The Devil Wears Prada 2: What to Expect From the Fashion According to Fashion Expert

What to Expect from The Devil Wears Prada 2 Fashion

Twenty years is a long time in fashion. When the original Devil Wears Prada arrived in 2006, it gave us cerulean, it gave us Miranda Priestly’s white-streaked precision, and it gave an entire generation permission to take getting dressed seriously. On 1 May 2026, the sequel lands in cinemas — and if the press tour and early glimpses are anything to go by, the fashion is going to be extraordinary.

The full original cast returns: Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly, Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs, Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton — now heading a luxury brand — and Stanley Tucci as Nigel. They are joined by Simone Ashley, Lucy Liu, and Pauline Chalamet as the new generation stepping into the halls of Runway Magazine. The plot centres on Miranda navigating a new media landscape, Andy returning to Runway as Features Editor, and Emily — now a senior executive at Dior — holding the purse strings that could save the whole operation.

But let us be honest: nobody is going to see this film for the plot.

The Press Tour Has Already Set the Bar

Before a single cinema seat has been filled, the cast has already delivered a masterclass in dressing for a moment. At the New York premiere, Anne Hathaway wore Louis Vuitton. Meryl Streep arrived at the European premiere in Prada — a choice that was not subtle and was entirely correct. Emily Blunt wore Schiaparelli, which tells you everything you need to know about where the fashion conversation is going to land.

Donatella Versace filmed a cameo. Filming took place at the Dolce & Gabbana show during Milan Fashion Week. Lady Gaga has a role in the film and recorded an original song — titled “Runway” — with Doechii. This is not a film that is treating fashion as a backdrop. Fashion is the point.

What to Expect From the Wardrobes: A Stylist’s Verdict

We asked Ellis Ranson — celebrity fashion stylist and host of the Talk in Wardrobe podcast — for her expert read on what the sequel’s fashion will deliver. Her verdict is below, in full.

“The Devil Wears Prada is not just a nostalgic sequel but a reflection of how much the fashion industry has evolved. As someone who once dreamt of working at the film’s fictional magazine Runway and living the lifestyle of its employees, it is truly fascinating to see the comparison between the 2006 original film and the present time, and this shift is what’s so interesting and exciting about the upcoming movie. Specifically, when it comes to the outfits, the early glimpses and press tour have highlighted looks pointing to volume, drama and sculptural silhouettes which have been popular so far through the award seasons red carpets, showcasing how the film is ahead of the trends.

The main theme across the film will be power dressing, but in a variety of ways. I expect Andie to mirror her previous glow-up with ease and without the narrative of being a fashion victim. At the end of the first movie, Andie left her job at Runway, and in the sequel, I predict we will see her in smart-tailored looks and investment pieces, rather than fun, fad garments. For Miranda, I think the looks will be similar to the wardrobe in the original, featuring ice-cold neutrals, strong shapes and sequins for fun.

This time around, the real fun fashion moments will be seen through the interns and assistants, as played by Simone Ashley, as they step into the industry and begin experimenting to try and prove themselves within the fashion world. We could expect to see a tension between Miranda’s old luxury and the Gen Z chaos, but the staff at Runway Magazine love to experiment and rarely make a bad fashion choice.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 will be a fashion dream, highlighting runway looks, designers we rarely get to enjoy on the screen, and with fashion remaining the pinnacle moment. I feel this film will fill us with the confidence to have fun with fashion and to dress up, not just for special occasions.”— Ellis Ranson, Celebrity Fashion Stylist and host of the Talk in Wardrobe podcast

The Three Fashion Dynamics Worth Watching

Ellis’s prediction points to three distinct wardrobe narratives running through the film simultaneously — and each one reflects something real happening in fashion right now.

Andy’s investment dressing evolution. The original Andy Sachs arc was a glow-up story: the girl who didn’t care, learning to care, and then leaving before it consumed her. The sequel Andy — now a Features Editor returning to the world she left — has nothing to prove sartorially. Which means the clothes will be doing a different kind of work: quiet authority rather than studied effort. Think sharp tailoring, investment pieces, the kind of wardrobe built over years rather than assembled for effect. It is, essentially, the investment dressing philosophy applied to character development.

Miranda’s armour. Ice-cold neutrals, strong shapes, the sequin deployed as punctuation rather than statement — Miranda’s wardrobe has always been about power communicated through restraint. Twenty years on, with the media landscape shifting beneath her, expect the armour to be more considered than ever. A wardrobe that does not blink.

The new generation’s chaos. This is where the film will have the most fun, and where Simone Ashley’s character — and the wider cast of new Runway staff — will deliver the moments most likely to be screenshotted and repinned. Volume. Drama. Sculptural silhouettes. The kind of fashion that exists in the gap between aspiration and logic, which is exactly where young fashion people have always lived.

Why This Film Matters Beyond the Nostalgia

First reactions from press screenings describe it as sharp, glitzy, and unexpectedly timely — a film that takes the shrinking state of media seriously while dressing the whole thing impeccably. One early response called it “fully self-possessed — sharper, wiser, and draped in the kind of confidence that cannot be bought, only earned.”

That description could apply equally to a film, a wardrobe, or a woman who has been dressing herself thoughtfully for twenty years. Which is precisely why this film feels like ours.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is in UK cinemas from 1 May 2026.

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