The First Trailer for 'The New Look' is a Whole Lot of Look
John Malkovich as Lucien Lelong at his desk in The New Look Season 1
Apple TV+
Like so many parts of modern culture that we take for granted, the modern fashion show is a Victorian invention, dating back to the mid-1800s and the middle of Queen Victoria’s reign. It was started by English fashion designer Charles Frederick Worth, whose House of Worth began using live models in the early 1860s to present his creations to audiences in Paris instead of mannequins, declaring the ability to see how a garment moved to be more effective. Paris designers quickly adopted the practice of “fashion parades,” which were the norm by the 1900s. However, these designs were not made for mainstream middle-class women until post-World War II, when Christian Dior invented The New Look.
Apple TV+’s new anthology series, The New Look, promises to explore the world of fashion, focusing each season on a different era that changed the industry. Naturally, the series will kick off with this initial democratizing of runway clothing, from affordable only by the upper classes attending private trunk shows to clothing and outfits of which housewives across Western culture could aspire to own a piece. From Dior’s initial collection (which most no longer remember was called “Corolle” in a nod to the bell-shaped petals that inspired his skirts) to the competitive lines it inspired from designers like Coco Chanel in response, it was a moment that changed clothing forever.
Unsurprisingly, Apple TV+’s first trailer promises the ten-episode series will be a lush fantasy starring some of the industry’s best and brightest playing fashion industry legends. Check it out.
Here's the first season's synopsis:
Set against the World War II Nazi occupation of Paris, “The New Look” focuses on the pivotal moment in the 20th century when the French city led the world back to life through its fashion icon Christian Dior. As Dior rises to prominence with his groundbreaking, iconic imprint of beauty and influence, Chanel’s reign as the world’s most famous fashion designer is put into jeopardy. The interwoven saga follows the surprising stories of Dior’s contemporaries and rivals, from Chanel to Pierre Balmain, Cristóbal Balenciaga, and more, and provides a stunning view into the atelier, designs, and clothing created by Christian Dior through collaboration with the House of Dior.
The cast of The New Look stars Ben Mendelsohn (The King) as Christian Dior, Juliette Binoche (The Staircase) as Coco Chanel, Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones) as Catherine Dior, John Malkovich (The ABC Murders) as Lucien Lelong, Emily Mortimer (The Pursuit of Love) as Elsa Lombardi and Claes Bang (Dracula) as Spatz. The rest of the cast also includes Glenn Close (The Wife), Hugo Becker (A Very Secret Service), Alexis Loizon (Beauty & the Beast), Thomas Poitevin (The Jewish Cardinal), Zabou Breitman (The Minister), Jodie Ruth-Forest (Le Jour), Nuno Lopez (White Lines), and newcomer Yahli Cohen.
The immersive and contemporary soundtrack for the series is produced by Jack Antonoff and features covers of popular early to mid-20th-century songs performed by artists including Bleachers, Florence Welch, Lana Del Rey, Matty Healy of The 1975, Beabadoobee, Nick Cave, and Perfume Genius. The New Look is produced by Apple Studios and DB-AK Productions and is written, executive produced, and directed by Todd A. Kessler.
The New Look will debut with the first three episodes on Wednesday, February 14, on Apple TV+, followed by one episode every Wednesday through April 3, 2024.
