The fashion documentary genre has given us a number of classics over the last few decades, from “Catwalk” to “The September Issue.” In the last couple of years especially, some of the most intimate behind-the-scenes looks at fashion’s biggest names, brands and controversies (see: 2024’s “High & Low: John Galliano” and “Brandy Hellville & the Cult of Fast Fashion”) have dropped, giving fashion fans even greater insight into the industry.

If you’re looking to brush up on your historical knowledge (with a biographical film like “McQueen”) or instead want to get a closer look at an all-time great runway collection (see: “Dior and I”), there are plenty of options to choose from for your next cozy night-in watch. Ahead, we’ve curated 30 of the best, most informative fashion documentaries available to stream on Netflix, Max, Tubi and more right now. (Note: While we aimed to highlight free streaming options, several of these films are also available to rent or buy elsewhere.)

“7 Days Out: Chanel Haute Couture Fashion Show”

See what the week leading up to an haute couture fashion show looks like at a fashion house like Chanel through the eyes of former Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld and his team.
Streaming on: Netflix

“A Sense of Beauty”

The Oscar de la Renta team takes viewers behind the scenes of the Pre-Fall 2024 collection’s developmental stages.
Streaming on: YouTube

“About Face: Supermodels Then and Now”

Christy Turlington, Pat Cleveland and more supermodels divulge how the highs, lows and pressures of the fashion industry have impacted their perception of beauty.
Streaming on: HBO Max

“And Just Like That… The Documentary”

Leading ladies Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis discuss the fashion in the “Sex and The City” reboot alongside costume designer Molly Rogers.
Streaming on: HBO Max

“Bill Cunningham: New York”

Bill Cunningham’s photography captured the eccentric and inspiring street style of New York City. This intimate profile of the late artist includes interviews with Anna Wintour, Michael Kors, Iris Apfel and more.
Streaming on: Prime Video

“Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion”

In this 2024 documentary, stars like Cher, Miley Cyrus, RuPaul, Tom Ford and Bernadette Peters share their experiences working with the legendary designer Bob Mackie. The now-85-year-old also sits down to tell the story of his life, career and all his iconic designs. 
Streaming on: Prime Video (rent or buy)

“Brandy Hellville & the Cult of Fast Fashion”

This film documents the allegations of racism, fatphobia, sexism and other offenses waged against Brandy Melville, the one-size-fits-all fast-fashion brand with a predominantly Gen-Z cult following.
Streaming on: HBO Max

“Catwalk”

With appearances from Karl Lagerfeld, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss, this documentary follows Christy Turlington as she navigates the Spring 1994 season of fashion shows.
Streaming on: YouTube

“Diane Von Furstenberg: Woman In Charge”

With interviews from Oprah Winfrey, Marc Jacobs, Hillary Clinton and Diane Von Furstenberg herself, this documentary follows the non-stop life of the trailblazing designer, from childhood to present day.
Streaming on: Hulu

“Dior and I”

Follow Raf Simons and his team as they prepare for his first haute couture collection at Dior.
Streaming on: Prime Video

“Donyale Luna: Supermodel”

Learn the lesser-known story of Donyale Luna, the woman who, in 1966, became the first Black model to grace the cover of Vogue.
Streaming on: HBO Max

“Dries”

Over a full year, a camera follows designer Dries Van Noten throughout his creative process and his home life.
Streaming on: Prime Video

“High & Low: John Galliano”

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald examines the story of controversial designer John Galliano. In an interview with Fashionista, he said, “[Galliano] made it clear that nothing was off-limits.”
Streaming on: Mubi

“Human Footprint: Dressed to Kill”

Season two, episode three of “Human Footprint” explores how the fashion industry is leaving a destructive impact on the planet. Host and biologist Shane Campbell-Staton travels from New York Fashion Week to Chile’s textile graveyards for a full-picture analysis.
Streaming on: PBS

“Iris”

Acquaint yourself with Iris Apfel, an unapologetic and free-spirited fashion legend renowned for her ultra-vibrant maximalist and bold personal style.
Streaming on: Prime Video

“Made in L.A.”

