Erlanger and Streep have relied on the footwear Sole Bliss throughout the press tour.Erlanger and Streep have relied on the footwear Sole Bliss throughout the press tour.
The devil may wear Prada, but does she know about the comfort-focused footwear brand Sole Bliss? Meryl Streep does.
The Oscar winner has been on a whirlwind press tour over the past several weeks to promote the buzzy sequel “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” slated for release on Friday, in which she reprises her role as Runway editor in chief Miranda Priestly, opposite Anne Hathaway as journalist Andy Sachs.
Working with longtime stylist Micaela Erlanger for the worldwide promotional run, Streep has delivered quite a few high-fashion looks befitting of the Runway office: Prada, Givenchy, Saint Laurent — the list goes on. When it comes to shoes — while brands and styles have varied from Stuart Weitzman booties to Prada pumps — Erlanger and Streep have repeatedly reached for Sole Bliss, a brand that accommodates bunions and wider feet.
You May Also Like
Getty Images
Erlanger told FN in an email interview, “An absolute anchor for this tour has been Sole Bliss. When you’re navigating a global press tour of this scale, the footwear has to work as hard as the clothes. I’ve been using Sole Bliss for about three years because they’ve mastered the ‘three-hour wall’ — their shoes allow my clients to look incredible on a red carpet and stay comfortable through the dinner and after party.”
Further proving her love of the brand, Erlanger actually developed a collection of heels with Sole Bliss which released ahead of the film. Repping the collaboration, Streep has showcased the Riviera gold leather sandals during the press tour, a platform stiletto style with three layers of underfoot cushioning for comfort and the brand’s signature Bunion Bed stretch panel.
On the collaboration with Sole Bliss and what brought it to life, Erlanger said, “The inspiration was really born out of necessity and a decade of styling experience. I’ve spent years watching clients smile for the cameras only to kick off their heels the second they’re backstage. I wanted to prove that ‘5-inch stiletto’ and ‘comfort’ don’t have to be mutually exclusive. The collection is about fashion armor — sculptural, high-octane designs that use podiatrist-approved technology. It’s my way of giving women the ability to choose both style and well-being.”
Erlanger has noticed that Streep’s style has evolved since the first film came out in 2006: “Meryl has always had an effortless elegance, but for this tour, we’ve leaned into a much bolder, more architectural silhouette. Her style has evolved to be more decisive. We’re playing with leather, sharp silhouettes, and saturated colors. In the first film’s era, the focus was often on the ‘costume’ of the industry; now, her style reflects the confidence of a woman who has nothing left to prove. It’s ‘Power Dressing 2.0.’”
VCG/VCG via Getty Images
When it comes to her favorite outfits from this press tour, Erlanger particularly loved the look from the Shanghai premiere, which was a nod to an iconic moment from the first film, and a fitting Prada moment in Seoul.
The stylist explained, “We used a Saint Laurent jacket as a meta-reference to the ‘Cerulean’ monologue’s mention of YSL. It was a deep cut for the fans! I also loved the Seoul fan event where she wore custom Prada. Seeing her back in the brand for this specific franchise felt like the ultimate fashion payoff. It was a ‘wink’ that everyone was waiting for.”
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
While the film had premieres in multiple cities around the globe, the world premiere was at Lincoln Center in New York City, where the story of “The Devil Wears Prada” unfolds (save for a trip to Europe in each film). Streep stunned in on-theme red for the occasion.
Erlanger said of this look, “New York is the heart of this story, so the look had to feel like a homecoming. I went with a very bold, head-to-toe leather moment with a Givenchy cape. It’s architectural, tough, and contemporary — a mix of classic couture codes and New York attitude.”
