The Tamesis
The queen wears prada It’s more about fashion than clothes, or at least that was my impression when I first read Lauren Weisberger’s 2003 novel this year. This means that when actual costumes appear, they are not just descriptors but signs that anchor the character through status and taste.
When she arrived at Runway magazine, Distributed Water PlanThe protagonist Andy Sachs is a recent graduate from Brown University who dreams of pursuing a “serious” journalism career. She scorns fashion, believing it to be frivolous. Her anti-fashion stance was a way of communicating that she was above everything else.
But it won’t last. In 1979, Joan Didion was a Vogatepublished a packing list that looked positively ascetic compared to what Andi brought to Paris about 10 months into the job, when she began to realize that she needed to play the role and that one’s intelligence was not diminished by caring about one’s appearance. As expected, her boss Miranda Priestly’s wardrobe is mostly lavish. but track The employees have diverse tastes and are obsessed with indie brands like Katayone Adeli, Habitual and Seven, as well as diffusion lines like D&G and Marc by Marc Jacobs, which by the time this book takes place have become an important part of the fashion world.
We’ve been talking a lot about the human form ahead of this year’s Met Gala, whose theme is “The Art of Costume,” which is what Andy focuses on in his book. “I couldn’t focus on anything but her body,” she said, observing another perfectly proportioned colleague with her midriff exposed. Sheer shirts, second-skin suede and leather leave little to the imagination, even in the office. Necessary stiletto heels elongate the silhouette. track The staff embodies the millennial aesthetic, which has been a focus for designers lately, but we hope those pointy-toe heels stay in the past.
Below, I’ve paired looks from the 2000-2003 collection with quotes from the book. Use them to create your own must-have list, serve as the Holy Grail of eBay shopping, or just enjoy a walk down memory lane.
Andrea “Andy” Sachs
“I was working at track For the sake of magazines—just putting on anything that isn’t torn, frayed, stained, or out of style won’t cut it anymore. I pushed aside my regular button-down shirt and dug out the tweed Prada skirt, black Prada Turtleneck sweater, mid-calf length Prada The boots Jeffy handed me one night while I was waiting for a book. “
“I dumped the contents of a bag on the floor next to the table and started sorting. There were Joseph Camel and charcoal gray trousers, long, slim, low-rise, made from extremely soft wool. A pair of brown suede Gucci These pants look like they could turn any idiot into a supermodel, and both pants are completely faded Marc Jacobs The jeans look like they were custom made for my body. There are eight or nine top options, ranging from a skinny ribbed turtleneck to Calvin Klein to a tiny, completely see-through peasant shirt Donna Karan. dynamite graphics Diane von Furstenberg Wrap skirt neatly folded in navy velvet Taharai Trousers. I discovered and instantly fell in love with the Almighty Pleat habitual The denim skirt falls just above my knees and pairs perfectly with the absolutely trendy floral print Catajon Adli Blazer. “
“The second bag was even more bulging and filled with amazing shoes, bags and a few coats. There were two pairs of high heels inside Yangjie Zhou Boots – ankle length and knee length – two pairs of open toe boots Manolo [Blahnik] Stiletto sandals, a pair of classic black Prada pump and pair Todds Loafers. . . . I slung a slouchy red suede bag over my shoulder and immediately saw two intersecting “Cs” engraved on the front, but it wasn’t nearly as pretty as the dark chocolate leather. Celine I threw it in my other arm. Long military style trench coat in signature oversized fit Marc Jacobs Buttons make it all better. “
“The look on her face was one of passive disgust… I took a quick look at myself and wondered what had triggered this reaction. Short-sleeved military shirt, a brand new seven I was given away for free by their PR department just because of the jeans I worked for track, And a pair of relatively flat (two-inch heels) black slingbacks, which are by far the only non-boots/non-sneakers/non-loafers that get me to Starbucks more than four times a day. “
“Luckily, working at one of the biggest fashion magazines in the country (a job a million girls strive for!) has its perks, and by 4:40 p.m., I was proudly borrowing a beautiful floor-length black maxi dress. Oscar de la Renta Number, courtesy of Jeffy. Wardrobe expert and lover of all things feminine. (Girl, you want to wear a formal suit, you want an Oscar, that’s it.”)… The fashion assistant has already called for a pair ManoloIt’s my size, and the person in Accessories chose a gorgeous one. Judith Leiber Evening bag with a long jingling chain. “
“Do I need to accompany Miranda to a bistro and stand in the corner like a mummy while she drinks a glass of Bordeaux? A pair of charcoal gray cuffs theory Pants with black silk sweater by Celine. Go to the tennis club where she gets private lessons so I can hit the water and bring a white scarf if she needs to Schweitzer? Head-to-toe activewear, paired with bootleg sweatpants, a zip-up hooded jacket (cut short to show off my tuna, of course), a $185 wife-beater jacket, and suede sneakers—all by Prada.
What if maybe—just maybe—I actually made it to the front row of one of those shows, like everyone swore I would? The options are endless. My favorite so far (and this is late Monday afternoon) is a schoolgirl pleated skirt anna suiin a very sheer and very frilly white color Miu Miu Shirt, mid-calf looks particularly naughty Christian Louboutin boots with Kation Adéli The leather is so formfitting it’s almost obscene. “
“Somehow I made it to the back seat of the limo before Miranda did, and although her eyes were now fixed on my chiffon dress, she hadn’t yet commented on any part of the outfit. I had just stuffed the dress into the car.” Smithsonian Book to mine Bottega Veneta My bag rang as my new international phone rang. “
“My first Paris show was a blur. I remember it being dark and the music seemed too loud for such understated elegance, but the only thing that stood out during that weird two-hour window was my own intense discomfort. Chanel Jocelyn carefully selected boots to match the outfit – a stretchy, therefore tight-fitting cashmere sweater Marlowe Wearing a chiffon skirt – makes my feet feel like confidential documents being fed into a shredder. “
“Logically, flying seven hours in steerage wearing tight leather pants, open-toed strappy sandals, and a blazer over a vest would seem like the best of a hellish travel experience. But it’s not.”
“After a particularly awkward run-in with a feather-covered tank top and patent leather thigh-high boots (yes, above the knee), I finally settled on an outfit on page 33, a flowing patchwork skirt Roberto Cavalli Paired with a baby T-shirt and a pair of chic black motorcycle boots Dolce & Gabbana. Hot, sexy, stylish – but not too dressy – without making me look like an ostrich, an eighties throwback or a whore. What more can you ask for?
“I found my parents very happy to see me. We hugged each other, after they got over their initial shock at what I was wearing (tight, faded) Dolce & Gabbana Pointed toe high heel jeans and a completely sheer shirt – hey, it’s listed in the “Miscellaneous” category; the subcategory, to and from the airport, and it’s by far the most airplane-friendly thing they’ve packed for me. )”
