The New Look - General Discussion

[chitowngirl]

The story of how fashion icon Christian Dior and his contemporaries, including Coco Chanel, Pierre Balmain and Cristóbal Balenciaga, navigate the horrors of World War II and launch modern fashion. 10 episode series. First 3 episodes drop 2/14/2024 on Apple +.

[aghst]

First review is literally 4 stars from the BBC:

The New Look review: Four stars for Coco Chanel and Christian Dior Nazi drama

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20240213-the-new-look-review-four-stars-for-coco-chanel-and-christian-dior-nazi-drama

Quote

The show gets into the murky moral complexities of living in an occupied city. Just what exactly constitutes collaboration? Chanel did not design for the enemy, unlike Dior, but, literally, slept with him. Many women were violently punished – even killed – for such "horizontal collaboration". The show seems to want us to, if not exactly feel sympathy for Chanel, then certainly understand why she does some of the things she does, although it's difficult to imagine any viewer not being firmly Team Dior.

However, Chanel is certainly the more vivid, colourful character, and her casual villainy is gripping. "Happiness writes white," as the maxim has it, and so does decency. Dior is loyal, honourable and decent. The air goes out of the show slightly in later episodes whenever we return to the storyline about his business. If The New Look were a dress, it would hang a little unevenly – but it is never less than entertaining, and it is made to measure for anyone remotely interested in fashion.

 

Wow, didn't realize this story would get so heavy.

Downloading the first 3 episodes for a long flight now.

 

[aghst]

Hmm more reviews have come in and they’re brutal.