Fashion critic Robin Givhan said that "The Devil Wears Prada" is her favorite movie about the fashion industry during an NPR interview.
Her assessment highlights the film's ability to capture the actual realities of the high-fashion world. By focusing on the dynamics of authority and the professional pressures of the field, the film serves as a cultural touchstone for how the public perceives the industry's inner workings.
Givhan said to Michel Martin on April 29, 2026, why the film remains a standout piece of cinema for her [1]. She said the movie is her favorite because it accurately portrays the fashion industry and specifically highlights the presence and influence of women in power [1].
The film and the novel it was based on were released 20 years ago [2]. The movie itself first hit theaters in 2006 [3], a period that saw a surge in media fascination with the intersection of luxury commerce and corporate management.
Throughout the discussion, Givhan said that the depiction of the industry's rigor and the complexities of leadership are what make the story resonate. The film's focus on a powerful female lead provides a lens into the structural hierarchies that define global fashion houses.
By validating the film's accuracy, Givhan suggests that the tension and ambition depicted on screen are not merely fictional tropes but are reflective of the professional environment in which she operates as a critic [1].
“"The Devil Wears Prada" is her favorite movie about the fashion industry”
Givhan's endorsement suggests that despite the passage of two decades, the power dynamics and gendered hierarchies portrayed in the 2006 film remain relevant to the modern fashion landscape. It indicates that the industry's core professional pressures have persisted even as the business has evolved.
