Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's

In 1899, Herman Bergdorf, an immigrant from France, opened a tailor shop just above Union Square in Manhattan. In 1901, apprentice Edwin Goodman earned enough money and bought an interest in the shop, and it was renamed Bergdorf Goodman. Over the years, it grew, expanded, introduced "ready-to-wear" clothing, and eventually moved into one of the Vanderbilt mansions where it still resides.

This documentary, Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's, takes the audience through the history of this legendary store, talking with employees and designers and patrons about the importance and influence of this long standing independently owned clothier. At moments fascinating, and always interesting, it falls just this side of riveting.

I'm not much into fashion, and still, I found myself listening and watching to the tales of designers seeking to sell their wares within those walls, and stars taking advantage of the personal shoppers, and the personal shopper taking risks sending clothes to the sets of movies and TV shows to entice the stars.

And the best part of all of it is that it really happened. Certainly not everyone's cup of tea, Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's is compelling filmmaking and worth watching, if for nothing else but the history.