Paris, France

18 April 2022

Paris, France

The film THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, about a journalist who lands a job as an assistant to the editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine, is largely set in New York. In the second half of the film, the story moves to Paris during Fashion Week, a semiannually event held since 1973 to present new collections.

The Devil wears Prada, 0:09:35

Warning: the text may give away details of the plot. Andrea "Andy" Sachs (Anne Hathaway) becomes junior assistant of Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), the demanding editor-in-chief of Runway magazine. Miranda notices her commitment and choses Andy to accompany her to Paris, instead of her senior assistant Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt). The film was shot in 57 days between October and December 2005.

Initially, film studio Fox did not allow director David Frankel to film in Paris. After six weeks of filming in New York, a few reels were shown to the producers. Permission for a location shoot in the French capital was granted, but only for two days. All interior scenes were to be shot in New York.

Paris is introduced by a montage of famous buildings and streets by night, including the Champs Élysées with the Arc de Triomphe in the background. Judging by the Christmas decorations, filming in Paris must have been done in December.

The Devil wears Prada, 1:17:52

Champs Élysées, Paris, 1 March 2022

Andy and Miranda are driving on Place de la Concorde, the largest square in Paris. The Palais Bourbon is visible through the rear window. Because of the extra costs, Meryl Streep was not allowed to go to Paris. The car ride was filmed in America in front of a green screen, the background was added in post production.

The Devil wears Prada, 1:37:58

Place de la Concorde, Paris, 3 March 2022

Andy decides she no longer wants to work for Miranda. Upon arrival at their next appoinment, Miranda is being met by numerous photographers. As she enters the building, Andy turns around and leaves. Two locations were used for this scene: Meryl Streep steps out in front of the Museum of the City of New York and Andy walks away from the Petit Palais, an art museum on Avenue Dutuit close to Place de la Concorde. In the background, a stand-in can be seen as Miranda.

The Devil wears Prada, 1:38:49

Petit Palais, Paris, 3 March 2022

The Devil wears Prada, 1:38:51

Petit Palais, Paris, 3 March 2022

When Miranda calls her, Andy throws the cell phone into the Fontaine des Fleuves (Fountain of the Rivers), one of the two monumental fountains at Place de la Concorde. The other fountain is the Fontaine des Mers (Fountain of the Seas). The fountains date back to 1840 and were erected next to the 3200-year-old obelisk from Luxor that had been placed here in 1836. During our visit, the obelisk was completely covered for restoration. The fountains were not working and also appear waiting to be restored.