the devil’s Blueprint for Creative Excellence
Artwork by Muskaan Rudhra
One of my all-time favorite films: The Devil Wears Prada. And I don’t just mean “oh I like this film,” I mean I watch it at least once a week. Minimum. It’s basically my comfort movie, but also my blueprint for understanding the creative industry, especially the world of fashion.
Honestly, the reason I love this film so much is because it shows you how fashion really functions. It's not all pretty clothes and runway lights: it's a business, it's strategy, it's leadership. And that’s where Miranda Priestly is just such a fascinating character.
People love to hate Miranda, calling her cold, heartless, the “ice queen.” But as a creative director myself, I see her so differently. She is an incredible leader. Yes, she's strict. Yes, she gets to the point. But she knows exactly what she wants, and she delivers. Without her, the work doesn't get done. And it’s that clarity of vision that makes her so successful.
We all know Miranda is inspired by Anna Wintour at Vogue, right? The film is basically an homage to her style of leadership. Anna Wintour didn’t just run Vogue, she changed the entire fashion world. She set new standards, she demanded excellence, and the industry evolved because of it.
I think that’s so inspiring. People who actually care about what they do, who aren’t there to please everyone. Instead, are there to achieve something remarkable, they’re the ones who move the world forward. That’s what I want for myself as a creative director. When you have an idea you know is right, you don’t let it go. You put in all your energy.
But let’s get real for a second, there’s something about this film that always gets me so mad when I watch it. Every. Single. Time.
It’s Andrea’s friends and boyfriend. In the beginning, they’re so excited about the free stuff she brings them: designer bags, event tickets, all those perks. They’re all “omg yay we love you!” But the moment she starts actually liking her job, taking it seriously, growing, suddenly they hate it.
Why is that? Why is it when someone in your circle starts to grow, people pull them down? It’s like everyone’s okay with you getting scraps for them, but the moment you outgrow them, they can’t handle it. They want you at their level, or preferably below. That’s something I see in real life too.
And you know what? Miranda never does that to Andrea. Say what you want about her, but Miranda pushes her to be better. She expects excellence because she knows Andrea can deliver. She recognizes her potential, even when Andrea herself doesn’t see it.
It drives me crazy that at the end of the film, Andrea quits. Like why? She could have done such an amazing job. She clearly found something she was good at, something she enjoyed even if it was hard. But her friends and boyfriend couldn’t accept that she changed.
Did she really “change” in a bad way? Or did she just discover what she was capable of? Yes, the schedule was brutal. Yes, the demands were insane. But guess what? That’s the reality of the creative industry. Nothing good comes easy.
People love to romanticize creative work as this calm, fun, aesthetic lifestyle. But behind the scenes? It’s a machine. It’s strategy, planning, years ahead of trends. By the time something hits mainstream, the fashion world has moved on to the next thing. You have to be twenty steps ahead.
That’s what Miranda represents: vision, leadership, commitment.
She doesn’t apologize for demanding excellence. And in a world of people watching the clock for 5 pm, that’s the difference between someone doing a job and someone building a career. But maybe that’s what the film is trying to say, that not everyone has it in them to see it through.
Anyway, those are my thoughts! I’d love to know what you think. Drop it in the comments.
Best Wishes,
Muskaan Rudhra
