Reel Advice: Fashion statements

In theaters

In the chic tradition of The September Issue, Unzipped and Valentino: The Last Emperor, Matthew Miele's reverent Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's (eOne) (the title comes from a Victoria Roberts cartoon in "The New Yorker") struts onto the screen. A big, sloppy, wet kiss to legendary department store Bergdorf Goodman and its impact on fashion, this doc takes us behind the scenes, upstairs, downstairs, inside and out.

Home to "the most discerning clientele in the world," according to designer Michael Kors, Bergdorf's is feted by fashion luminaries including Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Robert Verdi, Susan Lucci (pictured), Vera Wang, the Olsen twins, Bobbi Brown, Joan Rivers, Candice Bergen, Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, Oscar de la Renta, Isaac Mizrahi, Rachel Zoe, Patricia Field and Nicole Richie, among many others. Additionally, Bergdorf Goodman insiders such as Fashion Directors Linda Fargo and Dawn Mello, Senior Director of Visual Presentation David Hoey and personal shopper Betty Halbreich, all have their say.

Divided into sections, including "The Designers," "The Windows," "The Building," "The Women" and "The Business," to name a few, the doc takes a while to get to the actual (and fascinating) timeline and history of the store. But when it does, it provides the facts in an entertaining and informative manner. For those who don't dare cross the threshold, the film provides a glimpse into the store's inner workings, revealing some of the salaries of the sales staff, the way the impact effect business, the "club" atmosphere of the shoe salon, and the store's place in American history.

Stitched into the fabric of the film is the construction of and build up to the unveiling of Bergdorf Goodman's celebrated and always highly anticipated Christmas holiday windows. Anyone who has worked in retail (or shopped in a high end department store) might be left wondering, where are the disgruntled employees or dissatisfied shoppers? There has to be one or two, right? You certainly wouldn't know if there were watching Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's.

At home

The intricacies of identity make up the material that is Alan R. Howard's indie flick Bob's New Suit (Breaking Glass). Narrated by, get this, a talking Italian suit, Bob's New Suit begins by asking the age old question "Do clothes make the man?" and then attempts to answer it.

Carpenter/landscaper Bob (Hunter Bodine) lives in Marina Del Rey with his hairdresser girlfriend Jenny (Hayley DuMond). When he pops the questions, she accepts, but insists that he ditches his usual duds and wears a suit to the wedding. Meanwhile, somewhere in the San Fernando Valley, Bob's folks Buster (John Bennett Perry) and Polly (Susie Bodine) are getting by since Buster, in poor health, lost his job. But a series of complex events threatens to overturn everything.

To begin with, Bob's younger sister Stephanie (Shay Astar), a lesbian bookkeeper in a relationship with stylish salon owner Marlena (Jenny Shimizu), has made the decision to begin the process of gender reassignment. Bob's shady cousin George (Charlie Babcock) involves Bob and Buster in his illegally imported orchids operation (and the FBI is onto him). Other potential disasters lurk in the form of Polly's holy roller sister Tootie (Candy Clark), Jenny's alcoholic mother Barbara (Robyn Peterson) and a dark family secret shared by Buster and Polly.

Writer/director Howard attempts to squeeze too much detail (including a variety of literary references) and conflict into Bob's New Suit. Before you know it, the seams are splitting and the fly is perpetually unzipped. DVD special features include extended interviews.