Halston
Welcome to Screen Gems, our weekend of diving into adjacent queer and queer past titles worth watching or revisiting.
The primer: Halston
We can’t wait to share the new Netflix series about iconic, queer fashion designer Halston with you, dear readers. Ahead of the show’s release next week, however, we recommend an introductory class.
Halston, the 2019 documentary film from director Frédéric Tcheng, brings to life the story of the titular fashion mogul who, by the 2000s, had vanished into near obscurity. Tcheng frames the film as a detective story, with a fictional detective trying to uncover Halston’s lost legacy. Told through a variety of interviews – both contemporary and new – as well as a treasure trove of newly discovered archive footage, Tcheng describes Halson as an ambitious genius who transformed his relationships with celebrities and his eye for talent. in a multi-million dollar fashion house with designs. Hubris, extravagance, and perhaps a gigantic supply of cocaine ultimately turned Halston into an arrogant terror before a business acquisition robbed him of his brand name and assets.
Halston argues that the designer has had considerable reach in the fashion world, although his name is not well known to the public. Her use of models of color, celebrity muses (especially Liza Minnelli), and fashion shows that performed more like Broadway musicals, all foreshadowed the current fashion world of pomp and celebrity. Plus, her eccentric designs, which often featured a single seam for a dress, remain unmatched in geometric innovation. Halston never lived to see the career rebirth he so deserved – he died of AIDS in 1990. Tcheng aims to rectify that here with his warts and any approach to a crazy gay genius.
With extended talks with family, famous friends such as Liza Minnelli, Joel Schumacher and Elsa Peretti, former models, employees and even the corporate sharks that cost him his name, Halston is a captivating portrayal of a great artist who left too soon. Watch the movie to prepare for the new series and get ready to fall in love with a compelling story and dazzling designs.
Streams on Amazon, YouTube, and VUDU.
