Fashion fans still have to wait another week before The Devil Wears Prada 2—starring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci—opens in theaters. But in the interim, we have a special treat: Vogue caught up with the film’s costume designer, Molly Rogers, to get the scoop on all of the fabulous fashions you can expect to see come May 1.
Sitting down with British Vogue’s Alice Newbold for The Run-Through, Rogers spoke about crafting all of the fashion fun for the highly anticipated sequel. Nobody was more qualified for the job, after all, given she’d worked with costumer Patricia Field on the first film’s wardrobe back in 2006. “I knew I was the best person for it—it really helps having that historical perspective,” Rogers says. “It felt like coming back to summer camp with people that you missed and wanted to see again.”
Her brief for the new film? To build upon the energy and look of the original, while also delivering something entirely unexpected to fans. “The DNA of the first film is so strong,” says Rogers. “I wanted to give it my perspective.”
Lucky for Rogers, she had a strong cast of characters to play with. For Runway editor Miranda Priestley (Streep), the fashion focus was clear from the get-go: Rogers wanted outfits that immediately projected power and strength. “It was obvious that a powerful woman like [Miranda] would have a very strong silhouette,” Rogers says. “She wouldn’t need a lot of frills…With an actress like Meryl, you don’t need to adorn them.”
By the way: those rather controversial Valentino Rockstud shoes that Miranda sports in the first TDWP2 teaser? Not Rogers’s idea. “I was not there the day they were shooting that scene, and they just popped the shoes on,” she says. “I did not think it was character-appropriate for Miranda to wear a Rockstud, but they liked the way that it looked. When I saw that hubbub about it, I was like, ‘I’m innocent!’”
The costumes Rogers crafted for Emily Charlton (Blunt)—who now has a high-powered job at a major fashion house—were no less striking. “Emily’s character is so sharp-witted, and her costumes had to have the edge of the first movie,” says Rogers. “We went to Century 21 all day long and scooped up Vivienne Westwood, Rick Owens, Margiela.”
For Andy Sachs (Hathaway), meanwhile, the look was decidedly more pared back—though still stylish in its way. “In the first movie, Andy is a fish out of water, but in the second one she’s a world traveler, because she’s a reporter,” Rogers explains. “She also hasn’t totally rejected the fashion world, because she’s a New Yorker.” She envisioned Andy shopping at consignment stores in the present day, ultimately curating a smart array of blazers and ties. “Pat’s original inspiration for Andrea, way off in the corner of the room, was Annie Hall,” Rogers reveals.
One of the most fun parts of working on such a buzzy blockbuster, Rogers notes, was having the budget to really go for it—a far cry from the situation on the first film. “In the first movie, there were design houses that [didn’t want to] participate,” says Rogers. “Mr. Valentino was the first designer who said, ‘Whatever you need.’” In fact, there were so many designers and looks to choose from for the sequel that many glamorous looks did not end up making the final cut—including a custom Dior look for Blunt’s character made by Jonathan Anderson.
Another personal highlight for Rogers was working closely with all of the cast members to cultivate their wardrobes. “If an actor is collaborative, and no one feels afraid to offer an idea, you make a better outfit and you make a better movie,” Rogers says. Wondering if any of the A-listers walked off set with a few pieces as keepsakes? “Meryl asked for something as she was leaving [the set],” recalls Rogers. “I don’t remember what it was.” You’ll just have to see the film and take a guess.
For the full interview with Rogers, listen to today’s episode of The Run-Through above.
