The Devil Wears Prada is an iconic film that still holds up as an unforgettable classic since its release in 2006. Ever since the film came out we have been actively quoting Miranda Priestly's most hilarious lines, admiring the gorgeous fashion, and hating deeply on Andy's boyfriend who refuses to support her career goals.
The Devil Wears Prada centers around a recent Northwestern graduate named Andy (Anne Hathaway) who interviews for a job at Runway Magazine, despite the fact that she can't spell "Gabbana" and has never even heard of the one and only Miranda Priestly (a character who is based on Vogue's editor and chief, Anna Wintour, played flawlessly by Meryl Streep). Hathaway and Streep absolutely nail their roles and have worked together to create a total masterpiece that would even make Miranda smile.
So without further ado, let's take a look at the most "groundbreaking" quotes from Prada.
"Details of your incompetence do not interest me."
This is one of the very first lines uttered by "The Dragon Lady", and it perfectly establishes Streep's character as a woman who doesn't have time for anything less than glimmering perfection. The line is mumbled almost inaudibly by Priestly as she walks along the polished halls with her assistant Emily (played hilariously by Emily Blunt).
If something (or someone) is remotely flawed, Miranda doesn't have the slightest interest in it. Business-minded and strong-willed, the Snow Queen simply doesn't have the energy to sugar coat during business hours or hold your hand along the way. Incompetence bores her! Either get it right or go work at TV Guide... The choice is yours.
"THAT'S ALL."
This line is consistently uttered by Priestly throughout the film in a tone that is so cold and aloof, it could send instant chills down your spine (and cause your soul to ice up in the process).
It is said when Miranda is done with a conversation because it is either not interesting enough for her or she simply doesn't have the time to hear you go on and on about what little clubs you were a part of in college. She doesn't care about what podunk town you grew up in or who you're dating. All Miranda Priestly cares about is fashion! When working for Miranda, there's only one thing you need to do. Your job. That's all...
"Is there some reason my coffee isn't here? Has she died or something?"
This line is said by Miranda as she is genuinely confused as to why her coffee isn't where it is supposed to be - right in the grasp of her ice-cold hand. Miranda likes her coffee extra-extra hot because she is pretty much a fire-breathing dragon as she is described to be (except we mean it as a total compliment rather than an insult).
Daenerys Targaryen should probably take a seat because Miranda Priestly is the true Dragon Queen. According to Miranda, the only possible excuse you should have for not bringing her coffee on time is if you are dead in a ditch somewhere. Even then, your untimely death would still be an annoying inconvenience to her. Why would anyone have the audacity to die on her (designer) watch?
"Please bore someone else with your questions..."
You know how most polite bosses let you know as you start your new job that "if you have any questions, just ask"? Not Miranda. No way. Miranda doesn't want questions. She wants answers!
We can't help but admire Miranda Priestly's ability to be so blunt and candid along with her absolute refusal to beat around the bush when it comes to her employees. Basically, she believes if you don't have all the answers, you shouldn't be working for her. As said earlier, she will accept nothing less than pure perfection.
"Oh I'm sorry, do you have some prior commitment? Some hideous skirt convention you have to go to?"
This line is hilariously uttered by Emily Blunt's character after Andy tells her she's busy. Like Miranda, Emily is the kind of person who doesn't have time to sugar coat or "pretend" to be nice. As Stanley Tucci's character Nigel brilliantly states, the fashion industry has nothing to do with what's on the inside.
It's all about your outward appearance and if your outward appearance is lacking while you're working for the largest fashion magazine in the world, you best be sure you're gonna know it. Regardless of how cruel Emily's line might seem, at least it's better than her faking kindness to Andy and then talking about her behind her back. At least you can call Emily "Blunt" (Sorry not sorry, that pun was destined to be).
"Oh please, it's just, I don't know, drizzling..."
*Thunder and lightning booms outside as a massive storm ensues*
Miranda says this line while she is pestering Andy to catch a flight for her in order for her to catch her daughters' dance recital. She insists that there has to be a way for her to fly over to see her kids perform despite the fact that there's nearly a hurricane erupting outside and pretty much all flights are canceled.
It can't be that bad, she insists, it's just, I don't know, drizzling. There is no storm too big for Miranda Priestly to be denied whatever she wants. She's Miranda Priestly, after all! If she asks for a flight, she's gonna get one. If you screw her over by not giving her exactly what she asks for, that's on you, not the bad weather. "Bad Weather" is simply a poor excuse in Miranda's eyes.
"I said to myself, go ahead. Take a chance. Hire the smart, fat girl."
This line is said hilariously (and somewhat sadly) by Miranda herself when she is hounding Andy (in the quietest voice possible making it all the more terrifying), about how she failed her, yet again. The funniest (and most depressing) part about all of this is the fact that Andy aka Anne Hathaway is not fat at all. To the average person, she is perfectly healthy and slender, but in the fashion world where you must eat absolutely nothing (except for a cube of cheese when you feel as though you're about to pass out), Andy is considered "fat."
She asks Nigel during the cafeteria lunch scene if anyone actually "eats" around here. They even seem impossibly offended when Andy has an onion bagel for breakfast! It's pretty sad, but it's also a somewhat accurate depiction of the fashion world.
"By all means move at a glacial pace, you know how that thrills me."
With Miranda, everything needs to be fast-paced. With Miranda, everything needs to be delivered fifteen minutes earlier than the time she claims to desire. If you don't move at the speed of The Flash while with the Snow Queen, you're moving at a glacial pace and it will TOTALLY thrill her (the sarcasm droops strongly here, friends).
She says this line to Andy during a scene when Miranda reveals pretty personal information to her about her recent divorce. Andy tries to be apologetic in nature after hearing this news, but Miranda isn't looking for Andy's pity. When Andy asks her after the fact if there's anything she can do for her, Miranda says "Your job." That's what Andy is there for and she needs to remember that.
"FLORALS... FOR SPRING? GROUNDBREAKING."
If you have basic ideas that have no artistic imagination or originality, Miranda won't shy away from letting you know it. Her sarcasm here deserves awards for the deadpan delivery Streep effortlessly gives, which is why this quote is so iconic.
If your work isn't going to be groundbreaking during every step of the way, why even bother wasting Miranda's time? She is only interested in fashion that oozes revolutionary brilliance. Her honesty is damn admirable (but at the same time we feel somewhat lucky that she isn't our boss)...
"EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE US"
Andy: "I mean, what if I don't want to live the way you live?"
Miranda: "Oh don't be ridiculous, Andrea. Everybody wants this. Everybody wants to be us."
This is one of the very last lines to be uttered by Miranda Priestly. It is during the scene when Miranda gives Andy the whole speech on how you sometimes must do things that are deemed as unethical or unkind in order to get ahead in life or make it to the top.
It's a cruel world according to Miranda, and in order to make it, you must play the game right. Miranda worked hard to get to where she is, regardless of how many "dear friends" she had to knock down because of it. She puts herself first and regardless of how you see her ethics, you can't help but respect and admire her for her effort.