“The New Look” Episode 8 Review
“I’ve just learned that Carmel Snow is on her way to Paris. Are you listening?”
After ensuring Christian Dior (Ben Mendelsohn) gets the atelier of his dreams in Paris, Madame Zehnacker (Zabou Breitman) works on convincing him the importance of wooing Carmel Snow, the editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar. Glenn Close portrays Snow, who was known to be a highly influential figure in the fashion industry at the time. But before she gets to Paris, Snow meets Coco Chanel (Juliette Binoche) in Switzerland.
Titled “I Love You Most of All”, episode eight of “The New Look” was a rather slow edition, although Carmel Snow’s presence does add some novelty to the story. Dior is busy building his new atelier, but refuses to poach models from other designers, so apart from creating his “statement piece” for his next collection, he is also on the hunt for a fresh face to wear his clothes. Meanwhile, his sister Catherine (Maisie Williams) goes to live with her father in the countryside, where she begins to tend to his garden, while also working on coming to terms with her horrific experience at the Nazi prison camp.
In an intriguing twist, an old ‘friend’ of Coco Chanel unexpectedly appears in Switzerland, causing a stir and reviving her apprehensions about the repercussions of permanently returning to Paris. The persistent rumors of Chanel’s alleged collaboration with the Nazis cast a shadow over her aspirations to resume running her beloved atelier in the city. Chanel hopes on securing a cover story with Harper’s Bazaar, a coveted opportunity also sought after by numerous prominent designers, each vying to emerge as a symbol of French fashion’s revival in the post-war era.
The depiction of Dior and his contemporaries as supportive visionaries offers a compelling perspective on the fashion industry. Madame Zehnacker’s advice to Dior, “You must make some enemies,” highlights the common wisdom that success often comes with stirring up controversy. However, Dior’s deliberate efforts to avoid upsetting his fellow designers underscore his commitment to maintaining positive relationships within the industry. But how long can he keep up peace with his competitors? With only two episodes left, I am beginning to wonder how “The New Look” will wrap up this slow-burn tale of different individuals trying to rise from the ashes of World War II.
You can watch “The New Look” on Apple TV+
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