Spring is in the air, and many of us are preparing by switching up our wardrobes — paring through the old and adding in the new.

Sometimes it helps to have a little inspiration — or a little entertainment on a rainy day. Whatever the reason, add these five fashion documentaries part of your spring must-see list. From street style to modeling, a look inside one of New York’s biggest retailers and more, you’ll be entertained for days.

My top five picks:

Bill Cunningham New York, 2010

If you’re into street style, Bill Cunningham is your man. The New York Times photographer has been documenting fashion on the streets of New York — and fashion as a means of personal expression — for decades. A former Harvard dropout, hat maker and member of the U.S. Army, Cunningham has a fascinating story to tell. More importantly, he’s fascinated by the ways in which everyday individuals try and tell their own stories with clothes. “We all get dressed for Bill,” claims famed Vogue editor Anna Wintour.

Unzipped, 1995

Unzipped is a major fashion documentary pick because it was filmed at the height of the 90s supermodel era. Director Douglas Keeve gives viewers an inside look at the planning and, ultimately, showing of fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi’s 1994 fall collection at New York Fashion Week. Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Kate Moss all make appearances. A fun, fascinating film, Unzipped is pretty much a legend and standard in the world of fashion documentaries.

Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel, 2011

Diana Vreeland was a powerful force in the fashion world. During her 50-year reign as the “Empress of Fashion,” Vreeland advised Twiggy and Jackie Onassis, was the fashion editor of Harper’s Bazaar (where she worked for 25 years) and the editor-in-chief at Vogue, and served a stint at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. The Eye Has To Travel was directed and produced, in part, by Vreeland’s granddaughter-in-law, Lisa Immordino Vreeland, and explores everything from Vreeland’s childhood to her move to New York and her respectable fashion career.

Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s, 2013

Bergdorf Goodman is a fashion institution, and while Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s isn’t a hard-hitting documentary, it’s an entertaining one that sheds some light on the legendary retailer. Lifted from a 1990 New Yorker cartoon by Victoria Roberts, Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s combines behind-the-scenes glimpses into New York’s iconic department store with a multitude of fashion personalities: Tom Ford, Rachel Zoe, Diane von Furstenberg and more. How often do you get to see the inner workings and hear the untold stories of one of the world’s chicest shopping destinations?

Chasing Beauty, 2013

For anyone who’s ever watched America’s Next Top Model or been fascinated with the supermodels of years past, Chasing Beauty is a film to see. Modeling — a much-misunderstood and complex industry — is explored in this eye-opening documentary. The models themselves — plus photographers, casting agents, plastic surgeons, stylists and more — reveal the good and the bad. Every year, thousands of men and women arrive in Los Angeles, New York, and Milan looking for a modeling contract. Why? How many actually realize the dream? What happens if they do? Chasing Beauty tells all.

Article by Andrea Fisher, a blogger and content specialist for 4tv. Connect with her on Google+ and Twitter.

Jaslene Gonzalez, winner of America’s Next Top Model (ANTM) Cycle 8, visited Washington, D.C., this past weekend to co-host the West Potomac Academy Fashion Design show, “From Concept to Catwalk.” Between a catwalk competition, a dance-off and words of wisdom to those seeking a career in fashion, Gonzalez’s vivaciousness was as much a star of the show as the surprisingly stunning student designs we were there to see.

ANTM’s Jaslene Gonzalez and the author, and Gonzalez walking down the catwalk. (Photos by Phil Kogan) Gonzalez also posed for and took photographs with young girls. (Photos by Liz Parker)

D.C. as a budding new fashion hub

D.C. isn’t necessarily known in the fashion world for being a center of style, but it is slowly becoming a budding fashion scene thanks to designers and talented creatives who hail from the DMV. I actually heard about this fashion show from a photographer I met at a previous event. He told me that as a high school show way out in the Alexandria suburbs, it doesn’t get as much coverage as it deserves, but it’s actually one of the best productions in the area.

Having co-hosts Gonzalez and Guy Lambert of WPGC 95.5 radio present the show definitely brought it some credibility. They both agreed that D.C. is finally beginning to be known for fashion. One small reason of which is due to the West Potomac Fashion Design. A career-based academy in Alexandria for fashion forward high school juniors and seniors, the program teaches students college level skills in draping, garment construction, illustration and marketing. Every year, the students produce a professional caliber fashion show and are involved in producing all the garments for their collection and other aspects of the production. Along with students, industry designers Nam Nguyen, Speak Vintage, Walish Gooshe and My Bougie Baby were also invited to share their new collections. This year’s show was sponsored by Fashion Group International, Fashion Fights Poverty, Krispy Kreme, Nation Tours & Transportation, Paul Mitchell Tyson’s and WDCW DC50TV CW Television.

For a high school edition fashion show, I was definitely impressed. Some collections probably could have used more time, but for the most part, the collections were unified, well-crafted and unique. I could’ve bought a dozen of the looks that strutted down the catwalk that night.

My favorite looks. Top row, from right to left: Gossip Junkie by Julie Swanson, Marilyn’s Closet by Rebecca Bansah and Walish Gooshe. Bottom row: Rousseau Collection by Reanna Rousseau. (Photos by Phil Kogan)

Top Model tips

As great as the designs were, Gonzalez’s presence was the cherry on top. In between designers, she shared a few tidbits about her life as a model since winning ANTM. During a show, she said life backstage is hectic. A lot of work and energy goes into what amounts to a minute or less of walking time on the runway before her role in the show is over. Her advice to aspiring models is to try and enjoy all the moments, the good and the bad. Most importantly, she said, what success comes down to for a model is confidence. It influences how you walk, carry a dress. Every time she’s on the catwalk, she says she walks like she’s the prettiest, baddest girl in the show.

Her other piece of advice to designers and models was to explore outside the U.S. She said a lot can be gained from getting out of the country and traveling. In the end, they may actually end up finding more work abroad. Gonzalez herself was recently featured in India Vogue and has had a lot of success overseas.

Jaslene competing against two young girls in a dance off to Psy’s “Gagnam Style.” (Photos by Phil Kogan)

But don’t take this woman too seriously. I think the most valuable lesson I learned from her that night was HAVE FUN! Gonzalez is not only stunning and elegant, she’s also silly and is fine with looking like a fool. She demonstrated this when she invited two young girls up for a dance off to Psy’s Gangnam Style and pranced around with them, laughing the whole time.

It’s apparent Gonzalez loves what she does. I think the same could also be said for all the designers featured that night. They were all grinning ear-to-ear, elated and proud. I’d love to see them make it in the fashion world, and as cut throat as it is, I think they stand a pretty good chance.

Besos xoxoxo

Vanessa