As we all learned from Miranda Priestly’s unforgettable “cerulean monologue” in The Devil Wears Prada, anyone who wears clothes is affected by the decisions of those in the upper echelon of the fashion industry, whether you’re a style expert or couldn’t care less about what’s in your closet. Perhaps because of that universal connection, the genre of fashion documentaries is particularly vast. There are dozens of films and series providing deep dives into every aspect of the industry, from its glitterati—think high-profile designers, magazine editors, supermodels, and photographers—to true crime stories about the industry's less-beautiful, scandal-ridden underbelly.
Here, we’ve rounded up 30 of the best fashion documentaries, covering individual designers, the making of the Met Gala, the move toward sustainability, the inhumane treatment behind fast fashion, and so much more. There’s something for everyone on this list and, best (and most ironically) of all, you can watch them all from the comfort of your couch—no dressing to the nines required.
