Vogue book club revisits ‘the devil wears prada’ before film return

Just as the fashion world braces for the return of Andy Sachs and the Runway crew, Vogue is taking a nostalgic detour. The magazine's book club, launched earlier this year with a brooding revisit of Wuthering Heights, has announced its second selection: Lauren Weisberger’s 2003 satirical novel, The Devil Wears Prada. The timing, coinciding with the May release of the film adaptation, is undeniably strategic, though the magazine insists it’s about more than simply capitalizing on the buzz.

A second look at runway's reign

The novel, a thinly veiled account of Weisberger's own experience as an assistant at Vogue, sparked considerable debate upon its release. Was it a malicious tell-all or a shrewdly observed commentary on the pressures and absurdities of the fashion industry? Now, over two decades later, with the landscape of media and fashion fundamentally altered, Vogue invites readers to re-evaluate the narrative. The magazine’s editors, positioned uniquely to understand the inner workings of such institutions, promise a fresh perspective on the dynamics within the (fictional, of course) Runway magazine.

The Book Club experience will unfold over the next several weeks, from this Thursday through April 23rd, with weekly articles and engaging Group Chats hosted on the Vogue app. While details remain scant, the promise of “a few surprises along the way” hints at potential interviews or exclusive content related to the book and the forthcoming film. But there’s a deeper question at play: Does the novel’s portrayal of a demanding, almost tyrannical editor still resonate in an era of shifting workplace norms and a renewed focus on employee well-being? The film’s reimagining, bringing back the beloved characters of Andy, Emily, Nigel, and Miranda, offers a compelling opportunity to explore this evolution.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect is the chance to dissect the power dynamics of the creative industries through a lens tempered by time. The original novel felt bracingly candid, even scandalous; now, with a generation of readers who have grown up questioning hierarchical structures, its impact may be radically different. Pick up a copy—and prepare to consider whether Miranda Priestly was a monster, a visionary, or simply a product of her time.