designers, photographers, models, and houses are observed through discipline, authorship, and the construction of image.
By: mesh. magazine
A curated viewing list to enter the season.
Versace: Blood Ties
This documentary examines the Versace family through its internal dynamics, creative inheritance, and the weight of legacy. Centered on Donatella Versace, the film traces how the house navigated tragedy, power, and continuity after the death of Gianni Versace, revealing the tension between personal history and global fashion leadership.
Oliver Rousteing: Rebuilding Jean Paul Gaultier
Following Olivier Rousteing’s appointment to reinterpret Jean Paul Gaultier’s haute couture, the film documents a moment of transition between generations. Creative process, archival dialogue, and cultural responsibility intersect as Rousteing approaches one of fashion’s most singular legacies with precision and restraint.
McQueen
Focused on the life and work of Lee Alexander McQueen, McQueen explores the designer’s uncompromising vision, technical mastery, and emotional intensity. Through archival footage and interviews, the documentary traces how his collections redefined fashion as spectacle, narrative, and provocation.
An intimate portrait of Azzedine Alaïa, the Tunisian-born designer whose work was guided by construction, fabric, and the female form. The film offers rare access to his studio practice and personal philosophy, highlighting a career shaped by independence and devotion to craft.
Azzedine Alaïa: A Couturier
Narrated by Margiela himself, this documentary reflects on anonymity, authorship, and rejection of the fashion system’s traditional hierarchies. Through voice recordings and archival material, Margiela recounts the ideas behind one of fashion’s most influential and elusive careers.
Martin Margiela: In His Own Words
Helmut Newton: The Bad and the Beautiful
This film examines Helmut Newton’s photographic legacy through his collaborators and subjects. Known for images that challenged conventions of power, sexuality, and gaze, Newton’s work is revisited within the cultural and ethical debates it continues to provoke.
Jeremy Scott: The People’s Designer
Tracing Jeremy Scott’s rise from Missouri to the helm of Moschino, the documentary captures his approach to pop culture, irony, and accessibility. The film situates Scott’s work within a broader conversation on fashion as entertainment and cultural commentary.
Catwalk
Set during New York Fashion Week, Catwalk documents the rise of Christy Turlington and the emergence of the supermodel era. The film provides a snapshot of the industry in the early 1990s, capturing the mechanics, pace, and personalities shaping modern fashion culture.
The Supermodels
This documentary series focuses on Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, and Christy Turlington, examining how they transformed modeling into a form of cultural power. Through archival footage and firsthand accounts, it explores image-making, media, and influence at a global scale.
