3 Compelling Reasons to Watch "The New Look" on Apple TV+

© Apple TV+

We've eagerly awaited this biography on Christian Dior, and the first episodes of "The New Look" are now available on Apple TV+ – and it's a triumph! Todd A. Kessler (known for "The Sopranos" and "Damages") unfolds the fascinating years leading up to the opening of the Dior fashion house during World War II. After experiencing this historical drama with a thrilling edge, revealing as much about the fashion icon as his personal life, here are three compelling reasons why you should dive into this glamorous and intense series.

"The New Look" is the term coined by Carmel Snow, influential editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar, for Christian Dior's first personal collection in 1947. With heightened historical accuracy, Apple TV+'s series delves into the dark years preceding this iconic fashion show and the establishment of the haute couture house, before Christian Dior became the revered couturier we still admire today. In war-torn Paris in 1941, Christian Dior is just a stylist assistant at Maison Lelong. Already spending his days creating outfits with colleagues and friends Pierre Balmain and Cristobal Balenciaga.

Moved by the tragic fate of his younger sister Catherine, a resistance fighter during the war, he endeavors to continue sewing and surviving. The series sheds light on how creators of that era supported each other, rising together without necessarily being enemies. "The New Look" also places significant importance on the couturier's personality, particularly the love he had for his family. It's emotionally revealing to discover that all his inspiration is drawn from his childhood, recruiting models resembling his mother and using flowers from his childhood home's garden for his perfumes.

Another highlight of the series is the rivalry between Christian Dior (Ben Mendelsohn) and Coco Chanel (Juliette Binoche), born during this period. "The New Look" compares the two: Coco Chanel at her peak, and Christian Dior working in the shadows for Lucien Lelong in his Parisian workshops. While they hardly cross paths – except at a soirée organized by high-ranking Nazis – their lives and careers intertwine: one of their loved ones is threatened by the Germans; as Dior mingles with resistance fighters, Chanel is close to the occupiers; and when Dior reaches the heights, Chanel falls from her pedestal. The fashion maven is not portrayed in the best light: manipulative, selfish, and a collaborator, she succumbs to Nazi blackmail, unwittingly becoming a spy.

John Malkovich, Charles Berling, Glenn Close, Maisie Williams, Emily Mortimer, Claes Bang, Zabou Breitman, Catherine Jacob, Hugo Becker... The stellar cast is dizzying! It's no surprise that portraying 1940s fashion icons required big names. Among them, Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones) finally graces a series as Catherine Dior, a fearless resistor who becomes terribly fragile at the end of the occupation. Special mention to Glenn Close, who sends shivers down your spine as the influential Carmel Snow, Zabou Breitman as the loyal collaborator fighting tooth and nail for her mentor's success, the handsome Hugo Becker (Gossip Girl), and Thomas Poitevin, who sets aside wigs and comedic Instagram videos to portray Pierre Balmain, Dior's close friend and rival... We want more!

"The New Look" the first three episodes available on Apple TV+ from February 14, followed by a new episode every Wednesday.

Okay, they're beautiful, slender, and incredibly tall. But what truly set the Fab Four – Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, and Cindy Crawford – apart were their professionalism, charisma, and passion for fashion. Their nickname, "The Supermodels," also happens to be the title of an exciting new documentary series available on Apple TV+ starting September 20th, sure to delight fashion aficionados of the '80s and '90s. Let's take a closer look at the careers of these icons who revolutionized the concept of female empowerment.

Before them, models didn't have a say, often regarded as mere accessories to more or less couture creations. However, when Naomi, Christy, Linda, and Cindy entered the scene in the early 1980s, roaming prestigious castings in New York or London, their energy and friendship gradually disrupted the dynamics. These four striking beauties with strong personalities were determined to prove themselves, eventually overshadowing the designers they showcased.

In fact, associating their first names is enough to evoke the glamour of an entire era, with each embodying a distinct personality. We loved listening to them describe each other: for Linda, Christy is the "classic beauty," and Naomi is the "fierce goddess." Cindy Crawford, according to Naomi, embodies "the all-American girl," while Linda is a "chameleon" capable of adapting her personality to any conceivable photoshoot.

Through extensive use of archives and testimonials (Arthur Elgort, John Galliano, Edward Enninful from Vogue UK, Grace Coddington, among others), the series "The Supermodels" reveals how these creatures from all corners of the globe found their way to New York's most prestigious modeling agencies. Furthermore, these future Supermodels formed a supportive friendship that propelled them to new heights, essentially becoming the first influencers.

Edward Enninful summarizes it aptly: "We didn't have Instagram or Facebook, so magazines were the primary means to enter a new world, with people curating what culture should be." Behind-the-scenes at fashion shows, early setbacks (special mention to poor Cindy Crawford, forced to chop her beautiful hair for a shoot with Patrick Demarchelier), the need for recognition, power dynamics – you'll devour this four-episode miniseries.

Available on Apple TV+ starting September 20th.

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