Oscar de la Renta and the Cerulean Scene in The Devil Wears Prada

By Gemma Deeks, Coveti Fashion Editor. Updated 14 October 2026.

In The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Miranda Priestly explains why a lumpy blue sweater is not just blue. Her chain of influence starts with Oscar de la Renta: “In 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns.” It is one of the most quoted lines in fashion film, and it is why people still search for Oscar de la Renta cerulean gowns.

The short answer: the scene is fiction. The screenwriter, Aline Brosh McKenna, has said the fashion history in the speech was written for the film, so there is no record of a cerulean Oscar de la Renta collection in 2002.

At a glance

• The film: The Devil Wears Prada, 2006, with Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly.
• The claim: Oscar de la Renta showed cerulean gowns in 2002, followed by Yves Saint Laurent military jackets.
• The truth: the screenwriter has said the details were invented for the scene.
• The sequel: The Devil Wears Prada 2 opened in US cinemas on 1 May 2026.
• Why it stuck: it explains how a runway idea filters down to the high street.

What the monologue says

Andy, the assistant, laughs while Miranda chooses between two nearly identical blue belts. Miranda replies by tracing Andy’s own blue sweater back through the department stores and the designers to a single runway decision, which she credits to Oscar de la Renta. The point is not the date. It is that the colour in a mass-market sweater was chosen years earlier by a small group of designers and editors.

Was it true?

Not as written. W Magazine and others have reported the screenwriter saying the specifics were made up to make the speech work. The choice of Oscar de la Renta was not random, though. In 2006 he was one of the best-known American designers, he dressed First Ladies from Jacqueline Kennedy to Laura Bush, and his name signalled the top of the industry to a cinema audience.

Blue at Oscar de la Renta today

Blue is still one of the house’s most used colours, from navy wool for day to sky blue silk chiffon and cobalt embroidery for evening. These are the blue pieces Coveti has in stock now.

1. Jacket: Wool-Blend Bolero in Navy

60% Wool, 30% Silk, 10% Cashmere. It is part of the permanent collection, knitted from wool, silk and cashmere and reissued each season. Wear it over dresses and tailoring alike.

2. Knit: Wool-Blend Cardigan in Navy

60% Wool, 30% Silk, 10% Cashmere. A permanent-collection knit in wool, silk and cashmere that layers over everything. Layer it over dresses and under coats.

3. Top: Long Sleeve Neck Tie Detail Georgette Blouse

94% Silk, 6% Elastane. The fluid silk drapes rather than clings. Match it with pieces in the same fabric for a full look. From Resort 2027.

4. Knit: Ombré Button-Detailed Cardigan

57% Cotton, 43% Viscose. The knit is light enough to wear indoors all year. It pairs with the house’s skirts and trousers. From Fall 2026.

5. Top: Draped Georgette Blouse

94% Silk, 6% Elastane. Silk chiffon and georgette fall softly and move with you. Match it with pieces in the same fabric for a full look. From Spring 2026.

6. Skirt: Wool Midi Skirt

100% Wool, Lining Combo: 100% Silk. Fine wool gives a clean, tailored line. It mixes with tailoring and denim. From Fall 2026.

7. Jacket: Porcelain Flower Cutout Denim Jacket

100% Cotton. It brings Oscar de la Renta detail to a denim staple. It finishes an evening look and a day look. From Spring 2026.

8. Jacket: Pineapple Button Slub Wool Tweed Jacket

56% Recycled Polyester, 44% Virgin Wool. The tweed has a slubbed, textured surface that reads as polished at work. It finishes an evening look and a day look. From Pre-Fall 2026.

How to wear cerulean

Cerulean is a clear sky blue with a little green in it. It flatters most skin tones, and it looks best with gold jewellery, nude shoes and white. For evening, a single blue gown with no other colour is the Miranda-approved answer.

Frequently asked questions

Did Oscar de la Renta really design cerulean gowns in 2002?

There is no record of it. The screenwriter has said the fashion details in the monologue were written for the film.

Who says the cerulean line in The Devil Wears Prada?

Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Streep, says it to Andy, played by Anne Hathaway, in the 2006 film.

What colour is cerulean?

Cerulean is a clear sky blue that leans very slightly towards green.

Is Oscar de la Renta in The Devil Wears Prada 2?

We have found no confirmed Oscar de la Renta link to the 2026 sequel, so we do not claim one.

Read next

who is Oscar de la Renta? | Oscar de la Renta gowns | Oscar de la Renta dresses | Oscar de la Renta Dresses by Colour | Who Designs Oscar de la Renta Now? The Creative Directors, Explained | Shop all Oscar de la Renta at Coveti