This Emmy-winning documentary follows the lives of three Los Angeles-based Latina immigrants over the course of three years as they work in sweatshops and fight for labor protections.
Streaming on: Prime Video (rent or buy)

“Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton”

Step into the world of Marc Jacobs as he tackled the role of creative director at Louis Vuitton in 2007 — how he ran photoshoots, planned runway shows and designed “It” items during his time at the French luxury brand.
Streaming on: YouTube

“McQueen”

“I don’t want to do a show feeling like you’ve just had Sunday lunch…I want you to feel repulsed or exhilarated,” says the late Lee McQueen in the trailer for his eponymous documentary, which follows the iconic designer’s journey to stardom and the legacy he left behind.
Streaming on: Prime Video (rent or buy)

“Paris Is Burning”

Explore 1980s ballroom culture in New York City and hear firsthand accounts of competitions from noteworthy drag performers including Pepper LaBeija and Dorian Corey.
Streaming on: HBO Max

“RiverBlue”

Follow conservationist Mark Angelo as he shows how the fashion industry pollutes the environment and impacts communities by dumping toxic chemical waste into the world’s rivers.
Streaming on: Vimeo

“Storytellers Spotlight: Coperni x Disney Princess”

As part of ABC’s “Storytellers Spotlight” series, Coperni designers Arnaud Vaillant and Sébastien Meyer take viewers behind the scenes of their Spring 2025 runway show at Disneyland Paris.
Streaming on: Hulu

“Supreme Models”

This six-part docuseries celebrates the Black supermodels who transformed the fashion industry, from the 1960s to the 2020s. Iman, Pat Cleveland and Zendaya make appearances.
Streaming on: Netflix

“The First Monday in May”

This 2016 documentary takes viewers behind the scenes of the Met Gala, which — aside from being one of the biggest red carpets of the year — is an annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. It gets into how Anna Wintour decides on the seating chart, which designers are featured in the exhibit and more.
Streaming on: Tubi

“The Gospel According to André”

The late André Leon Talley tells the story of his life and career, from growing up in the segregated South to becoming one of the most accomplished and respected fashion editors of all time.
Streaming on: Prime Video

“The September Issue”

Watch as Wintour pieces together and prepares Vogue‘s 2007 September issue, long considered the most important rollout of the editorial year.
Streaming on: Pluto

“The Super Models”

Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington reunite in this four-episode docuseries to recount and reflect on their rise to global fame in the 1980s. 
Streaming on: Apple TV+

“The True Cost”

Gain a deeper understanding of the fashion industry’s often detrimental impact on both the environment and the lives of those working within the production process.
Streaming on: Tubi

“The Ugly Truth”

In this episode of “Patriot Act,” Hasan Minhaj discusses how the constant release of new products from fast-fashion brands encourages mass overconsumption and significantly harms the environment.
Streaming on: YouTube

“Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel”

This documentary explores the rise of the American Apparel brand in the early 2000s and 2010s and its subsequent fall following sexual misconduct allegations against founder Dov Charney in 2014. 
Streaming on: Netflix

“Very Ralph”

Filmed during the 50th year of Ralph Lauren’s business, this outlines how the acclaimed American designer built his multi-billion-dollar clothing brand from the ground up.
Streaming on: HBO Max

“Westwood: Punk. Icon. Activist.”

See how Vivienne Westwood made a name for herself as a rebellious designer in the late 1970s and melded the business of her brand with her passion for climate change activism.
Streaming on: Tubi

“White Hot: The Rise and Fall of Abercrombie and Fitch”

Learn about Abercrombie and Fitch’s climb to the apex of mall culture in the ’90s and early 2000s, and how its exclusionary and discriminatory practices led to its downfall.
Streaming on: Netflix

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