Film: The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

The Devil Wears Prada is a film that people frequently point to for fashion inspiration. This 2006 hit is set in the fashion world, and the wide array of fabulous clothing used made it one of the most expensively costumed films in history. 

The main character, Andrea "Andy" Sachs who is played by Anne Hathaway is a recent Northwestern graduate aspiring to be a journalist. Although she believes the fashion industry is superficial and shallow, during her job search, she lands the job as junior personal assistant to the Editor-In-Chief of Runway fashion magazine in New York City. Although this is a job a million girls would kill for, Andy takes it to make ends meet and finds herself in a difficult situation as she feels constantly critiqued by her boss and co-workers because of her lack of style. 

When Andy interviews for her job at Runway Magazine, she is faced with the challenge of meeting Miranda Priestly for the first time, played by Meryl Streep. Andy sticks out as a pretty and smart girl but a size 6 in a sea of model-thin, and trend obsessed women. Miranda judges her off the bat because of her plain cotton sweater and shapeless skirt. Andy refuses to fail, so Miranda agrees to hire the "smart, fat girl" instead of the stylish, thin types that tend to disappoint her unrealistic expectations. 

Miranda runs the fashion world in New York and is seen as a tastemaker that no one dares to question. She takes on her role as a media giant very seriously and butts heads with Andy when she finds her job to be comical. In this clip here you can find Miranda describing the medias gigantic role in the fashion industry that affects everyone from people who are fashion obsessed down to people like Andy who take themselves too seriously to care what kinds of clothes they are wearing.

Andy also does not find herself on good terms with Miranda's chief assistant Emily, played by Emily Blunt. Emily is a slave to her idea of fashion, and to Miranda as well. She is very disapproving of Andy because she is very self-absorbed around being the very best at her job, which involves dressing impeccably and up-to-date on every trend and impressing Miranda.

As Andy becomes tired of being ridiculed, she decides to partake on a fashionable journey to get a leg up on her colleagues and focus on surviving at Runway. With the help of Nigel who is Miranda's right hand man, she is "transformed" in the Runway closet. He helps her squeeze into a size 4 Chanel, gets her a sleek haircut, Jimmy Choo stilettos and all of the sudden on the outside she looks like everyone else at Runway. This transformation point in the movie completely changes her character. With the help of fashion, she walks with much more confidence and is able to do her job better than ever before. 

Entire outfit designed by Chanel

After her makeover turning point, she begins to have fun with fashion and play with different styles influenced by New York City and her job at Runway. Click here to see some of her street styles on her way to work after she catches the "fashion bug". 

Andy's character in the Devil Wears Prada can teach us a lot about how small fashion changes can transform your wardrobe. Here are a few of her best looks in the movie. 

This classic Ivory Angora coat designed by Yogal Azrouel adds a touch of femininity in the winter months and is definitely a statement piece that resulted in a lot of buzz after the movie was released.

Chanel sunglasses and a Cotton Voile Jersey Dress by Calvin Klein for a more effortless summer look.

Distressed Studded Handbag by La Rue with long layered gold necklaces.

Classic black evening dress by John Galliano with a bold red lip.

Black Knee length coat by Rebecca Taylor and Christian Louboutin brown boots. 

This movie is very entertaining for those interested in fashion and media because it is all about the constant pursuit of self-reinvention through the creative outlet of fashion. The way fashion is portrayed in the media, if successful, must make everyone think what they already own is inadequate and they must buy and wear what is being publicized by these major fashion powerhouses. People who love looking at fashion magazines are the same people that are obsessed with this type of movie because it gives you a look inside the fashion business, the good and the bad. Ultimately, Andy never changes who she is, but as she learns to express herself in a more fashionable way, her life changes.