Meryl & anna: a vogue cover story decades in the making
The fashion world held
its breath. Not for the Met Gala, not for a runway debut, but for a cover—a cover pairing that felt, until recently, like a beautifully impossible dream: Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour, together, gracing the pages of Vogue. The story, a three-way conversation orchestrated by Greta Gerwig, is finally here, and it’s richer than anyone could have anticipated, arriving just before the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada 2 and its inevitable cultural resurgence.A fleeting encounter, a lasting legend
The genesis of this unlikely collaboration stretches back to the 2006 premiere of the original film. As Carolyn Juris, a young Vogue staffer at the time, recalls, she and her mother attended the New York premiere, seated just behind Anna Wintour and her daughter, Bee. A casual conversation with a fellow college student sparked a realization: the film's impact transcended the fashion elite, resonating with everyone from suburban businessmen to doormen—all asking, “Is it really like that?” The question—a testament to the film’s enduring power—has haunted the magazine for years.
The prospect of The Devil Wears Prada 2, and the need for a May cover tying into the film’s release, presented an intriguing challenge. The initial suggestion, to simply feature Meryl Streep, felt… insufficient. Then came the audacious idea: both “Mirandas”—Wintour and Streep. Juris recounts a pivotal moment in Paris, a conversation in the backseat of Wintour’s towncar, where the proposal was delicately floated. The response? A subtle, almost imperceptible smile and a polite, yet firm, refusal. “That’s very flattering, Chloe, but it’s not really my style,” Wintour reportedly said.
But Meryl, it seems, had other plans. Months later, Streep’s persistence prevailed, and the cover became a reality—a moment Juris describes as a “way to memorialize a cultural touchstone.” The resulting interview, captured by Annie Leibovitz, reveals a surprising dynamic between the two icons. Streep candidly admitted she’d “dread the shoes” of Wintour’s position, while Wintour confessed she could never envision herself in Streep’s role.
Beyond the runway: a conversation on longevity and identity
The interview delved deeper than the film’s legacy, exploring themes of longevity in design, the power of clothing to express identity (a nod, perhaps, to Miranda Priestly’s iconic cerulean sweater), and the intricate art of dressing for work. Juris notes a clear connection to the upcoming Costume Institute exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum, “Costume Art,” highlighting the enduring power of fashion as both art and a reflection of culture.
The shoot itself was shrouded in secrecy, rivaling even the security surrounding the Pentagon Papers—a testament to the importance Wintour placed on the project. Even Meryl’s youngest daughter, Louisa Jacobson, was gently shushed for prematurely mentioning the cover at a Calvin Klein show. The meticulous planning extended to the styling, with Grace Coddington overseeing pulls from Dries Van Noten and Prada, personally transporting the garments to set.
And now, Vogue’s latest Book Club pick? The Devil Wears Prada, naturally. A fitting choice, prompting Juris to reflect on the novel's wild ride—five-inch stilettos, bottomless car accounts, and New York coffee costing a startling $1 a cup. An early screening for Vogue’s book club and friends is underway, with a concerted effort to invite as many former assistants to Anna Wintour as possible.
The enduring fascination with The Devil Wears Prada isn’t just about the high-stakes world of fashion; it's about the universal human desire to understand power, ambition, and the price we pay for success. As Vogue’s May cover proves, even the most formidable figures—Anna Wintour and Meryl Streep—aren’t immune to the allure of a good story, and the power of a shared cultural moment—one that continues to shape our perceptions of ambition, style, and the ever-elusive pursuit of perfection.