Best Fashion Movies: 10 Stunning Films Every Style Lover Should Watch

Fashion and film have been in love for as long as there have been costume departments. The best fashion movies do more than show off beautiful clothes: they explain how designers think, how magazines are made and how a single dress can change a character, or a career. Some are glossy comedies, some are quiet dramas and a few are documentaries that go straight behind the scenes.

This guide brings together ten of the best fashion movies ever made, from Audrey Hepburn classics to Oscar-winning costume showcases and modern fashion documentaries. For each film we list the release year and director, explain why it matters to style lovers and point you to an edition you can watch at home.

Best Fashion Movies at a Glance

• The Devil Wears Prada (2006) – Best Overall Fashion Comedy
• Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) – Best Classic
• Funny Face (1957) – Best Fashion Musical
• Phantom Thread (2017) – Best Couture Drama
• Cruella (2021) – Best Costume Spectacle
• Coco Before Chanel (2009) – Best Designer Biopic
• The September Issue (2009) – Best Fashion Documentary
• Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (2022) – Best Feel-Good Pick
• House of Gucci (2021) – Best Fashion Family Drama
• Zoolander (2001) – Best Fashion Satire

The 10 Best Fashion Movies to Watch Now

1. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

Directed by David Frankel and based on Lauren Weisberger’s 2003 novel, The Devil Wears Prada follows Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), a young graduate who lands a job as assistant to the formidable magazine editor Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep). Costume designer Patricia Field earned an Academy Award nomination for the wardrobe, and the famous “cerulean” monologue is still one of the best explanations of how trends trickle down from the runway to the high street. A sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2, followed in 2026, but the original still tops most lists of the best fashion movies for good reason.

2. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

Blake Edwards’s adaptation of Truman Capote’s novella gave the world one of the most famous outfits in cinema: Audrey Hepburn’s black Givenchy gown, worn with pearls and oversized sunglasses in the opening scene. Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer’s song “Moon River” won the Oscar for Best Original Song. Any list of the best fashion movies needs this film, because the little black dress has never looked the same since.

3. Funny Face (1957)

Stanley Donen’s musical pairs Audrey Hepburn with Fred Astaire as a fashion photographer who discovers a bookshop clerk and turns her into a model in Paris. The costumes, by Edith Head with Hubert de Givenchy creating Hepburn’s Paris wardrobe, earned an Academy Award nomination. The film’s playful take on magazine shoots makes it one of the most charming of the best fashion movies from Hollywood’s golden era.

4. Phantom Thread (2017)

Paul Thomas Anderson’s elegant drama is set in the world of 1950s London couture, where dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) dresses royalty and society women. Mark Bridges won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for the film. If you love the craft of fittings, fabrics and hand finishing, Phantom Thread is one of the best fashion movies for seeing couture as an art form.

5. Cruella (2021)

Directed by Craig Gillespie, Disney’s Cruella imagines the early years of the famous villain (Emma Stone) as a rebellious young designer in 1970s punk-era London, facing off against an imperious couturier played by Emma Thompson. Jenny Beavan won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for its dramatic looks. It is pure spectacle and a fun entry point to the best fashion movies for younger viewers.

6. Coco Before Chanel (2009)

Anne Fontaine’s French biopic, starring Audrey Tautou, traces Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel’s early life before she became a fashion legend. The film earned an Academy Award nomination for its costumes and shows how Chanel borrowed from menswear and simplified women’s clothing. It is a thoughtful pick among the best fashion movies for anyone curious about how modern style began.

7. The September Issue (2009)

R. J. Cutler’s documentary follows Anna Wintour and her team as they create the September 2007 issue of American Vogue, one of the largest issues in the magazine’s history. Creative director Grace Coddington emerges as the film’s quiet star. For an unscripted look behind the glossy pages, this is one of the best fashion movies in documentary form.

8. Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (2022)

Based on Paul Gallico’s 1958 novel and directed by Anthony Fabian, this warm comedy follows a London cleaning lady (Lesley Manville) who saves up to buy a Christian Dior gown in 1950s Paris. Jenny Beavan’s costumes earned an Academy Award nomination. It is a gentle reminder that the best fashion movies can also be about dreams, dignity and the joy of a beautiful dress.

9. House of Gucci (2021)

Ridley Scott’s drama, starring Lady Gaga and Adam Driver, tells the story of Patrizia Reggiani and Maurizio Gucci and the family struggles behind the Italian fashion house. It is based on Sara Gay Forden’s nonfiction book The House of Gucci. The 1970s to 1990s wardrobe is a highlight, and the film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

10. Zoolander (2001)

Directed by and starring Ben Stiller, Zoolander lampoons the male modelling industry with Owen Wilson as rival model Hansel. Its absurd humour and “Blue Steel” pose became part of pop culture. Not every one of the best fashion movies has to be serious, and this one proves that fashion can laugh at itself.

How We Chose the Best Fashion Movies

We looked for films where fashion drives the story rather than simply decorating it. We balanced classics and modern releases, comedies and dramas, and fiction and documentary. We gave extra weight to films recognised for their costume design by the Academy and to titles that are easy to find on DVD, Blu-ray or streaming. All release years, directors and award facts were checked against reliable references such as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we research.

How to Build Your Fashion Movie Night

Mix Eras and Moods

Pair a golden-age classic such as Funny Face with a modern hit such as The Devil Wears Prada. Watching the best fashion movies side by side reveals how ideas about glamour, work and femininity have changed over sixty years.

Watch With an Eye on Costume

Pay attention to how costume designers use colour and silhouette to tell you who a character is. In Cruella, the rivalry plays out in black, white and red. In Phantom Thread, the gowns reflect the shifting power between designer and muse.

Follow Up With a Documentary

After a fictional film, a documentary such as The September Issue or Dior and I (2014), which follows Raf Simons’s first haute couture collection for Dior, grounds the glamour in real workrooms and deadlines.

DVD, Blu-ray or Streaming: Which Format Is Best?

Physical Media

Blu-ray offers the sharpest picture for appreciating fabrics and textures, and discs often include bonus features about costume design. Collectors also like owning a physical edition of their favourite fashion films, since streaming catalogues change over time.

Digital and Streaming

Buying or renting digitally on Prime Video is the most convenient option and lets you start watching instantly. Availability varies by region, so check the current listing on Amazon before planning a movie night around the best fashion movies.

Tips for Getting Style Inspiration From Film

• Pause and screenshot silhouettes, not exact pieces. A shape is easier to recreate than a couture gown.
• Note colour stories. Costume designers build palettes you can borrow for your own wardrobe.
• Read up on the designers. Learning about Givenchy, Chanel or Dior deepens your appreciation of the best fashion movies.
• Accessorise like a lead character. Sunglasses, pearls and a structured bag go a long way.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most famous fashion movie of all time?

Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Devil Wears Prada are the two titles most often named. The first created an iconic look, and the second explained the fashion industry to a new generation.

Which fashion films won the Oscar for Best Costume Design?

Among the films on this list, Phantom Thread (Mark Bridges) and Cruella (Jenny Beavan) both won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design.

Are there good documentaries among the best fashion movies?

Yes. The September Issue (2009) and Dior and I (2014) are excellent introductions to how magazines and couture houses really work.

What fashion movie should a beginner watch first?

Start with The Devil Wears Prada. It is entertaining, easy to follow and gives a clear overview of how the fashion business works.

Final Thoughts

The best fashion movies capture what makes style so powerful: it tells stories, signals ambition and sometimes changes lives. Whether you prefer Hepburn in Givenchy, Day-Lewis in a couture workroom or Wintour at her desk, there is a film here to inspire your next outfit.

Want to bring a little screen glamour into your own wardrobe? Explore our Fashion section and our edit of the best designer crossbody bags for pieces with true leading-lady energy.