Hidden Gem in ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ That Only True Fans Will Catch

The sequel to the beloved classic, “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” has captivated audiences worldwide, providing a fresh narrative that pays homage to the original while charting new paths for its iconic characters. This new chapter revisits Andy Sachs, portrayed by Anne Hathaway, as she makes her way back to Runway magazine. Meanwhile, Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Streep, navigates the turbulent waters of maintaining her career amidst scandals and the rapidly evolving world of media. The film is peppered with clever nods to its predecessor, including Easter eggs that sneak into the story as Andy’s journey unfolds. One particular Easter egg flits by as quickly as a camera flash, leaving a lasting impression.

The movie opens with Andy confidently walking through Central Park, passing a street vendor displaying two belts to a customer. Fans of the original film will recognize these belts as strikingly similar to those presented to Miranda during a pivotal scene, leading to Andy’s infamous giggle and Miranda’s stern reprimand. Director David Frankel shared with Entertainment Weekly that this was a deliberate nod to the original film, a subtle “wink” as they crafted the film’s opening. This moment sets the stage for an even more significant Easter egg linked to the iconic scene.

Initially, Andy grimaces at the sight of the reminiscent belts, but quickly shakes it off, maintaining her stride. Yet, she ultimately embraces her past by donning a variation of her cerulean sweater from the first movie. Fans (and those familiar with Looper’s indispensable recap of the original) remember Miranda’s sharp critique of Andy’s “lumpy” sweater, mocking her indifferent attitude towards fashion. By the sequel’s finale, Andy reclaims this misstep, wearing a sleeveless version of the notorious sweater at Runway.

Andy grimaces at the sight of those two familiarly-shaded belts at the start of “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” but she quickly moves on, barely losing a step. However, she eventually embraces her past by wearing a version of her cerulean sweater from the first film. Hardcore fans (and those who have watched Looper’s essential recap of “The Devil Wears Prada”) will recall the cold verbal jab that Miranda makes regarding Andy’s “lumpy” sweater as she mocks her nonchalant view of the fashion business. Andy owns this past stumble toward the end of the sequel as she stands at Runway in a sleeveless version of that very sweater.

Director David Frankel told Entertainment Weekly that the sweater is a duplicate of the one seen in the first film. Eagle-eyed viewers will notice that the sleeveless sweater appears to be the result of a do-it-yourself project because of the choppy design of the arm holes, and that observation is correct. “Annie [Hathaway] scared us to death in the fitting room,” costume designer Molly Rogers told USA Today. “She just took a pair of scissors and whack, whack, whack — she just chopped the sleeves off of it.”

Rogers said that including the sweater in the film’s ending helps create a full circle moment. Hathaway’s modifications make this even more of a full circle moment as it symbolizes the fact that Andy is owning her past while making her own path in a world that once tried to change her. It’s one of the best moments in the sequel, which is a little lifeless in places but shows a few flashes of brilliance — check out Looper’s full review of “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”