Frédéric Tcheng’s fascinating and entertaining documentary takes us inside the storied world of the Christian Dior fashion house as incoming designer Raf Simons conceives his first collection, and Dior’s highly skilled ateliers bring it to life.

It was something of a surprise when in 2012 Raf Simons, a Belgian designer with a reputation for minimalism, took over the prestigious title as creative director at the fashion house Dior. Accompanied by a dedicated and personable right-hand man, they had just eight weeks to create a collection that had to not only please house loyalists, but also announce a vision for the future. And it's not just Simons who's feeling the heat; behind the scenes it's a pressure cooker of deadlines and detail for staff like Florence and Monique who lead the extremely talented teams of seamstresses, struggling to meet the demands of both the newcomer and their elite clients.

Casting an amused and admiring eye on fashion and fashionistas, yet never succumbing to idolising the seductive surface with which the fashion world is so often portrayed, this graceful homage to their rarefied world is a glowing portrait of skilled and gifted people taking pride in their work. A fascinating documentary for everyone who takes style seriously.

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