Red, black and white dominate the Devil Wears Prada 2 premiere as cast channel method dressing

Red, black and white ruled the Devil Wears Prada 2 European premiere in Leicester Square, as Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt led a night of method dressing inspired by the film’s famous fashion universe.

Stars stepped out to celebrate the sequel of the 2006 film, reuniting director David Frankel and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, resurrecting the cutthroat world of Runway magazine and its formidable editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly.

Meryl Streep, who plays Priestly, wore a statement red satin Prada coat layered over a silk blouse and tailored black trousers, finished with matching scarlet heels and her signature dark sunglasses.

In a knowing nod to the film’s fashion lore, the 76-year-old actress carried a diamond-encrusted clutch emblazoned with “RUNWAY” – reminiscent of the infamous “book” from the original film, delivered daily to Miranda Priestly with near-religious precision.

The London premiere look marked the latest in a weeks-long run of meticulously curated outfits from cinched Saint Laurent satin dresses to dramatic Givenchy couture by Sarah Burton and sculptural Celine separates, all styled by Streep’s long-time collaborator Micaela Erlanger.

The Oscar-winner had already made headlines at the New York premiere earlier in the week, where she stole the show in a vermilion Givenchy cape coat paired with black leather opera gloves and her signature Miranda Priestly sunglasses – a moment that rivalled even the presence of Vogue editor Anna Wintour, widely considered the real-life inspiration behind the character.

Each stop on the press tour has delivered a parade of high-fashion moments, with looks spanning Schiaparelli, Valentino, Chanel, Stella McCartney and, of course, Prada – a far cry from the more subdued red carpet that greeted the original film two decades ago.

This time around, bold, expressive dressing has taken centre stage.

“I’m aware of the eyeballs on it,” Anne Hathaway’s stylist Erin Walsh told Vogue.

“There’s this idea of leaning into joy, and clothes that make you feel like the supernova version of yourself.”

Hathaway, who reprises her role as journalist Andy Sachs, embodied that ethos in a corseted, strapless Versace gown featuring sheer panel cutouts and a velvet skirt.

Fashion royalty was also in attendance, with Donatella Versace joining the actor on the carpet in an elegant off-the-shoulder black column gown.

Emily Blunt, returning as Emily Charlton, opted for a more understated take on the evening’s palette, co-ordinating with Streep in a custom Balenciaga red strapless top and cigarette trousers with matching heels.

The British star had, however, delivered one of the most talked-about looks in New York – a feathered ivory Schiaparelli couture gown that reportedly took 4,000 hours of handwork to complete.

Among the new faces joining the franchise, Bridgerton star Simone Ashley, who plays Miranda Priestly’s assistant, brought a bold splash of colour in a fuchsia Mugler gown, complete with a wide 1980s-style belt and matching pumps. The vibrant hue is already shaping up to be one of the standout shades of the summer.

Stanley Tucci, reprising his role as the ever dapper Nigel, kept things classic in a pinstriped double-breasted suit by British designer Paul Smith paired with a grey tie – a silhouette that continues to dominate menswear runways from Tom Ford to Saint Laurent this season.

Sabrina Elba opted for a striking white dress adorned with safety pin embellishments by London-based designer Dilara Findikoglu, who has quickly emerged as one of the year’s red carpet favourites after Margot Robbie wore the label to the London premiere of Wuthering Heights in February.

Other stars to walk the carpet included footballer Alex Scott and her partner Jess Glynne, who mirrored the evening’s red, white and black theme in co-ordinating looks.

Scott wore a sleeveless, high-neck red gown with a pleated skirt, paired with a bold gold necklace, while Glynne contrasted in a sharply tailored black mermaid dress layered over a crisp white shirt and slim black tie.

Noughties fashion favourite Trinny Woodall also stepped out, opting for a 2008 Prada couture silk dress – an A-line black floral midi pulled from the brand’s archive – offering a nostalgic counterpoint to the evening’s new runway looks.

The film, set for release on May 1, comes nearly two decades after the original and sees Miranda Priestly navigating the decline of traditional magazine publishing.

This time, she finds herself at odds with former assistant Emily Charlton, now a powerful executive at a luxury group controlling crucial advertising revenue.

The sequel also revisits Andy Sachs, now a features editor, as she reunites with Miranda in a bid to save Runway magazine.

With Emily holding the financial leverage, old rivalries resurface – raising the question of whether past grievances can be set aside for the sake of survival.

With anticipation building ahead of its release, The Devil Wears Prada 2 promises a stylish return to one of fashion’s most famous fictional worlds.