Architectural Digest’s Behind the Scenes look at ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Proves Details Matter
Photo: Macall Polay for Architectural Digest
It’s no secret that The Devil Wears Prada franchise is considered iconic. From the original book to it’s subsequent sequels, its legacy continues to be a cultural mainstay that sparks conversations around fashion, beauty, career and decor. For the first time in 20 years, Architectural Digest stepped beyond the obvious by giving decor enthusiasts something meaty to feast their eyes on. In conversation with production designer Jess Gonchor, AD discovered how a familiar landscape was modernized without losing too much of the familiarity that’s beloved by fans.
Inside the World of ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’
Inside Runway | Photo: Macall Polay for Architectural Digest
Miranda Priestly’s Office | Photo: Macall Polay for Architectural Digest
“We had to get bigger and better,” Gonchor says of The Devil Wears Prada 2 set (via Architectural Digest). Wondering what that means for a highly-anticipated film? Think switching floors and expanding departments to mirror publications’ current landscape, not to mention sets being “eight times bigger compared to the original production.” The mere thought of this makes me appreciative for those whose creativity and hard work allows them to build or enhance the worlds fictionalized characters inhabit. It’s also worth mentioning Gonchor was a part of the first film so it makes sense he was attuned to the sequel’s aesthetics.
Knowing that Runway’s (the magazine at the center of everything) is facing the same decline as popular publications in real life, it was decided the office needed to be more open than rigid. Gonchor says, “We knew we wanted to keep the sight lines from her office out to the front because it’s what the audience remembers.” However, it’s important to note the film added “different assistant characters.”
Inside Miranda Priestly’s domain remains an elevated take on what audiences saw before. According to AD, Gonchor even drew inspiration from how Anna Wintour’s office looks to make Priestly’s feel as authentic as possible. “I wouldn’t say it was an upgrade because the first office was amazing,” he says of the updated look, but he wanted the office to look “a little fancier.” Based on what we see, it’s safe to say that goal was spectacularly achieved.
Photo: Macall Polay for Architectural Digest
What About the Fashion Closet?
Photo: Macall Polay for Architectural Digest
Gonchor shared a fun, yet serious fact about the new fashion closet in The Devil Wears Prada 2 that highlighted the contrast between the whimsical, but expensive pieces that were made available. “There were so many super-expensive things [in the fashion closet] that we had a guard watching them,” he says.
The reason for this is because set decorator Stephanie Bowen “contacted designers to procure the on-loan clothes, jewelry, bags and shoes, while costume designer Molly Rogers lent some key pieces.” This differs from the first film because of the energy — and fear — surrounding The Devil Wears Prada in 2006.
Meryl Streep recalled how different things were during that time. “Well, everybody was afraid of Anna on the first one, so we couldn’t find any clothes,” she told Vogue.” It may sound far-fetched, but the actress who breathes life into Miranda Priestly was adamant that no one wanted to be the first to lend anything. Now that the tables have turned, it’s interesting to see how much more fleshed out the fashion closet feels.
Because I couldn’t let a fashion moment slip by, watch the cast & crew discuss The Devil Wears Prada 2’s fabulous fashion:
