5 reasons to rewatch the movie The Devil Wears Prada!

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Swap your Uggs for stilettos, today, we’re sneaking into the Runway offices! With a fast-paced rhythm, high fashion wardrobe, and iconic lines, here are 5 reasons to revisit The Devil Wears Prada!

Why has The Devil Wears Prada become a cult film?

If you can distinguish cerulean blue from a simple blue, if you throw your coat upon arriving at the office, and if you prepare in the morning while listening to “Suddenly I See”, there’s no doubt, you too have been enchanted by The Devil Wears Prada!

Released in 2006, David Frankel’s film immediately captivated audiences, providing a deep dive into the closed and fantasized world of high fashion. Among the top successes of that year with a box office of $326.7M against a budget of $35M-40M, the film quickly secured its place among our classics, thanks to a well-crafted recipe.

Why did Lauren Weisberger’s book attract so much attention?

Before it became the film we all know, The Devil Wears Prada was primarily a book. Although it was only published in 2003, the book quickly drew everyone’s attention, even before it was finished. And for good reason, its fiction is not so fictional… Indeed, the story written by Lauren Weisberger draws, in part, from her own experience at Vogue USA, alongside Anna Wintour!

Tasked with writing a short story for a writing workshop, the author drew inspiration from her chaotic experience as an intern at Vogue’s editorial team. This story, which she transformed into her first novel under her professor’s guidance, was already in high demand even though it was less than 80 pages long.

Sensing the potential for a film adaptation, the rights to the book were quickly acquired by Fox, and scripts began to be developed, while the novel was still being written.

The enthusiasm of 20th Century Fox for The Devil Wears Prada can be explained by the exclusive insight it provides into the fashion publishing world. It intrigues as much as it fascinates. And especially for the potential revelations it could make, through fiction, about the inner workings of Vogue USA alongside Anna Wintour.

At the helm of the magazine for 35 years, the one who brings life to the fashion bible is one of the most respected and powerful figures in the industry, both impressive and mysterious. Thus, a fiction, heavily inspired by work done alongside her, had, as you can imagine, enough to draw all eyes!

Even though it is a work of fiction, Anna Wintour, who was reportedly surprised by the book, supported the film, which she believes accurately highlights the hard work behind the scenes. She even attended a special screening, fully dressed in Prada!

How did The Devil Wears Prada come to life?

While the beginnings of the book and the film are similar, the screenplay later diverged from the novel. Four screenwriters contributed to refining the narrative and the characters. The idea was, on one hand, to create a vision of a “female Wall Street.” And on the other hand, to inject even more bite than in the novel.

To achieve this, screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, who had insider experience in publishing, was tasked with creating the iconic character of Miranda Priestly. Additionally, she aimed to depict relationships that truthfully represented the industry. The film’s authenticity, emphasized by many connected to the field, was notably made possible through consultations with fashion professionals during the script’s development. And although the industry has evolved in recent years, the film remains an acclaimed reference. Here are 5 reasons (among a thousand) to revisit it!

1 – Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of fashion

The Devil Wears Prada captivates by showcasing the intensity of the industry, its rigor, and its level of demand to find and keep a place within it.

The film allows us to discover the behind-the-scenes of a world seen as inaccessible and which has always fueled passions. Beyond the entertaining aspect of the fiction, we learn about the life of an editorial office and gain insights into the making of a fashion magazine. From trend tracking, photoshoots, editorial lines, to office relationships, The Devil Wears Prada serves up on a golden platter everything we’ve always dreamed of seeing! And according to Loïc Prigent, the film is quite realistic, except for a fashion show sequence.

2 – Experience all the emotions alongside the characters of The Devil Wears Prada

Beyond the juicy narration and dynamic staging that grabs us from the first seconds, the success of The Devil Wears Prada is also due to its characters. More specifically, thanks to the casting that brings them to life. Because let’s be honest, The Devil Wears Prada without Meryl Streep would have been a whole different experience!

Initially targeted to embody the iconic Miranda Priestly, it took some salary renegotiations (which had to be doubled) for Meryl Streep to accept the role, which she sensed would be very promising. And she delivered an unforgettable and admirable performance as the tyrannical editor-in-chief of Runway. Strong-willed, the actress was reportedly behind several scenes in the film, adding depth to her character. One such scene takes place in a hotel room, where she is devoid of makeup and sheds her usual shell. A facet that allows to humanize the character and creates a break from the rest of the film.

The casting around her proved to be absolutely spot-on. Between Anne Hathaway, who offers a beautiful evolution of the character Andrea Sachs, and whose softness perfectly contrasts with the more abrasive temperaments of the employees. Emily Blunt and her character Emily, utterly detestable, yet we can’t help but want to see her for the sordid scenes. (Well deserved for Paris…) And Stanley Tucci, brilliant as Nigel, whose evolving relationship with Andrea is touching at every level.

Although the film is about fashion, it also offers insight into life and its challenges. The characters enrich these sub-discourses with beautiful emotion, supported by the secondary roles. Notably, Nate and Andrea’s friends, who mark a boundary with the fashion world.

3 – Dream in front of a cutting-edge wardrobe

When it comes to a fashion film, it has to feature a cutting-edge wardrobe. And it’s thanks to costume designer Patricia Field (Sex and The City, Emily in Paris) that we have the outfits in The Devil Wears Prada. Even though the film was released 17 years ago, many of the wardrobe choices remain timeless. We see numerous pieces from designers and houses, including Andrea’s famous Chanel boots. Or pieces from Vivienne Westwood, worn by Emily, as a nod to her British roots. However, many designers reportedly requested not to be mentioned, fearing to be snubbed by Anna Wintour…

Initially budgeted at $100K, the costume budget reached $1M, making it one of the most expensive in the industry!

4 – Relive the iconic scenes from The Devil Wears Prada

No matter how well you know the film, it’s always a joy to rewatch it since every scene is iconic. Even Michael Scott in The Office (USA) imitates Miranda throwing her coat and screaming for a steak!

We think of Andrea’s interview, the cerulean blue, Nigel putting her in her place, the sharp exchanges with Emily and the return of Karma, discovering a collection, racing through the streets of New York, and the scene about the title “Vogue”, the topic of flowers in spring, handing out books and other searches for planes and Harry Potter tomes, and encounters with Christian…

Every sequence of The Devil Wears Prada leaves its mark on us. Whether through its absurdity and the revelations about the industry, or through emotions and situations that resonate within us.

5 – Re-listen to the high-fashion soundtrack of the film

The Devil Wears Prada is one of those films inseparable from their soundtrack. The composition of the soundtrack is dynamic, feminine, and decidedly fashionable.

Moby, Jamiroquai, and Ray LaMontagne offer tracks that range between electro, folk, and house, enriching the trendy and ever-evolving image of fashion. Meanwhile, “Tres tres chic” by Mocean Worker underscores its eccentric and upscale side, with an offbeat tone. The cities are also characterized, with the much-anticipated arrival in Paris intensifying with U2’s “City of Blinding Light.” In terms of femininity and empowerment, it is Madonna’s iconic hits that celebrate it perfectly.

The film is available on several VOD platforms! And know that a musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada is on its way, with Elton John composing!

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