#where the protagonist is just shoveling a dish called ‘hot dog macaroni’ into his mouth

[maddie-grove]

The “you think this has nothing to do with you” scene in The Devil Wears Prada is so interesting to me, because on one hand:

It is precipitated by the protagonist openly scoffing at a discussion over which belt the model should wear because they look similar, which is a silly thing to do, both in the sense that of course visual details matter at a fashion photography shoot, and in the sense that it’s generally inadvisable to go to your workplace and let everyone know how stupid you think the work is; and

It is interesting to think about how fashion trends travel across different markets.

But, on the other hand:

I think that one is morally justified, if impolitic, to show disdain for an industry where everyone is always calling you fat and stupid and ugly. Normal workplace rules don’t exactly apply;

Miranda called her sweater ugly in the same scene! Is she not, by her own logic, responsible for the sweater’s ugliness? If she can sneer at clothing from less expensive retailers, why is it a problem for Andy to indifferently wear an affordable sweater and scoff at high fashion?;

Kind of embarrassing in 2006 for Miranda to not acknowledge the downmarket to upmarket fashion influence at all; and

Andy, as a member of society and a resident of a city that gets cold sometimes, kind of has to wear clothes. I don’t think any points are actually being made here.