Move at a glacial pace? Micaela Erlanger would never.
Over the past month, the celebrity stylist prepped no fewer than 25 different designer outfits for longtime client Meryl Streep’s “The Devil Wears Prada 2” press tour, which took the three-time Oscar winner around the globe.
Coincidentally, when Streep first graced the big screen as icy fashion editor Miranda Priestly in 2006, Erlanger was an intern at Condé Nast — the magazine publisher behind Vogue, on which the film’s fictional glossy Runway is based.
“The original film was a total cultural touchstone that shaped my early career,” the wardrobe whiz told Page Six Style. “After 11 years of working with Meryl, stepping into this legacy to evolve her iconic look for the sequel feels like the ultimate ‘pinch-me’ creative milestone.”
The most challenging aspect of styling Streep for the second movie? Ensuring the outfits paid homage to the world of Runway without making it look like she was cosplaying her iconic character.
“While there are nods to the film, we weren’t dressing Miranda Priestly; we were dressing Meryl Streep as she is today,” Erlanger explained.
“I’ve been leaning into a term I call ‘meta dressing.’ It’s about fashion referencing fiction that’s referencing real fashion history — all while still keeping the wearer’s real life and career in mind as well. While audiences love the ‘Easter eggs,’ I find it’s more exciting to layer those nods into looks that still feel authentic to the person.”
As such, the 76-year-old actress’ press tour looks combined winks to the movie with plenty of personal touches. For her first stop in Mexico City on March 30, for instance, Streep hit the step-and-repeat in a devil-red Dolce & Gabbana suit affixed with brooches from her own personal collection, including purple ribbons from her 2010 National Medal of the Arts and a rainbow rosette from the 2011 Kennedy Center Honors.
A few weeks later, she stepped out in NYC wearing sleek black Celine separates cinched with four different belts that did not look exactly the same, a clever nod to the comment that inspired Miranda’s iconic cerulean monologue in the movie.
“The vision was power and authority, but without sacrificing femininity,” Erlanger said of the focus on tailoring throughout Streep’s tour. “We wanted to showcase a woman at the height of her career who is fully realized and confident.”
The stylist is particularly fond of the crimson Prada pantsuit her client wore during her stop in Seoul — “There’s something so storied about her being back in that brand for this franchise,” she noted — but pointed to Streep’s Givenchy getup for the New York premiere as her personal favorite fashion moment.
“The head-to-toe leather and the cape felt like a true homecoming for the film,” she said.
Other standout styles from Streep’s past several weeks of “DWP2” promotional duties? The blue satin Saint Laurent coat she sported in Shanghai, her playful fringed Chanel skirt set for the Tokyo premiere and, of course, the cerulean J.Crew sweater she donned for a stop at “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.” (Custom-designed in collaboration with Erlanger, Streep’s cable knit was made from cashmere, unlike Andy Sachs’ infamous poly-blend crewneck.)
To ensure the movie’s cast looked cohesive on every red carpet, Erlanger shared a group chat with Erin Walsh (Anne Hathaway’s stylist) and Jessica Paster (who dresses Emily Blunt); the three texted constantly about designers, fabrics, colors and cuts.
“We coordinate to ensure each client’s look complements each other rather than clashes,” she said. “It’s a beautiful collaboration that mirrors the women-led energy of the film.”
Erlanger embraced sparkle for the press tour’s final stop in London, dressing Streep in a navy sequined Richard Quinn cocoon coat and an archival Giorgio Armani Privé jacket finished with shimmering red crinoline bow at the collar.
Best of all for “Devil” diehards, however, had to be the custom, crystal-covered Judith Leiber Couture clutch modeled after “The Book” — the infamous, spiral-bound Runway mock-up Miranda Priestly reviews each night.
“We saved the most groundbreaking looks for the finale,” Erlanger quipped. “As they say, the devil is in the details!”
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