Everybody Wants This: Darling Magazine’s The Devil Wears Prada 2 Review
by Emily Duff
Did you fall down and smack your little head on the pavement? The Devil Wears Prada 2 is in cinemas this Friday (1 May)!
Let’s start with the elephant in the room: yes, it’s actually good.
I went in expecting to be disappointed but to have had fun. In short, I didn’t think it would be groundbreaking. My main concern was that there would be very little plot, in favour of a reliance on nostalgia and references to its predecessor while we get caught up with the characters rather than having a real premise.
Well, let’s remember Meryl Streep doesn’t do sequels, so, actually, I was wrong.
In fact, there’s quite a lot happening but, don’t worry, this is a spoiler free review.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 follows a really interesting and topical plot focused around the current media landscape, exploring threats to the industry that will resonate with a lot of people whose careers and interests intersect with journalism. I imagine this is most of the audience, as we all grew up watching that genre of ambitious-journalism-girl centred romcoms from the 2000s like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, 13 Going on 30, Never Been Kissed, and, obviously, The Devil Wears Prada.
Especially prevalent as 2026 began with an (ironically online) movement to shift away from our phones, there was something quite emotional about watching powerful characters like Miranda Priestley (Meryl Streep) struggle with the new climate of publishing. In fact, even Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt) as the now high-powered executive at Dior (which we know from the trailer) grappled with modern changes to the fashion industry commenting how retail is the only sector you can still make money in.
The Arts as a whole is under threat both on screen and in the real world, and The Devil Wears Prada 2 does an excelent job of exploring this and offering real substance while still being entertaining to watch. Recent research from the Office for National Statistics UK found that industries with the largest percentage decreases in vacancies at the start of 2026 compared to 2025 were the arts, recreation and entertainment sector (down 21.8%). This is paired with The Face magazine announcing its closure in March 2026, Teen Vogue in November 2025, and BuzzFeed having laid off 15% in January 2023 as it moved towards AI tools for content.
As dumb phones become more and more popular, being driven by a desire to reduce screen time and fight against smartphone addiction, young people are beginning to favour physical media like magazines over TikTok. A new Ofcom report from April 2026 highlights that 49% of adult social media users now post, the proportion of users who say social media platforms are good for their mental health has fallen to 36%, down from 42%, while 40% report spending too much time on their screens “most days”.
In 2026, sales are rising with new products like the Brick (an app-blocking device) as well as classic, basic devices from brands like Nokia, as people seek to escape constant connectivity, notifications, and social media pressure.
While the film still feels like reuniting with an old friend, it also had a lot of meat.
It does get a bit busy, jumping from exclusive interviews to a funeral to watching Lady Gaga perform in Milan, but it’s a fun pace when you’re being met by characters rather than introduced to them.
As for the acting, I don’t think anyone was worried about this. The cast all returned to their roles seamlessly and you can tell they had so much fun filming purely from the press tour.
Despite a record-breaking 21 Academy Award nominations, Miranda Priestley has to be one of Meryl Streep’s best roles.
Anne Hathaway returns to the complex character with empathy, really solidifying how under appreciated she is. At least for me, I’ve been reminded just how much Hathaway has brought to our screens: The Princess Diaries, Ella Enchanted, and Bride Wars, alongside Interstellar, The Dark Knight Rises, and even Havoc. Let’s not forget all the style she brings, with Ocean’s 8 as a perfect example. As a matter of fact, promoting The Devil Wears Prada 2 alongside the A24 psychological drama-thriller Mother Mary says a lot about her talent.
Aside from being done dirty by a random, unnecessary romantic subplot, Andy and the rest of the cast feel exactly as you’d expect. There’s even a few touching moments that had me quite sentimental, especially towards the end.
Despite the heavy topics I’ve outlined, it still feels hopeful.
I do have to warn you though, none of the fashion looks are anywhere as good as the original. The plot is far less camp, so naturally the clothes are a little disappointing, especially given the much larger budget and the Anna Wintour seal of approval that had limited their designer access from the first film.
Apart from a few ‘fits, mainly from Emily Blunt and Simone Ashley, you will not have much to add to your wardrobe inspo Pinterst board. In fact, I was a little disappointed by Miranda’s wardrobe - she would not be wearing that feather jacket (or flying economy, but alas).
Office style is a big part of the original and that remains, Andy’s grown up corporate fashion girl wardrobe remains as iconic as the last on ended, so expect great suits and tailoring - not so much exciting gowns or something necessarily new like the first offered.
The most fun pieces are probably Miranda’s red Met Gala dress which is featured in all the promo, but it sets us up for the real life Met Gala on Monday (May 4) - between that and the premiere fashion, we’ve at least had some good outfits to look at.
Although I was pleasantly surprised and had a great time watching, there are a couple of things I couldn’t help but notice.
First, the obvious Starbucks product placement. Thankfully it seems to feature mainly right at the beginning, but it felt really uncomfortable in the current widespread understanding of how Starbucks operates unethically.
Given they were also recently announced as sponsors for the West End musical, I wasn’t shocked. Back when the original film came out, Starbucks culture was huge, with the takeaway coffee cup being a status symbol of the time. Now, it’s a Blank Street matcha (who would have made for a more fun brand collaboration, in my opinion, even if the product placement would’ve still been obnoxious).
Something I was really curious about was how it would navigate fatphobia, a rife aspect in the original film. Most viewers will remember how The Devil Wears Prada makes a lot of comments, mainly directed at Anne Hathaway’s character Andy, which always felt like a criticism of the industry rather than a genuine Bridget Jones style misunderstanding of the average body size. It’s also very dramatised, with Emily on a diet where she says, “I don’t eat anything and when I feel like I’m about to faint I eat a cube of cheese.”
It felt uncomfortable, but I also felt it was making a point. The whole film is a commentary on the industry - poor pay, long hours, a toxic culture where the thinnest women are shamed for being too large.
This doesn’t go away in the sequel, in fact Nigel’s first line is “Hello, six” to Andy in reference to her being a “fat” size 6 woman. But other than these little comments, it’s not addressed and doesn’t feel like commentary but rather old habits. They’ve attempted to explore diversity with one non-white cast member, Simone Ashley, and one fat cast member, Caleb Hearon, but the fact the latter is a man and has a small screen time makes it mean nothing, unfortunately. That body positivity scene is quite an uncomfortable watch, but this is a spoiler-free review.
Ultimately, this movie is very different from the original. There’s less less sweeping New York scenes and small town girl in a big city vibes, more explorations of new places and topics, and I think it’s really helpful to know that going in. It’s more of an extension of the world rather than just like a remake of the same themes from the first. It’s less about the glamour, more about the artistry and the fight to be creative. But there’s definitely still some glamour.
I know what you’re thinking: ‘A sequel in 2026? Groundbreaking.’ Well, given this one isn’t half bad, I guess it is!