Right, so I got this bug in my ear about doing a Devil Wears Prada costume. Not just any look, mind you, I was aiming for that iconic Miranda Priestly entrance vibe. You know the one. Looked simple enough on screen, right? Yeah, famous last words.
Getting the Core Pieces
First hurdle: the coat. That sharp, structured coat, often with some kind of dramatic collar. Forget finding the exact screen match off the rack. I spent weeks, seriously, weeks digging through thrift shops, vintage stores, even those online resale places. Found plenty of black coats, sure, but none had that specific cut or feel. It was getting frustrating.
I finally found a decent black wool coat. Good shape, sharp shoulders. But plain. No drama. So, next mission: find some faux fur trim. Not the cheap fluffy stuff, needed something with a bit of weight, looked kinda luxe. Found some online, ordered it, fingers crossed. My friend Sarah, she’s okay with a sewing machine, thankfully. Bribed her with pizza to attach the fur trim to the collar and cuffs. Took her an evening, lots of pinning and muttering, but she did it.
Then, the sunglasses. Needed those massive, face-hiding shades. The kind that scream “don’t talk to me.” Ordered a couple pairs online because photos can be deceiving. One pair was too flimsy, another just looked weird on my face. Kept the third pair – not perfect, but close enough. Big, black, and imposing. Check.
Accessorizing Miranda
Okay, accessories are key for Miranda. That splash of colour, usually a scarf. Hermes? Yeah, right. Not on my budget. I hunted for a silk scarf with a similar vibe – bold pattern, good colours. Found a decent imitation on a market stall, actually. Felt like a small victory.
The bag. Needed something structured, expensive-looking. Another deep dive into second-hand shops. Almost gave up, then spotted this old, black leather handbag tucked away on a bottom shelf. Bit scuffed, but real leather and the right shape. Took it home, gave it a good polish with some shoe cream. Looked surprisingly good. Not Prada, but it had the right attitude.
And the hair. My hair is nothing like hers. Wig time. Found a short, silver-grey bob wig online. Looked a bit flat when it arrived. Had to spend some time with hairspray and a comb, trying to get that perfect swept-back, powerful style. Took a few tries, lots of staring at screenshots from the movie.
Putting It All Together
Finally, assembly day. Pulled on some smart black trousers and a simple top I already owned. Stepped into some heeled boots – nothing too crazy, but needed that bit of height. Then the coat, scarf artfully draped, sunglasses on, grabbed the bag. Slipped on the wig.
Looked in the mirror. Okay, not bad. Not Meryl Streep, obviously, but the vibe was there. The coat with the fur, the big shades, the structured bag – it all clicked. Felt pretty commanding, actually. Way more effort than I first thought, tracking down all those specific-ish pieces and making them work. But yeah, pretty pleased with how it turned out. It’s all about finding the right shapes and attitude, even if they’re not designer labels. Took a lot of digging and a bit of DIY, but got there in the end.
