Credit: by 20th Century Studios
Written by Emma Gonzales
A new, long-awaited sequel for the “Devil Wears Prada” was recently released in theaters on May 1. “The Devil Wears Prada 2” follows the same characters as the first movie 20 years after the events of the first film. Meryl Streep reprises her role as Miranda Priestly, the editor-in-chief at Runway magazine, who is known for being commanding to her staff and criticizing their fashion choices. Anne Hathaway returns as Andy Sachs, once the clueless assistant to Miranda, who is not too well-versed on high end fashion. In the sequel, she has now become a successful journalist who agrees to write for Miranda’s magazine.
This movie provides an excellent insight into how fashion has evolved since 2006. The fashion landscape has changed to be digital rather than on print in magazines. The fashion looks have transformed from a chic Y2K style to more high-tech and contemporary. These modern looks include name-brand designs by Dior, Balenciaga and Armani. There are also many designer and model cameos within the movie, expanding on the notable celebrity appearances made in the first film.
While the first “Devil Wears Prada” movie focuses on diet culture and the obsession with unhealthy eating habits to achieve a thinner body, this new movie is about embracing diverse sizes. In the first movie, Andy is critiqued for eating carbs and is told that all of the women working in the fashion industry are more focused on outward appearances than inner beauty, starving themselves to achieve a skinnier image. This trend of body image issues is a continuing theme in current society, with many women turning to weight loss drugs to achieve a certain weight. The sequel film addresses this issue head on by promoting body positivity and inclusivity.
Overall, this film accurately portrays the new era of fashion as one that is rapidly evolving by becoming more up-to-date with the new generation of designers, artists and fans of fashion.
