What We Can Learn from The Devil Wears Prada

The majority of my adult wisdom comes from adages packed into romcoms from the mid-2000s, and one in particular stands out: The Devil Wears Prada. From the KT-Tunstall-studded opening scene to the final moments where Andy sends an unrequited wave to Miranda, the journey, character arcs, and, of course - the fashion - hold eternal wisdom that seems to only get better with age (except, of course, Emily’s Paris diet). 

As we dip our toes into New York’s most iconic seven days of the year (September Fashion Week), there is no better time to reflect on the hero’s journey of one of my favorite characters of all time … that’s right, Miss Andy Sachs. 

The Hero’s Journey

For the uninitiated: The Hero's Journey is a narrative framework where a protagonist embarks on an adventure, faces and overcomes a series of challenges, and returns transformed. It involves three major milestones, broken down into twelve individual steps. The milestones are: 

1. crossing the threshold into the unknown

2. encountering allies and enemies

3. and finally, achieving a significant victory or revelation 

The hero then returns home with newfound wisdom or power that helps them realize their full potential. 

Here is a great (albeit slightly long) Tom Sachs breakdown of the Hero’s Journey.

The Hero’s Journey x Brightsiding

I love this framework because it follows a character from the doldrums of ordinary life to the fantastic universe of the subconscious, where the opportunity to live a more embodied, purposeful life is realized. 

I often think of my own journey through this lens and find comfort in its context, especially when I’m in the depths of tests and insecurities. At any given moment, all of us are somewhere on this arc, and the sooner we can pinpoint our location, the more effectively we can move forward with intention and joy, which is what Brightsiding is all about. 

Unpacking Andy’s arc through the lens of the Hero’s Journey 

CROSSING THE THRESHOLD INTO THE UNKNOWN

The Ordinary World: 

We meet Andy, an aspiring journalist, setting out to find a job in New York City. I’m sure we can all see a part of ourselves in her doe-eyed, chaotic morning routine, so innocent and unprepared for the adventures of the day ahead. 

Call to Adventure: 

Here, our protagonist gets a glimpse into a world beyond the ordinary. Almost by accident, Andy lands “the job a million girls would kill for” as assistant to Miranda Priestly, the powerful and demanding editor-in-chief Runway, a thinly veiled Vogue. This opportunity serves as Andy's call to enter the glamorous but cutthroat world of fashion - one she never thought she’d find herself in. 

Refusal of the Call: 

This is the moment in the Hero’s Journey where fears flare up, insecurities become apparent, and resistance to change is strong. We’ve all been there. It’s the opportunity where the ordinary world seems REALLY safe and comfortable. 

For our dear girl Andy, this is when Miranda rips her a new one about her cerulean blue sweater and how it was picked for her by the people in this room. Until this point, Andy has seen no reason to commit to this job or it’s culture, seeing it as just a temporary stop on her way to Journalism Central, until … 

Meeting the Mentor: 

Did someone eat an onion bagel? At this stage, our heroine meets Nigel, Miranda’s right-hand man, who acts as a mentor figure. He provides Andy with guidance, tough love, and perspective—like the pivotal moment when he says, “You’re not trying; you’re whining.” 

Imari, if you’re reading this, you’re my Nigel <3 

Crossing the Threshold: 

The point of no return! Makeover montage! Elle-Woods-buying-the-computer-in-a-playboy-bunny-costume! 

Here, our girl Andy undergoes the requisite 2000s-romcom-glowup in both appearance and attitude, Chanel Boots and all. She begins to show up and test her mettle as an assistant worthy of being called by her own name, stunting on her haters when she’s enlisted to join Miranda + Emily at the movie’s version of the Met Gala. 

ENCOUNTERING ALLIES + ENEMIES

Tests, Allies, and Enemies: 

As Andy begins to slay her Runway dragons, she faces numerous challenges—balancing her demanding job with her personal life (can we all agree we hate Nate, though?), dealing with Miranda's impossible standards, and navigating office politics. 

After her disastrous first night delivering “the book,” Andy is sent on an impossible quest to track down the unreleased Harry Potter manuscript, employing the help of the infamous, irresistible Christian Thompson while Emily looks on skeptically. 

Approach to the Inmost Cave: 

High from Harry Potter, Andy slides on a slippery slope to Paris where she completely loses touch with her original, ordinary world. Her relationships suffer, and before she knows it, she wakes up in Christian Thompson’s Paris hotel room, where she finally comes-to and delivers the iconic line “I’m not your baby.” 

Ordeal: 

Ah, THE ORDEAL. The point for our sweet Heroine where she sees through the glitz and glamour of the world around her, and says, in so many words, fuck this. 

After Andy witnesses the harsh realities of Miranda's world and the personal sacrifices she’s made for success, Andy faces a moral crisis, realizing she is at risk of becoming someone she never wanted to be. 

VICTORY & REVELATION

Reward (Seizing the Sword): 

After Miranda dismisses Andy’s moral crisis in the cab (“Don’t be silly Andrea, everyone wants to be us”), Andy reclaims her agency by iconically throwing her phone into a fountain and turning her back on Fashion Week for good.

The Road Back: 

After leaving her job, Andy returns to her original goal of becoming a journalist. She enters the atonement phase, apologizes to Nate, extends a peace offering to Emily, and reconnects with her own sense of personal style. 

Resurrection: 

Riding on the coattails of her Janitor’s Union piece from college, she impresses the editor at the New York Mirror despite being Miranda’s “greatest disappointment.” She leaves the office triumphant, having finally achieved what she originally set out to do … become a journalist. 

Return with the Elixir: 

At this point in the arc, our Heroine has completed her process and essentially begins anew. She returns to a more grounded life, having learned valuable lessons about ambition, ethics, and the importance of balance in life. Her crowning moment of integrated healing occurs as she spots Miranda from across the street and waves humbly, shifting into a new world … where the journey starts all over again. 

So … where are you on this journey?

As we step into fashion week, regardless of your level of participation, this marks the shift from summer to fall, a season ripe with transformation. Whether you’re in the depths of your own tests, coming to a big realization about something that’s not aligned, or on your way home with  hard-earned elixir of wisdom, this arc helps us bring awareness to our current situation so we can choose how to show up better for ourselves and others. 

So I’m curious, where are you on this journey? How can you show up better? Do you need a mentor, a pair of Chanel Boots, or to throw your phone in the fountain?

The good news is, you get to make the call. 

THAT’S ALL, 

Bogs  

What else is new? I’m eyeing expensive sneakers.