The film features commentary by Liza Minnelli, Marisa Berenson, Joel Schumacher, Naeem Khan, Pat Cleveland, Karen Bjornson and other former models known as The Halstonettes.

Appearing in archival footage are Halston, Jacqueline Kennedy, Brooke Shields, Andy Warhol and members of his family.

Framed by the fictional storyline of a researcher digging through archives to understand Halston’s downfall, the film begins with his early days working at Bergdorf Goodman as a milliner for society ladies.

[a] Halston opened his own fashion house in 1968, and quickly gained popularity for his free-flowing clothes that appealed to a liberated female clientele.

[7][8] Tcheng reported that the archival footage used in the film was courtesy of Lesley Frowick, who had 215 copies of his private recordings that were presumed to be lost.

After she interviewed with the documentary team, and felt confident the film wouldn't portray her uncle in a biased or negative light, she gave them the contact information to Halston's inner circle.

They concluded that the film captures "the exhilarating thrum...of Halston's ability to create clothes that defined an era and to do it with the kind of startling originality that leaves a lasting impact".

[10] The Los Angeles Times said the film places the designer "at the top of fashion’s most influential artists, but it avoids hagiography, showing his ego and addiction".

[11] The Guardian complained about the structure of the documentary, saying "this profile has a pretentious – and pointless – framing device in which fashion writer Tavi Gevinson plays a fictional archivist who turns detective to investigate his life".

[14] Variety wrote that the film is "thrilling stuff for fashion nerds, as well as a poignant character study of a misfit ultimately undone by an excessive hunger to prove himself".

The critic consensus reads, "It may not illuminate much of its subject's inner life, but Halston should still prove a comfortable fit for viewers in search of an entertaining fashion documentary.