Character Study: 10 Bags to Channel The Fashion Editor Style of Miranda Priestly

It’s hard (if not impossible and wrong) to argue that there’s been a bigger fashion movie in the last ten years than The Devil Wears Prada, and much of the film’s enduring popularity and quotability are thanks to Meryl Streep’s depiction of the maybe-Anna Wintour-inspired Miranda Priestly, a fashion magazine editor-in-chief who wreaks chic havoc on the life of her brand new assistant, Anne Hathaway’s Andy.

All of the characters’ wardrobes were important to creating the film’s visual world, with Miranda’s extravagant furs and statement bags often flung directly at Andy’s head when the EIC entered the office. With the character’s on-screen wardrobe in mind, we went about searching out which bags she’d carrying in 2015.

Miranda’s wardrobe for the film had certain things in common with how the fashion world’s street style stars dress now; namely, she goes for notable pieces with texture and detail instead of simply choosing a workhorse leather bag or two. She’s a fashion editor, after all, so people expect her to carry something exotic or heavily embroidered to the office. In that way, Miranda’s style is not all that different than Cookie Lyon from Empire.

With that in mind, Miranda’s bags (and her wardrobe in general) also tend to be on the dark side of the color spectrum, in true New Yorker form, and they’re also usually top handles or satchels that are carried out in front of the body for maximum visual impact as part of an ensemble. That means they’re also usually quite expensive, but we did find one three-figure option that felt like it could fit in for aspiring editors on a budget. Check out our choices below.

Alexander McQueen Python Legend Bag
$4,495 via Saks

Chanel Alligator Flap Top Handle Bag
Price Upon Request via Chanel

Dolce & Gabbana Eel Top Handle Bag
$3,995 via SSENSE

Fendi 3Jours Croc-Embossed Calf Hair Bag
$3,450 via Saks

Givenchy Python Obsedia Satchel
$5,590 via Saks

Kate Spade Cameron Street Flannel Maise Bag
$328 via Macy’s

Louis Vuitton Studded Alma PM Bag
$5,600 via Louis Vuitton

Prada Tartan Plaid Saffiano Top Handle Bag
$2,500 via Bergdorf Goodman

Saint Laurent Leopard Sac de Jour Bag
$3,950 via Net-a-Porter

Valentino My Rockstud Embroidered Bag
$4,245 via Net-a-Porter