The Devil Wears Prada

Designers insert labels into their clothing to identify their fashion line. While designers are busy tagging their clothing, the fashion world is busy tagging the importance of the people who wear those designs—in effect, labeling the wearer in the same way as the wardrobe.

The fashion world makes certain assumptions about people who wear haute couture: that they’re stylish, sophisticated, wealthy, well-educated, and socially prominent. None of these traits may be objectively true of the individual wearing a designer’s label, but perception matters more than fact.

The novel uses designer labels as a recurring motif. Initially, Andy mentions the off-the-rack brands she buys, and her co-workers humiliate her for this kind of apparel. As the book progresses, her taste in clothing becomes increasingly sophisticated. She demonstrates her new knowledge by telling the reader the origin of every item she wears. Some of her descriptions read like strategic product placement ads in a television show.

Andy seems to appreciate the elegance and artistry of designer items at the same time as she deplores the waste and expense associated with them. Miranda’s Chanel evening gown costs $40,000—enough to feed a family of four for a year. The dry-cleaning bill for that same gown is nearly $700.