'The New Look' explores the choices made by Coco Chanel and Christian Dior in World War II

When most people hear the name Dior or Chanel, they think of rarefied objects — custom-made Oscar gowns, decadent perfumes or handbags that cost as much as a mortgage payment. They think less about the historical figures behind the luxe labels: Christian Dior, whose first collection introduced the "New Look" signaling a return to ultra-feminine extravagance after the deprivation of World War II, and Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, the trailblazing designer known for her chic bobbed hair and ever-present pearls.

And as for the hardships they endured — or moral compromises they made — on their way to becoming fashion icons? Who has time to contemplate that while browsing duty-free?

But "The New Look," a series debuting this week on Apple TV+, explores the lives of Dior and Chanel, the creative visionaries and rival designers who helped redefine modern couture. Created by Todd Kessler, the 10-episode drama traces more than a decade of style history, from the dark days of World War II to the mid-1950s.

Rather than painting a hagiographic portrait of these designers, the series takes an unflinching look at their activities