Watch Halston

Halston is a documentary film that was released in 2019 and delves into the life and career of the iconic American fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick, known simply as Halston. Directed by Frédéric Tcheng, the film explores Halston's remarkable journey as he became one of the most influential and famous designers of the 1970s and 80s. The film features appearances by Halston himself through archival footage, as well as interviews with his friends, family, and collaborators, including fashion illustrator Tom Fallon and appearances of historical figures like Jacqueline Kennedy who wore his designs.

The documentary sets out to paint a portrait of a visionary artist whose impact on fashion is still felt today. Halston rose to fame in the 1960s after designing the pillbox hat that Jacqueline Kennedy wore to the inauguration of her husband, John F. Kennedy. This event catapulted him into the national limelight and marked the beginning of his storied career.

The film provides an in-depth look at Halston's creative process, examining how he translated his elegant, minimalist aesthetic into a fashion empire. His designs were revolutionary in their simplicity and use of fluid lines, often characterized by the use of ultrasuede, chiffon, and other luxurious fabrics that draped the body in a unique fashion. Halston believed in the democratization of fashion and was ahead of his time in many respects, from his early adoption of ready-to-wear to his use of diverse models, which contributed to changing the landscape of the fashion industry.

In Halston, viewers are taken behind the scenes of the designer's glamorous, yet tumultuous life. Renowned for his extravagant lifestyle and celebrity clientele, Halston became a fixture of the New York City nightlife, frequently mingling with the social elite at Studio 54 and other hotspots. The film exposes how this hedonistic world was both a source of inspiration and distraction for the designer, who was always searching for new ways to innovate and expand his brand.

Interviews with contemporaries and muses, including fellow designers, models, and friends, offer a glimpse into the dichotomy of Halston's public success and private struggles. They reflect on his unique talents, his influence on their own lives and careers, and the high-stakes environment of the fashion industry at the time which was fraught with financial pressures, corporate challenges, and shifting cultural landscapes.

Through a treasure trove of archival footage, Halston is vividly brought back to life with scenes from his star-studded fashion shows, intimate moments in his design studio, and candid interviews where he discusses his philosophy on beauty, art, and commerce. The film delves into the complexities of his business dealings, especially the groundbreaking yet challenging decision to sell his business to a large corporation, which came with a loss of autonomy and, ultimately, his name.

Halston does not shy away from the darker aspects of the designer's life, touching upon his personal struggles, including battles with addiction and his struggles with maintaining his creative freedoms within the industry. As his life unfolds on screen, the film suggests broader themes of the American dream, the ephemeral nature of fame, and the cost of artistic integrity in the cutthroat world of fashion.

What makes the documentary especially compelling is its narrative framing and the use of a detective-style motif to unravel the complexities of Halston's character and career. This choice by the director gives the film a sense of mystery and propels the audience on an investigative journey to understand how a designer of such brilliance could rise so high and then seemingly disappear from the public eye.

The movie serves as a fascinating time capsule of a bygone era and a spotlight on the creator who defined it. It is not just a biography of a designer, but a story of the power of creativity and innovation, the influence of celebrity culture on the business of fashion, and an examination of the ephemeral nature of fame and success.

Halston, as depicted in the film, is a tragic hero of sorts—a man whose vision and ambition outstripped even his considerable talents, and who ultimately became a cautionary tale about the price of reaching for the American dream. The film itself is a fitting tribute to someone who reshaped fashion and left an indelible mark on the world, serving as an enthralling and poignant homage to Halston's enduring legacy.

Halston is a 2019 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1 and a MetaScore of 64.