A Few Of My Favorite Fashion Shows
Project Runway
I was in college when this show came out and I’ve never missed an episode since. This show doesn’t necessarily teach about skills but it does create a wonderful space for design and having raw talent to do it on the spot. Each week there is a different themed runway show and someone wins while someone else gets kicked off.
Where to Watch: Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, Amazon
Project Runway Junior
I am making this it’s own separate bullet point because even though it follows the same concept of the original series, it involves teenagers. As a high school fashion construction teacher, I just couldn’t help but love the young designers and their impressive outfits they created.
Where to Watch: Hulu, Peacock, Amazon
Making the Cut
This is the Amazon version of Project Runway with a few twists and turns. Again, I really like following the different designers, seeing how they work under pressure and what they create with each challenge.
Where to Watch: Amazon
Queer Eye
I’ve seen every episode of this makeover show and even though the fashion part is just a segment, it’s worth recommending. Each episode, there is a person who could really use some guidance in their lives and the Queer Eye team comes to the rescue. It’s such a feel good show with quite a few universal fashion tips mixed in.
Where to Watch: Netflix
What Not to Wear
This series could be considered vintage at this point, but my students still love it when we have time to watch. It focuses on a different person each episode that could use a little updating in the fashion department. Stacy and Clinton are Fashion Stylists and help each person overcome and upgrade their looks. Fashion is absolutely intertwined with mental health and sense of self and this show does a wonderful job demonstrating how much fashion can affect your whole life.
Where to Watch: Hulu, YouTube, Amazon
Devil Wears Prada
This is a pretty popular movie about what it’s like to work in the Fashion Industry. The main character becomes a personal assistant to the city’s biggest high fashion magazine editor. It’s said to be based off of working with Anna Wintour and regardless, it shows a fairly realistic view of what it’s like to work in the cutthroat world of the fashion industry.
Where to Watch: Disney+, YouTube, Hulu, Amazon
September Issue
This one is an actual documentary of the life of Anna Wintour and how she and her team get ready for the 2007 Fall Fashion Issue. As a fashion teacher, I don’t really get to experience this part of the fashion world and found this doc to be eye opening. It makes you realize how many moving pieces come together to create a magazine and how much of an impact they have on the entire fashion world.
Where to Watch: CW, YouTube, Amazon
Confessions of a Shopaholic
Overconsumption is something that the Fashion Industry naturally promotes. This was a popular movie based on a book series and was super entraining and shows the reality of the pressures of keeping up with top looks in the industry. As a teacher, I’ve never been rich enough to hang with that crowd, but I really like how she struggles with a shopping addiction and think all teenagers should watch before entering the real world.
Where to Watch: Hulu, AppleTV, YouTube, Amazon
Magic Windows
If you are a crafty person, but not necessarily a designer, you’ll love this documentary about a set design company that makes displays for many famous institutes across New York City. The focus is of their Christmas Window Displays that year and they showcase all of their designers and artists in a fun light. It is the ultimate creative job, but it also shows the amount of professionalism, collaboration and hard work that goes into making these types of Magic Windows.
Where to Watch: Vimeo
Empire Waist
This movie made me want to start this article because I recently watched and loved this movie. The story follows a teenage secret fashion designer and addresses so many topics that are major for teenagers.
Where to Watch: AppleTV, YouTube, Amazon
Superbrands: Fashion
This is a very well done documentary about how the Fashion Industry works. Not only is it entertaining, it truly challenges your relationship with consumerism and brings up so many interesting talking points. It’s an older doc, but still reflects how things are done nowadays.
Where to Watch: YouTube, BBC Select
7 Days Out Chanel Runway Show
Runway shows require so much work and thoughtfulness and it involves so many more people besides the designers and the models. This Netflix series shows the process behind quite a few major events, but the Chanel Show in Paris is the episode you should watch if you are a fashionista!
Where to Watch: Netflix
