Runway-Ready Hair Returns: The Devil Wears Prada 2
/ APR 28, 2026
Reading Time: 4 Minutes
Index
Across London and New York last week, the cast of The Devil Wears Prada reunited for what can only be described as a couture-level power parade. Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci and a constellation of fashion A-listers turned the red carpet into a living editorial spread – each look sharper than a freshly pressed copy of Runway magazine. But the long-awaited sequel's premiere wasn't just about gowns, it was also full of hair headlines. Gird your loins! Here's all of the hottest hair and fashion looks brought to you straight from the carpet.
Runway Returns: The Premiere That Ate Fashion
Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway's return as Andy Sachs was nothing short of a full-circle fashion moment. She arrived in a vivid red Louis Vuitton silk bustier gown and editorial energy that felt like Andy had finally graduated from cerulean sweater victim to front-row dominator with a Dyson sponsorship. Her hair was the clearest evolution of Andy's latest character arc – a glossy, softly layered mid-length style with face-framing shape that nodded back to her transformation in the first film, now upgraded in 4K. The finish was pure glass-hair energy: smooth, reflective, and controlled.
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep, meanwhile, reminded everyone that Miranda Priestly doesn't simply walk – she glides. Draped in dramatic capes and razor-edged silhouettes, she delivered what fans are calling "quiet intimidation dressing," the kind that makes photographers stand up straighter. Her hair was sculpted into a sleek, icy blonde style with minimal movement – less "styled" and more "architected." And yes, slightly terrifying in its perfection.
Emily Blunt
Emily leaned into her Emily Charlton executive chaos with a sharp, unapologetic and larger-than-life Schiaparelli creation that looked less like a dress and more like a statement. She showed up with hair that basically said "don't micromanage me" – a slicked back 2000s style updo that looks like it's got somewhere important to be.
Simone Ashley
Simone Ashley went the opposite direction – no drama, no noise, just clean girl, but she has investments. Simone's character becomes the "new Andy" in the sequel, so it seemed completely on brand for her to go with a subtle, sophisticated yet super chic style. Paired with a striking green dress, hair also mirrored Anne's with a retro, deep side part and silky, flowing waves. Actually groundbreaking.
Lady Gaga
Even Lady Gaga's surprise appearance in avant-garde Saint Laurent added fuel to the style frenzy, reminding everyone that in this universe, subtlety is strictly off-duty. Everything here is built with expert detail: height, shape, drama. Then locked in with shine so controlled it almost looks on purpose. It's performance art, but paparazzi-proof.
The Iconic Andy Sachs Transformation
If the original film made fashion feel like warfare, the sequel premiere confirmed it: the war is still very much on, but now everyone has a stylist with a global PR team. Fashion insiders are already calling the event "a mini Met Gala", and honestly, they're not wrong.
Of course, no conversation about The Devil Wears Prada – past or present – can exist without revisiting the original cultural reset: Andy Sachs' hair transformation.
In the first film, her evolution from frizzed-up assistant to sleek fashion insider wasn't just a makeover – it was a narrative turning point. The glossy blowouts, polished layers, and side-swept fringe became a cultural obsession. And that iconic fringe moment? Still undefeated. The fringe became shorthand for transformation itself – proof that a single snip can change your entire storyline (or at least your LinkedIn profile picture).
Fast forward to 2026, and fringes are everywhere again. Curtain bangs, blunt bangs, micro-fringes – fashion keeps trying to rewrite the same message: face-framing hair equals instant confidence.
The Not-So-Secret Secrets Behind Red Carpet Hair
The real secret behind iconic hair? It's not just genetics. Here's the industry truth that hairstylists will admit only after champagne number two: most of these "effortless" looks are anything but. Those thick, voluminous styles seen at the premiere? Often built using clip-in extensions strategically placed for density, length, and shape control. They allow stylists to create that seamless, cinematic fullness without waiting for genetics to cooperate.
And that glassy, light-catching shine that looks almost supernatural under flash photography? That's where silky smoothing sprays and glossing mists work their magic, layered in fine amounts to create movement without frizz, shine without grease, and sleekness without stiffness.
Conclusion
If the first film taught us anything, it's that fashion is never just clothes – it's identity, ambition, and survival in heels. The sequel premiere doubled down on that legacy, serving a masterclass in modern couture storytelling – with hair being far more than just a background detail. In fashion, and especially in Prada-adjacent universes – bad hair is not an option. Transformation is always one perfectly placed fringe away.
