The Devil Wears Prada 2 Indeed
Everyone knows about bitchy bosses. That’s par for the course in corporate whoredom. The bitchy bosses can be any gender – they do not discriminate. What is particularly worse is if they happen to be the next in line of a family business empire.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 has mixed reviews from many. Personally, I enjoyed it thoroughly. It highlighted every modern crisis that the first world minority is dealing with. Particularly the issues of restructuring businesses to cut costs, hiring consultants who know theory and have no practical knowledge, family members who have no clue about how to continue a legacy and who are driven by quick money and of course, dealing with a self righteous egotistic boss. In the case of Miranda Priestly, she is at least, a competent boss-bitch. Most bosses who are bitches are incompetent and insecure which is why they need to hide behind a façade of bullshit and ego. We have all met these nightmares somewhere along the way. Fate would have it that those of us who are intelligent, competent and ethical, must encounter the boss-bitch so that we are taught lessons for life and reminded that politics run the office and not competence or talent.
What a travesty indeed. Andy Sachs is one’s reminder of that though her eagerness 20 years down the line seems a bit too much for a woman who has been through the mill. That level of eagerness one would reserve, especially in the eyes of a former boss who was / is a bitch. Yet it is in full force along with her very noble desire to preserve Miranda. Part of me wanted to hoot and laugh and yet I understood that many are those who are insecure to a point where nothing can redeem them when they face their initial abusers. I was thinking back to the boss-bitches I have had and thought to myself, nope. There would be no eagerness there to please them though I would feel an inkling of a familiar nudging almost to not piss them off coz you know, they are important people – or so they think – who made your life hell.
The family business / legacy angle here is interesting. The third generation is clearly not fashionable and not interested in his family legacy. The bringing on of consultants and restructuring experts reminded me of many companies including a British based global bank which is currently restructuring and hiring and firing people at a rate. It’s almost hilarious because you need to be very mindful when transitioning and “fixing” so called issues. You don’t want to cut off the hand that feeds you in a bid to maintain your diet. Not many do this successfully. The best changes can often come from within and where necessary, you can shear off the dysfunctional useless hangers on that your predecessor’s generation kept. But there is a way of doing it – professionally. Not like a South Asian political party on a joyride to hell where you play dirty politics to get people to leave. You can just give them the good old VRS and send them packing.
Yet another reminder of why foundations are important when starting any company – one cannot build castles on foundations of fluff. When you do, you get the boss-bitches coming into power coz they are the only ones left behind. At least Irv’s son was willing to sell and get the fuck out coz he knew he was not his father or grandfather. Most nepo babies are delusional pups who think they are a chip off the old block when they are not. It’s fine to want to continue family legacies – with a realistic view of oneself. Those of us who do have legendary parents understand that we can never be them, but that is a very hard pill to swallow and deal with, especially when you are expected to be Daddy or Mummy jnr. That’s when the fake performances take over and the insecurities rule and that’s when good people leave. Precious few family businesses are properly run. It was heartening to see some aspect of this depicted in the movie.
Another interesting point was Andy’s love interest. People remembered her boyfriend who was hot and exciting in the first movie and most felt this guy was too laid back and not hot. But when you reach a point in life, where you have enjoyed the hot and sexy chemistry that leads to regular Krakatoa scale eruptions, you realise that who you need is not the dude who gives you butterflies, but the solid steady partner who gets you and gives you that space when you need it. The perfect foil is the best partner, especially when you’re gonna be running around like a mad hatter with your job. Even Miranda’s husband is the stable, low key guy who gives her that grounding. Those are the best, especially for highly driven, energetic women. This understanding comes with maturity and experience, so I get why most are disappointed.
The fashion was not great though there were a few key moments. Too much bling gone mad. And again, a reminder of how fashion is truly about confidence – because without that, you are just a clothes rack hanging on the next fast fashion line out of the Guccis, Pradas or Shein. Take your pick.
Despite all the hullabaloo around Miranda, at times she reminded me of Queen Charlotte from Bridgerton. These are very powerful women, yet human nevertheless. And that is important because sometimes the best strategy to work with them is not head on collision but nuanced interactions and subtle digs. Again, this lesson comes with maturity because I was reminded of some older folk who deserve to be slapped but I have learnt patience and restraint with them of late which works far better.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is not everyone’s cup of tea – and that is totally fine. Those of us who get it though, are glad that reality has crept into the so called haute couture world which was until very recently, portrayed as more fantastical than Disney. It is not. And that is nice to know.
