The Master of the House

Raf Simons had a lot riding on his first couture show for Christian Dior, presented in the summer of 2012. But while the final outcome was a visual feast of shapely suiting and ethereal gowns, the new documentaryDior and I focuses instead on the demanding months that led up to its unveiling.

Director Frederic Tcheng dives below the design world's dazzling facade to spotlight the team of artisans who labored tirelessly to create each of Simons's pieces by hand, right down to the tiniest embroidered flower. There's a surprising amount of quotidian drama at play, too -- office politics, gossiping colleagues -- that would be familiar to anyone who's ever been on a payroll. Ultimately, the film serves as a reminder of why such high price tags are attached to fashion, and how hours of dedication (and tedium) can somehow transform into garments that are utterly transcendent.

Dior and I is in theaters April 10. Watch the trailer below:

Photo courtesy of Dogwoof