Entertainment

‘Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf’s’ review

Director Matthew Miele rounded up almost every major fashion figure in the world for this film about the Fifth Avenue institution that is Bergdorf Goodman, but it’s the employees who are the most interesting characters.

Linda Fargo, who wields monarchial power as the main buyer, turns out to have an almost maternal manner, cocking her head apologetically at Ally Hilfiger as she turns down the designer’s collection. When Betty Halbreich, the doyenne of personal shoppers, is asked what she’d be doing if she weren’t a stylist, she responds gravely, “Drinking.”

The store — along with rival Barneys, spoken of here like an embarrassing in-law — is the epitome of high fashion for millions. There’s so much material that’s amusing, and so much goodwill for Bergdorf in the hearts of fashion lovers, that it’s a shame this is such an ADD sprawl of a movie.

Rather than picking one overarching theme, and sticking with it, “Scatter My Ashes” wants to jam all of fashion history into the same bag. One minute it’s the window-dressing explored in minute (too minute) detail, and the next it’s off to discuss the Kennedy assassination, or Bernard Madoff, or Yoko Ono.

If anyone in the store’s history ever had a bad experience there, you won’t find it in this movie.