The devil is back – and she's once again wearing Prada. When Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci reunited for the highly anticipated sequel to the 2006 blockbuster, they were joined by another returnee: Molly Rogers.
The acclaimed costume designer, who worked with her long-time collaborator Patricia Field on the first film, is behind the high-fashion looks seen in the latest edition, which opens in cinemas this week.
"It's like lightning has struck twice; I got to see these actors again," she tells HELLO!. “Everyone wanted to make it as good as we could, because the first one is so loved."
Having worked on many popular shows, from And Just Like That… to Emily in Paris, Molly didn't feel under pressure when returning to the world of The Devil Wears Prada. "You must try to meet expectations and surpass them; that's what Meryl said to me," she says, adding that it was “wonderful” to work with the Academy Award-winning actress, who plays the formidable magazine editor Miranda Priestly.
© GC Images"Meryl is knowledgeable. She came into the room on the first day and was like: 'Stop the presses, I’ve found the perfect-sized silver hoop for my new hair’ – and it was from CVS, a drugstore."
The actress’s contributions to the film’s fashion went beyond earrings, ranging from thoughts about the shape of bag she should carry (an envelope) to where certain outfits should appear. "She said: 'We should flip that costume here and put that other costume there,’ and I was like: ‘That's perfect.’”
The costume team were clamouring to dress Emily Blunt, whose character, Emily Charlton, is now working at a luxury fashion house. "It's true; all the shoppers fought about shopping for her," Molly says. "She was edgier and they really wanted to be able to be more expressive and go to fringe designers."
Given the impact of the original film, it's no surprise that fashion brands were eager to contribute. "Everyone wanted to be a part of it, which was incredible," she says. "It was really about having too many choices."
© Getty ImagesAlthough Molly's favourite outfit didn't make the final cut, she paid homage to the designer Giorgio Armani, who died in September, with another look she loved: a sequinned, high-waisted velvet trouser suit worn by Anne Hathaway in her role as Andy Sachs.
The look is one of Anne’s 47 costume changes throughout the film and was the culmination of years of waiting, Molly says.
"Mr Armani was my patron saint on this one," she says. "It was Armani Privé [the designer’s haute couture line]; I had been looking at it for at least three years, wondering when I was going to get it on someone. He had just died, and we all wanted to put pieces from him in the movie as a little homage to that wonderful man. I know Meryl did, and Annie [Anne Hathaway]."
© GC ImagesIn one scene set in Milan, Meryl’s character wears an Armani Privé jewelled evening duster jacket.
Best dressed
Another striking look is a dramatic red gown created by the Balenciaga designer Pierpaolo Piccioli, which she wears during a Met Gala-inspired scene. "Right off the bat, Meryl and I and everybody in my department said: ‘Whatever you're doing on that red carpet, it's red. Don't even look at cerulean, don't match your hair – the devil wears red.’
"I asked for help on that one because it called for France," Molly says. "We could have built it in New York, but looking through fashion history books, we saw something that caught our eye and asked if it could be recreated. [Balenciaga] flew over three or four times to fit her – it was custom."
Joining the cast for the sequel are Sir Kenneth Branagh as Miranda's new husband and the Bridgerton star Simone Ashley as her assistant, Amari. The Duchess of Sussex is reported to have a cameo appearance, though this has been denied by the film’s team. "That's funny," Molly says of the rumour. "I hadn't heard that."
Now, the designer is looking forward to the reviews from the fashion crowd. "I'm always curious for people who are really steeped in fashion to see what they see."
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is in cinemas from 1 May
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