“Florals? For Spring? Groundbreaking!”
“By all means, move at a glacial pace. You know how that thrills me.”
It has been 20 years since these dialogues first appeared on the silver screen. But they still convey the ice-cold sarcasm of Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Streep in the iconic fashion-drama The Devil Wears Prada.
Centered around the story of a young Andrea ‘Andy’ Sachs (played by Anne Hathaway), the movie became a cultural touchstone and kickstarted the thrill of journalism and fashion in many, including this writer. It begins with a dewey-eyed Andy landing a job as the junior assistant to the editor of Runway, the terrifying Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep). Through the movie, Andy goes through both physical and mental transformations, finally quitting the job and moving on, hopefully to kinder pastures.
From Hermes scarves flying in a New York street to unpublished Harry Potter memoirs, the movie is a whirlwind of high couture and the demands of the cut-throat industry. In May this year, millions around the globe will watch the much-awaited sequel, Devil Wears Prada 2, promising the quintessential razor-ship wit and bold fashion statements.
But more than just glitzy sarcasm, the movie has become a cultural phenomenon, beloved even by people who were born years after its release. Let’s explore why, through the opinions of fans.
Lasting Legacy
Meryl Streep’s controlled anger and Anne Hathaway’s nervous acting makes the first movie a thrill to watch. Much like a tiger toying with its meal, Miranda often gives Andy impossible tasks, knowing full well that she would not be able to fulfill them.
Why has this duo survived the test of time?
Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’
| Photo Credit:
20th Century Studios
“I think the film has lasted because it is largely about a very universal experience, which is entering a world you admire, only to realise it runs on compromise – which many viewers relate to. Fashion was the backdrop, and the real story was about power, ambition, and the unspoken rules of success. Most people have had a ‘Miranda’ at some point in their careers, and many have been an ‘Andy’. Nearly everyone, no matter in what industry they are, recognizes the Miranda – Andy equation, thrill of being chosen, fear of falling short, struggle in maintaining personal boundaries,” says Sudeep, a forty-year old business professional.
“The idea of having to constantly prove your worth, adjust your personality, sacrifice personal relationships and everyday routines just to be noticed in your job, like Andy, all of that hasn’t changed much since the film came out…,” says Sarada Das, a 22-year-old student.
Everyone wants to be Miranda?
Streep’s portrayal of Miranda has gained adoration, criticism for being too harsh, and solemn acknowledgments by many who have had a boss like her. A leader who doesn’t care. But somehow everyone also wishes they had the same confidence and energy as her.
A still from ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’
| Photo Credit:
20th Century Studios
“She (Miranda) doesn’t explain herself unless she chooses to, and that restraint is fascinating. She represents a generation of women who understood that competence alone was never enough, and authority had to be asserted, protected, and constantly defended. Miranda rarely raises her voice, yet she dominates every room and that quiet power is very relatable to anyone who has had to lead in spaces where softness is mistaken for weakness,” says Sudeep about the ‘iciness’ of the character.
“For me, Miranda represents a particular kind of professional power, someone who has survived for years in a brutal, fast-paced industry and has learned to protect her position by being emotionally distant and highly demanding. The film makes it clear that her behaviour is not accidental but a part of how she maintains control in a system that constantly judges women in leadership,” says Sarada, a student.
Lovable newbie
Anne Hathaway’s character Andy Sachs, is a constantly fumbling and under-confident mess at Runway, scrabbling to make her personal life functional and her professional one fruitful. This under-confidence is something that Andy doesn’t seem to have in the sequel. But the first movie was a portrait of how a newbie navigates working life in the real world. This makes the character a hit, particularly among the younger generation, who still relate to ‘feeling like the kid’ in the ‘big, bad corporate world.’
“She certainly represents a woman who accepts a completely demanding and even destructive job in order to gain good references and advance her career. Unfortunately, I think there are many similar situations in today’s working world. Even though Andrea is qualified, she accepts exploitation and goes through a period in which she does everything except actual journalism,” notes Evelyn Modica, a 23-year-old master’s graduate.
The film has a queer icon but it’s not the gay guy
Stanley Tucci, plays Nigel Kipling, the sharp-witted but lovable side-kick to Miranda. He is the obvious queer character, with impeccable fashion sense, and noted for taking the trope of the ‘gay best friend’ and adding depth and emotional maturity to it.
But, as many queer folk have pointed out, the lasting queer icon of the film is not Kipling but Priestly herself.
Stanley Tucci and Meryl Streep in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’
| Photo Credit:
20th Century Studios
“Nigel is warm, talented, and deeply sympathetic, but he is also ultimately constrained by the system. Miranda, on the other hand, defines the system. She bends the world to her will, defines taste, and refuses emotional legibility. I feel this kind of unapologetic authority resonates more with queer audiences. Being a queer icon is not just about literal representation but more about power, defiance, and self-definition,” points out Sudeep.
“I think Miranda becomes a queer icon not because of her sexuality, but because she symbolises autonomy, power and resistance to conventional gender expectations in leadership,” says Lipsa, a 22-year-old student.
Anticipation for the sequel
20th Century Studios has confirmed on social media that the trailer of the sequel has already amassed a record-breaking 222 million views, in the first 24 hours of its release.
This has placed it among the top-10 most watched movie trailers of all times with everything from Andrea Sachs’ “eyebrows” to Miranda Priestly ‘memory-loss’ being discussed in detail.
Fans, of all generations, are eagerly awaiting the release of the sequel, putting the filmmakers and the first film back on the Runway for the world to scrutinise.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is set to release in theatres on May 1
