The Devil Wears Prada 1 – Best Outfits and Costume Design Breakdown

The Devil Wears Prada is back – 20 years after the first part came out. Nobody has forgotten “Gird your loins”, “Florals, for spring? Groundbreaking.” and the uber famous “That’s all.”. The movie adaptation of Lauren Weisgerber’s book is still so popular that the studio is banking on a sequel. The second part is in theaters at the beginning of May and plays with our nostalgia but maybe it also intices Gen-Zs to make a deal with the Devil?

The movie came out in 2006 and at the time, few expected it to become such a classic. Even Patricia Field, the costume designer, said in an interview that she “never thought that this would become a classic on its own” and added: “I never really thought about it going in, ‘I’m gonna make this the most unforgettable movie.’ I just go in and do my job and be positive and have fun with it. If I’m not enjoying it, it doesn’t happen.”^[1]

While the costumes very much reflect the fashion of the 2000s, many of the outfits are still very cool, I would dare say relevant. This may reflect the current Y2K-fashion trend, but I rather attribute it to the timelessness of many of the outfits: From Andy’s Chanel look after her fashion transformation by Nigel, Miranda’s signature jackets or the beautiful dress Andy wears in Paris which mirrors the colours of the fountain in which she throws her phone. Let’s look into some of these memorable outfits.

You can also watch my video here:

Andy – From “Stuff” to Glamour with a Twist

We all know Patricia Field as the costume designer of Sex and the City. While this show and The Devil Wears Prada are both about fashion, the costumes are very different. And this is due to Field’s work approach. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar on the occasion of the 10-year-anniversary of the movie, Field explained that she works in three steps to create a unique style for a character: Firstly, she reads the script, then she analyses the character and lastly, she meets the actors.^[2]

For the costumes of The Devil Wears Prada, Field also applied her tried and tested formula. She met with the young Anne Hathaway – who had become famous because of her role as a princess in a Disney movie and had also been in Brokeback Mountain. Furthermore, the story of Andy and her personal (style) transformation had to be reflected in the outfits: Andy just graduated university, her look – if we can even call it a “look” – is all over the place, “practical” if we are diplomatic, “messy” if we name it as it is. She is utterly uninterested in fashion – she calls it “stuff” in front of Miranda – and, no surprise, she does not fit into Runway. In the course of the movie, Andy in an effort to convince Miranda of being deserving of a job at the prestigious magazine, gets a transformation by Nigel. Field said that after getting to know Anne Hathaway, she thought Chanel was the best choice. Andy was not a Versace-girl, this would have been too flashy and sexy, Chanel was more classic and a better fit – and the brand was happy to collaborate (looking back, a very smart marketing move by both sides). Nevertheless, Field emphasized it was character and style over brand.^[3]

One of the looks which immediately comes to mind is this fashion transformation. Field called it “a twist on Chanel”^[4].

But there were many more Chanel moments, like the 2003 Spring ready-to-wear mini dress.

The Chanel moments were often crafted with the accessories – the hats, or the typical Chanel costume jewellery.

One of my favourite Chanel cameos was the outfit which Andy wears at the gallery when she has to deliver something to Christian Thompson. It is the right mix of fashion and cool, it fit perfectly into the dark gallery party and it shows that Andy starts to appreciate fashion while staying true to herself – at least for some time.

Another timeless choice was Marni polka dotted blouse. Polka dots are always a great idea and when they come in brown and white, it gives Pretty Woman. The blouse was cleverly paired with a belt to accentuate Andy’s waistline.

Stunning but often overlooked is the 2005 Galliano dress Andy wears at the gala, the night she misses Nate’s birthday. Maybe because it looks a bit simple (Yes, Galliano and simple in the same sentence!). The dress is one of the first outfits where we see Andy finding her own style.

There were also some funny anecdotes relating to the costume design: Assistant costume designer Tracy Cox said in an interview for the 15-year-anniversary, that her favorite was a green vintage coat which Andy wears in the coat montage scene, shortly after her fashion transformation. This vintage coat had a really old smell to it and the team planned to dry-clean it but they did not have time and Anne Hathaway ended up wearing the smelly coat. Luckily, it was just for a very short scene, but the look was absolutely worth it.^[6]

And last but not least an absolute favourite: This outfit illustrates how immaculate the costume design was. The Louis Vuitton dress in black and dark green paired with the golden bag and the gloves match the fountain in the background. The dress is Louis Vuitton (maybe also the short jacket). Andy ends up throwing her phone into the fountain – a symbol that she walks away from Miranda and Runway. From a more philosophical perspective, we could say the dress already leads us to Andy’s future, even before she stands next to the fountain, she knows that she will throw her phone into the fountain and quit.

