Five Fashion TV Shows to Watch

For fans of documentaries, Cristóbal Balenciaga, available on Disney+, is sure to please. It covers the real life of the designer behind the Spanish haute couture fashion house, right when he decides to go global and present his work in Paris. But he quickly finds that the tastes of the Madrid and San Sebastián elite don't quite match with French fashion royalty, and, power-hungry and controlling as he is, becomes obsessed with conquering the international couture scene. The TV series follows the designer's quest for success as he becomes one of the most famous fashion names of all time.

Just the title should be a dead giveaway that the FX show distributed by Hulu will be full of salacious reveals and snarky moments. Obsessed with the beautiful and fabulous socialites of New York—the Swans—writer Truman Capote befriended the group and enjoyed the luxuries of being their go-to plus one. But after writing a thinly veiled (and eventually unfinished) novel about their hedonistic and meaningless life, he quickly falls out of favour. When Esquire publishes a chapter from his book, many of the swans vow to destroy him. A passionate tale of betrayal and revenge, this series is sure to capture almost any viewer. Also, if you're a fan of black and white looks, your sartorial senses will definitely be satisfied.

Much like Cristóbal Balenciaga—and also a Disney+ original—this series follows the rise of household name and longtime Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld. Just as the title suggests, it tracks the making of the icon, from anonymous ready-to-wear designer to haute couture royalty. It seems that what precipitated Lagerfeld's meteoric rise was a rivalry with Yves Saint Laurent, an already well-known designer. As Lagerfeld befriends Laurent's inner circle, the clear competition becomes obvious and pushes each one to the top of his game. If you like a sexually charged rivalry and a ruthless hunt for success (à la Élite), this is the perfect pick.

It looks like success stories are all the rage on fashion TV, since this one—brought to you by Apple TV+—is about the ever iconic Christian Dior. Expect the dramatic but classy look that the designer is known for in all the outfits of the series. He favours feminine curves and silhouettes, rather unlike the straight, boxy look of the time, which makes him the target of not always good attention. Get ready for a healthy dose of rivalry too. Dior will dethrone Coco Chanel and shake up the Paris fashion sensibility. She's not the only fashion celebrity who'll make an appearance; expect Balmain and Balenciaga to peep in too. The New Look is also not just about fashion. It's about "new" everything—reconstruction of clothes, but also society after the horrors of the Second World War. It's ideal if you love Dior or are interested in how the fashion industry navigated the post-war days.

Focused on the meteoric rise of American designer Halston, the Netflix miniseries shows him at his peak and as his life begins to unravel. It's something of the other side of the mirror—everyone who rises so rapidly usually falls eventually. At the start, Halston gains critical acclaim for his famous pillbox hat worn by Jackie Kennedy. But as he increasingly indulges his cocaine habit and has one too many wild nights at Studio 54, he realises that the work hard, play harder lifestyle rarely lasts long-term. Will Halston make it out of his slump, or will the hedonism eat him alive? That's for you to find out!

Happy watching!