fbpx
Poster du film Le Diable s'habille en Prada

5 Reasons to Rewatch The Devil Wears Prada!

This publication is also available in: Français English (UK) Deutsch Italiano Español

Trade your Uggs for stilettos, today, we’re infiltrating the Runway offices! With a fast pace, high fashion wardrobe, and legendary quotes, here are 5 reasons to revisit The Devil Wears Prada!

Why has the movie The Devil Wears Prada become a cult classic?

If you can distinguish cerulean blue from just plain blue, if you toss your coat upon arriving at the office, and if you get ready 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 by offering a deep dive into the closed and fantasized world of high fashion. Among the biggest hits of that year with a box office of $326.7M on a budget of $35M-$40M, the film quickly secured its place in our classics, thanks to a well-crafted recipe.

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

Before it became the movie we all know, The Devil Wears Prada was primarily a book. Though it was only published in 2003, the book quickly attracted all eyes even before its writing was completed. And for good reason, its fiction isn’t as fictional as it seems… Indeed, the story written by Lauren Weisberger is partly inspired by her own experience at Vogue USA, alongside Anna Wintour!

Having to write a short story for a writing workshop, the author drew inspiration from her chaotic experience as an intern at Vogue’s editorial office. This story, which she transformed into her first novel under her professor’s guidance, was already highly sought after even though it didn’t even count 80 pages.

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 in part by the exclusive perspective it provides on the fashion publishing industry. A perspective that intrigues as much as it fascinates. And especially for the potential revelations it could make, through fiction, about the behind-the-scenes workings of Vogue USA alongside Anna Wintour.

Having led the magazine for 35 years, she 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 greatly inspired by work done alongside her had, as you can imagine, the potential to attract all eyes!

Although it is a work of fiction, Anna Wintour, who was reportedly surprised by the book, supported the film, which she believed effectively highlighted the hard work behind the scenes. She even attended a special screening, fully dressed in Prada!

How did the film The Devil Wears Prada come to life?

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

To achieve this, screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, who had experience in publishing, was tasked with creating the iconic character of Miranda Priestly. Additionally, she was responsible for crafting relationships that authentically depicted the industry. The film’s authenticity, emphasized by many associated with the field, was made possible in part through consultations with people working in fashion during the script development. And although the industry has evolved in recent years, the film remains a celebrated reference. Here are 5 reasons (among a thousand) to rewatch it!

1 – Dive into the vibrant world of fashion

The Devil Wears Prada captivates by showing us the intensity of the field, its rigor, and its level of demand to secure a place within it, and above all, to maintain it.

The film allows us to discover the behind-the-scenes of a world perceived 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 insight into the production of a fashion magazine. Between trend tracking, photoshoots, editorial lines, and office relationships, The Devil Wears Prada serves us everything we have always dreamed of seeing on a silver platter! And according to the words of Loïc Prigent, the film aims to be quite realistic, except for one runway sequence.

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

Beyond the juicy narration and dynamic staging, which grab us from the very first seconds, the success of The Devil Wears Prada can also be attributed to its characters. And more specifically, to the cast that brings them to life. Because let’s be honest, The Devil Wears Prada without Meryl Streep would have had a completely different flavor!

Initially eyed from the beginning of the project to embody the iconic Miranda Priestly, it took a few salary renegotiations (which reportedly had to be doubled) for Meryl Streep to accept the role, which she sensed was very promising. And it’s an unforgettable and acclaimed performance she gave us, portraying the tyrannical editor-in-chief of Runway. Assertive in her proposals, the actress is said to have initiated several sequences in the film, adding depth to her character. One of these is the hotel room scene, 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 ensemble cast surrounding her proved to be absolutely spot on. Between Anne Hathaway, who offers a beautiful evolution of the character Andrea Sachs, whose softness stands in perfect contrast to the more upfront temperaments of her colleagues, Emily Blunt and her character Emily, detestable as possible, yet impossible to ignore for witnessing sordid scenes. (Well done for Paris…) And Stanley Tucci, brilliant as Nigel, whose evolving relationship with Andrea is touching in every way.

While the film talks about fashion, it also provides a perspective on life and the challenges to overcome. 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 fashion.

3 – Dream in front of a top-tier wardrobe

When it comes to a film about fashion, a cutting-edge wardrobe is a must. And it is costume designer Patricia Field (Sex and The City, Emily in Paris) who is responsible for creating the outfits in The Devil Wears Prada. Although 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, to nod to her British origins. However, many designers reportedly requested not to be credited, fearing they would be snubbed by Anna Wintour…

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

Chargement...