Chicology Magazine

I’ve seen, as I’m sure most of you have as well, Meryl Streep at the Dolce and Gabbana Spring/Summer 2026 show during Milan fashion week. I’m anxiously anticipating the release of The Devil Wears Prada sequel, which has had a very public filming process. However, this appearance led me to think about a particular moment in the original film, the stirring and iconic monologue performed by Meryl Streep that exposed the fashion industry at a time when not much was known about it by the general public.

This monologue, the cerulean sweater one for those who still hadn’t deduced it, has stuck with audiences since the film’s release (and for good reason). I want to discuss this concept of individuals of power in the industry holding a higher say in both what and who gets put out there, but also how this concept is seriously outdated, and these individuals need a serious reality check.

From Status to Style

The 19th Century, though often overlooked, had a significant impact on fashion. This time period needs to be discussed to understand how we got to where we are today. There were crucial industrial changes that would forever affect the industry. The Industrial Revolution led to the development of factory production and the creation of Ready-To-Wear, which significantly altered the fashion trend cycle of the period. Both the sewing machine and factory production made clothing more accessible to people of all social classes, opening the trend cycle to those in these different classes, not limiting it to those of the higher class to dictate.

Before the Industrial Revolution, the primary purpose of fashion was to convey status; however, after the introduction of factory production, inspiration shifted to artistic movements. Throughout the 19th century, notable changes in the trend cycle marked the different movements. These movements included those like neoclassicism and romanticism, among others, in later years. These movements affected various components of garments during the period, including silhouettes, colors, and embellishments. The introduction of mass production turned motivations from status to accessible artistic expression, paving the way for fashion as we know it today. However, those who still valued the idea of fashion as status turned their attention to the luxury houses that those with lower incomes could not afford.

Celebrity, Media, and Filtration

A clear pattern started to emerge in the 20th century, with the modern celebrity emerging alongside the rise of Hollywood cinema. Artistic influence was still prevalent, but it had changed. Due to technological advances, the world became more interconnected, leading to a broader global influence as well. Events like wars and cultural changes had global implications on fashion, no longer confined to individual regions. Pop Culture, like film and music, was also solidified during this time period, transforming the idea of trends into what we recognize today.

During this time, however, the media was primarily responsible for controlling how trends were presented. Even with the technological advancements that improved communication, the information communicated was limited. Trends were filtered through what the media considered to be the most powerful or significant. This led to a period of structure and less creative freedom when it came to style for those who preferred to follow trends; there were fewer options. However, those who preferred not to follow the trends found themselves with a plethora of subcultural ideals that inspired different styles like the zoot suit or the punk movement.

Why the Old Rules are Drowning

To truly answer the point I raised earlier, that the idea of power-holding individuals dictating trends is seriously outdated, we need to appreciate just how much the 19th and 20th centuries’ cultural and historical movements impacted the trend cycles.

Without the advancements of the 19th century, both industrially and artistically, the means and motivation to expand on the ideas of what fashion was wouldn’t have been possible. The combination of concepts like Ready-To-Wear and events like the World Wars led to the simple garments seen in the 1910s and 1940s, when hemlines were shortened to preserve fabric. As trends continued to be influenced by external factors, and technology enabled information to spread globally, the media felt entitled to dictate what was shown and preserved.

Then we hit the 21st century, and the internet took over. The internet allowed the general public to investigate different forms of fashion, even if the media didn’t particularly promote it. This gave way for more niche trends to rise, and this was strengthened by the rise of social media.

So, when Meryl Streep explains that the trend cycle is an endless loop, it was just wrong. This idea would only apply to someone who lived in the middle of nowhere and got all their fashion news from the same magazine every month, which simply doesn’t happen anymore. The media no longer dictates or manipulates the trend cycle and are now in constant battle with it, trying to figure it out, and if they don’t learn how to soon, they’re going to drown.