FASHION TRANSFORMATION

Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt’s dramatic red carpet glow-up from 2006 to 2026

Back in 2006, the film’s promotional tour was far more low-key, and it showed in the cast’s premiere looks.

APRIL 21, 2026 2:07 PM EDTAPR 21, 2026, 2:07 PM EDT

Over the past few weeks, Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, who reprise their roles as fashion editor Miranda Priestly and her former assistant Andy Sachs, have traveled the globe, from Mexico City to Seoul, promoting the sequel to 'The Devil Wears Prada.' The whirlwind press tour wrapped Monday night with a star-studded premiere in New York City, and the red carpet made one thing clear, this franchise has come a long way.

A dramatic before-and-after moment:

Back in 2006, the film’s promotional tour was far more low-key, and it showed in the cast’s premiere looks. As revealed by Meryl Streep in an interview with Vogue alongside Anna Wintour, securing outfits was a challenge at the time because many in the fashion industry were intimidated. Fast-forward 20 years, and none of the leading ladies had any trouble securing the perfect look this time around.

Stanley Tucci, Meryl Streep, Adrian Grenier, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Daniel Sunjata (Cast of "The Devil Wears Prada"), 2006.

Anne Hathaway leaned into timeless elegance with a custom Louis Vuitton design inspired by 1950s silhouettes. The look featured a structured bustier bodice and a voluminous, flared skirt. She accessorized with Bulgari Diva’s Dream earrings and matching satin sandals.

Meryl Streep went full Miranda Priestly with a dramatic, commanding ensemble. The Oscar-winning actress wore a striking scarlet cape from Sarah Burton’s Fall/Winter 2026 collection for Givenchy, complete with a neck bow, black opera gloves, coordinating heels, and oversized dark sunglasses. Miranda herself would surely approve.

Anne Hathaway leaned into timeless elegance with a custom Louis Vuitton design inspired by 1950s silhouettes.

Still, it was Emily Blunt who delivered the night’s most jaw-dropping fashion moment. Breaking from the black-and-red theme embraced by her co-stars, she stunned in an ivory haute couture gown from Schiaparelli’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection. The design featured an ethereal tulle construction with a soft sfumato effect and a gravity-defying silhouette.

The bodice alone was a feat of craftsmanship: a crested bustier adorned with 25,000 silk-thread feathers, requiring approximately 4,000 hours of work. Intricate lace details and gold metal eye accents decorated the back, while layers of tonal tulle created a sculptural, airy volume in the skirt.

A far cry from 2006:

The difference from their 2006 premiere looks could not be more striking.

At the time, while Streep was already an established icon, Blunt had appeared in just one film, 'My Summer of Love' (2004), and Hathaway was still best known for her Disney-era roles in 'Ella Enchanted '(2004) and 'The Princess Diaries' (2001). In short, luxury fashion houses were not exactly competing to dress them.

As revealed by Meryl Streep in an interview with Vogue alongside Anna Wintour, securing outfits was a challenge at the time because many in the fashion industry were intimidated.

In fact, of all the brands approached to lend pieces for the film’s events, only Prada quickly said yes. The Italian house supplied several looks, while costume designer Patricia Field, also known for her work on Sex and the City, created others and sourced vintage finds from New York boutiques.

The difference from their 2006 premiere looks could not be more striking.
At the time, while Streep was already an established icon, Blunt had appeared in just one film, 'My Summer of Love' (2004), and Hathaway was still best known for her Disney-era roles. — The difference from their 2006 premiere looks could not be more striking. At the time, while Streep was already an established icon, Blunt had appeared in just one film, 'My Summer of Love' (2004), and Hathaway was still best known for her Disney-era roles.

At the 2006 premiere, Streep opted for a far more understated ensemble: a champagne silk satin suit with lace and beaded embroidery. Hathaway did embrace red, nodding to the film’s iconic stiletto poster, in a simple, flowing dress with a draped neckline that evoked old Hollywood glamour.

Back in 2006, the film’s promotional tour was far more low-key, and it showed in the cast’s premiere looks.

Blunt, meanwhile, leaned fully into the trends of the era. She wore a mauve-pink slip dress with a midi length, square neckline, black lace trim and spaghetti straps, cinched at the waist with a darker sash.

Her footwear may have been the most memorable detail, delicate kitten-heel sandals adorned with jeweled floral embellishments, the kind many fashion fans would have obsessed over at the time. From those early red carpet days to today’s couture statements, one thing is clear, the glow-up is real, and it is spectacular.