Miranda – The Blueprint for Fashion Power

Miranda Priestly is not just any chief editor, she is a key figure in the industry – just like Anna Wintour on whom the character is famously based. But Patricia Field did not want to simply put Meryl Streep into Wintour’s outfits. Priestly created a new formula based on the book character and Meryl Streep. Again, she strongly connected with the actress. Field also said that the work with Streep was very dynamic – Miranda’s signature white hair had actually been Streep’s idea. Field then asked Donna Karan to look into her archives of the 1980s and 1990s – she wanted to give Miranda a wardrobe which did not constrict her, which meant no ridiculous shapes. While most people may not notice the Donna Karan elements due to their simplicity, it was a great fit because Donna Karan revolutionized workwear for women like Miranda. Furthermore, Field stressed that she wanted the outfits to be timeless and have Streep, or Miranda, create her personal style and identity. She offered Meryl Streep multiple options to choose from. Field’s mantra is that the actors click with the clothes, as they are the ones in front of the camera, not the costume designer.^[7]

Let’s start with one of the best scenes of the movie – when Miranda explains the origins of cerulean blue. Miranda’s bold jackets look effortless and this gold-coloured Bill Blass Fall Winter 2004 blazer is the absolute best of the movie. There was a lot of Bill Blass in Devil Wears Prada, especially on Miranda – a nod to the American designers and, again, Anna Wintour who has made the careers of many American designers. And just like Anna Wintour, Miranda also wears a lot of big, mostly European, brands, such as Valentino. (Mr Valentino got his own cameo in the movie as well). As the editor-in-chief of a global fashion magazine, she also needs to please those who pay for the publishing.

Miranda wears an embroidered Bill Blass jacket – which may be from the late 90s – with a button down blouse…

…and a Bill Blass suit with pinstripes. On anybody else a pinstripe suit can look extremely boring and corporate. On Miranda, it looks high fashion and the secret is the styling – opulent jewellery, interesting belts and the signature grey hair. She mixes real and costume jewellery (like this necklace with a light green orb or egg by Miriam Haskell). It is very bold and completely changes the look of an entire outfit.

When watching the movie today, you may discover a key element: The heavy use of fur and exotic leathers for Miranda. Miranda famously marches into her office every morning and throws her fur coat on one of the assistants’ desks. It is a reflection of the time – furs and exotic skins were hugely popular in the 2000s. A lot of her coats were by Dennis Basso – who launched his business in 1983 and became known for his new approach to fur. Miranda also wears Fendi fur coats (many people do not know that Fendi actually came to success in the fur industry). Fortunately, this has changed a lot, even though fur is having a bit of a moment again on runways. Nevertheless, the move away from real furs and exotic skins may be bigger than the short-term trend and in the second part of The Devil Wears Prada it seems that also Miranda and her attitude towards furs and exotic skins has evolved.

One of the most memorable scenes is when we first meet Miranda – when she steps out of the limousine and walks toward the Runway office building. Again, Miranda wears a fur coat but out attention is immediately drawn to the bag which pops – the Devil does wear Prada, the Spazzolato bag from Fall/Winter 2005. The shoes were Azzedine Alaia, also Fall/Winter 2005; the oxblood red and the black are yet another hint at the Devil. It is a bit surprising that the shoes for this important scene were not Prada but maybe the colour combination and the bag make up for it or the fact that Miranda does wear Prada for her speech in Paris.

This was most likely not a coincidence. With that speech she shows everything that she does not give up, she is in charge and that she is very powerful – The Devil wears Prada in a key scene.

Emily – The Fashion Renegade

Emily, Miranda’s first assistant is much edgier than Andy. She may be scared of Miranda, but she is used to her escapades and deals with the stress. She has one big goal: Paris. According to Patricia Field, Emily can handle extremes very well and her costumes could be more expressive than Andy’s. Field would show Emily Blunt some outfits, wait for her reaction and then pick them. Emily is bold and not scared to experiment with fashion and this is reflected in her wardrobe.

We immediately know that Emily is bold – in Rick Owens, with dark nails and dramatic makeup at Andy’s interview. Rick Owens is actually a good friend of Patricia Field’s and sent the team multiple outfits to choose from.

Emily not only wears British designers, but connects Europe and New York – like with a pinstripe tunic by Gaultier.

Vivienne Westwood tops with their signature cuts, for example, would look like a costume on Andy, on Emily they work. Maybe it’s the Emily Blunt’s British background as well. Emily not only wears British designers, but connects Europe and New York by wearing pieces like a pinstripe tunic by Gaultier.

Nevertheless, there is also a softer side to Emily: The Valentino beaded dress which she wears for the gala. Even when she is sick, she still serves a look.

Nigel – The Unsung Fashion Hero

Nigel played by Stanley Tucci is fashionable and a bit quirky. Nigel was inspired by André Leon Talley – who also worked together with Anna Wintour and was known for his eccentric style.

Nigel may not be as eccentric as André Leon Talley, but he still stands out. According to Patricia Field and Patricia Cox, Stanley Tucci was “game”[8] and they sourced his three-piece plaid suit in blue which is probably from the 1970s at Starstruck Vintage in New York.

Disclaimer

This article is based on the personal, views, experiences and research of the author, no fees were received by the organisations and people mentioned above. All information is alleged, as of the date of publishing/updating and for entertainment purposes only.

Footnotes

[1] Harper’s Bazaar 2026, Variety 2026.

[2-3] ibid.

[4] Harper’s Bazaar 2026.

[5] Variety 2026.

[6] ibid.

[7] Harper’s Bazaar 2026 & Variety 2026.

[8] Variety 2026.

Sources

Harper’s Bazaar, Patricia Field on Creating the Look of ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, published by Julie Kosin, on 1 July 2016, last accessed on 21 April 2026.

Variety, ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ Costume Designers Reveal Their Favorite Looks on the Film’s 15th Anniversary, published by Haley Bosselmann, on 30 June 2021, last accessed on 21 April 2026.

Details about the individual items worn on The Devil Wears Prada 1 + 2: The Devil Wears Prada Costumes Official Instagram Account & The Devil Wears Prada Fashion Instagram Account 2026.