The visuals actively informed Andy’s backstory. “I made it an actual story point in the film that we had to explain how somebody who, working as a writer in these times, could have a fabulous wardrobe,” Hathaway says. “I pitched that Andy went on to do investigative journalism, traveled the world for 15 years… and when you’ve had an education at a place like Runway, you know what to do when you see a consignment shop. So she’s been thrifting for the better part of 20 years. And then the magic closet moment comes back with Nigel.”
Hathaway also made up a backstory for why Andy seems to be wearing a fine set of pearls and a luxurious watch: Forever nifty, Andy had replicas made. The tailed Phoebe Philo T-shirt and barrel jeans were her favourite, though—and that’s to say nothing of the costume that “got the crew to applaud,” she teases.
Each cast member had a different feeling about the heaving crowds each day. “All of this attention and obsession with the quick consumption of this movie before it’s even out… in many ways is emblematic of how our industry and our lives have changed,” says Blunt. “We began wearing our sweatpants to set and only changing out of them at the last minute to try to preserve the magic.”
“It felt jubilant, when I first got out on Sixth Avenue—where we filmed 20 years ago and nobody was interested,” says Streep. “I got changed, got out of my camper, and just heard this roar! When we shot the wannabe Met Ball, it was even crazier. People were dressed up as Miranda! Honestly, it really threw me.”
Fandom and how we consume pop culture has mutated beyond recognition since 2006. Yes, there’s the on-street frenzy and the paparazzi rabid for spoilers, but there are also new opportunities for joy with something like The Devil Wears Prada 2. “I’m hoping everybody dresses up and goes to the movies,” says Hathaway. “I hope people remember how much fun they had wearing hot pink and going to see Barbie. I’m hoping that everybody puts on their favorite Miranda Priestly-approved outfit and just has a blast.”
This article first appeared on Vogue.com
