The Devil Wears Prada 2 Brings Fashion, Nostalgia, and Miranda Priestly Back in Style
Twenty years after The Devil Wears Prada strutted into pop culture history, the long-awaited sequel arrives with sky-high stilettos to fill. Thankfully, The Devil Wears Prada 2 understands exactly what made the original beloved: razor-sharp characters, biting fashion-world politics, and the icy brilliance of Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly. The sequel leans hard into nostalgia, and for longtime fans, that’s exactly the right move.
The film reunites us with Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), and Nigel Kipling (Stanley Tucci), along with the familiar chaos of Runway magazine. But this isn’t simply a rehash of the original. The sequel cleverly updates its world for today’s collapsing print-media landscape, where magazines are fighting to survive in a digital-first era. Runway itself is struggling under shrinking budgets and cultural shifts, while Andy faces the harsh reality of modern journalism instability.
One of the film’s smartest choices is how it modernizes Miranda’s famously terrifying management style. In one of the sequel’s funniest running gags, Miranda is now forced to hang up her own coat after complaints about workplace behavior, while new first assistant Amari (Simone Ashley of Bridgerton fame) acts more like an HR watchdog than cowering helper. It’s a clever acknowledgment that the fashion industry, and office culture in general, has changed since 2006. Screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, who also wrote The Devil Wears Prada, elaborates:
“As a character, Miranda has changed. The world’s changed. I don’t know that people fundamentally change their essence, but they do evolve with what’s happening in the culture, especially because that’s her job.”
Fans of the original will appreciate the abundance of callbacks and Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the film. Andy walking past a flea market displaying two blue belts reminiscent of Miranda’s legendary cerulean sweater monologue is a subtle but satisfying nod to the original film. Later, Andy herself wears a cerulean sweater vest as a deliberate callback to the unfashionable sweater she wore on her very first day at Runway in the original film. (How many times can you fit “cerulean” in a paragraph?) Regardless, these moments feel lovingly crafted for longtime fans rather than cheap nostalgia bait.
Performance-wise, the returning cast slips comfortably back into their roles. Emily Blunt once again steals scenes as Emily Charlton, delivering some of the film’s sharpest comedic moments. Her character goes through a surprisingly heartfelt emotional arc. Stanley Tucci brings warmth and familiarity back to the Runway offices, and Andy feels noticeably more mature and self-assured this time around. Miranda, however, is stymied a bit by the HR department, and can no longer be as biting. We see a softer side to her, merely glimpsed at the end of the first film.
That said, the sequel doesn’t quite reach the sparkling heights of the original. The pacing can feel overly dense, with storylines constantly shifting and overlapping. More importantly, the film lacks a truly explosive climax. Instead of building toward a dramatic showdown, the story gently fades into an emotionally satisfying but somewhat subdued ending. For some viewers, that quieter resolution may feel fitting; others may leave wishing for a more powerful final punch.
Still, The Devil Wears Prada 2 succeeds where many legacy sequels fail: it respects its characters, honors its audience, and delivers enough charm, fashion, and emotional closure to justify its return. It may not strut quite as fiercely as the original, but spending time with these characters again feels like slipping back into a favorite designer coat.
Costume Design Fun Facts
- Andy Sachs = “Feminine Menswear” according to costume designer Molly Rogers. “Think Annie Hall meets Katharine Hepburn.”
- Andy had 47 outfit changes!
- Miranda Priestly had 28 outfit changes. The team was on the hunt for the perfect-size hoop earrings. Meryl Streep found them herself…at CVS!
- Miranda wears Armini in Milan – an homage to the legendary Italian designer who passed away during filming.
- Emily was the character that every shopper on Rogers’ team wanted to shop for because they could push the envelope when it came to edginess.
- The Milan scenes features these Italian designers: Emilio Pucci, Etro, Fendi, Moschino, Missoni, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Lorenzo Seghezzi, Rosamosario, Roberto Cavalli and Antonio Marras.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 releases in U.S. theaters on May 1, 2026. Who will grab their high heels and head out to see it? Let us know in the comments.
