As fall 2025 collections make their way down the runway, I’m reminded of one of the most iconic film monologues of all time — Miranda Priestly’s “cerulean monologue” from “The Devil Wears Prada.” If you’re unfamiliar, Miranda, editor-in-chief of Runway Magazine (inspired by Vogue and Anna Wintour), explains to her assistant the trickle-down effect of the fashion industry, emphasizing that no one is “exempt” from its influence.
It’s a lesson that still applies today, and yet, people love to dismiss fashion as something reserved for the ultra-rich, influencers and celebrities or those who are chronically online. The thing is, whether you care about runway trends or not, they undoubtedly impact what’s available in stores, what your favorite celebrities are wearing and, eventually, what ends up in your own closet.
Vanessa Friedman, the fashion director for The New York Times, put it best: “‘The Devil Wears Prada’ argument … [holds] true: In a world where everything goes into the Instagram soup and from there seeps into the cultural digestive system, what might appear on a runway in the Musée Rodin (where Dior holds its shows) in July will affect what H&M does in August.” In other words, the pipeline from high fashion to fast fashion has never been more direct. Social media has made this transition nearly instantaneous. A collection debuts, influencers and critics dissect it, fast-fashion brands replicate it and suddenly, that niche runway piece or trend is available online and can be delivered to your home in 4–7 business days.
Fashion’s influence doesn’t just apply to the elite — it quietly shapes the choices we all make, whether we realize it or not. Even if you don’t follow runway shows or obsess over the latest designer collections, the industry’s impact is all around us. As these trends trickle down, we’re all affected. Even if we’re just picking up a pair of jeans from a chain store, what we’re holding in our hands is part of a larger, global conversation started by the runway.
Now, I get it — some runway looks feel so over-the-top that it’s hard to imagine their real-world relevance, especially when it comes to couture. But Fashion Week is not just about selling a specific outfit off the runway. It’s about setting the tone for what’s to come and telling a story through clothing. Those wild, out-of-the-box designs often become influences for the everyday pieces you see at more accessible brands like H&M, Abercrombie& Fitch and others. The exaggerated shoulders and leather trenches might seem extreme on the catwalk, but fast-forward a season or two, and you’ll find wearable versions everywhere.
Ignoring fashion and looking down on it does not mean it won’t affect you. If anything, it just means you’ll unknowingly participate in trends instead of understanding them. And while some trends come and go quickly, others define entire style movements. Just look at the Y2K revival — something that started as a nod to the early 2000s is now fully mainstream, shaping everything from denim styles to sneaker choices.
So, if you’ve ever scoffed at Fashion Week or dismissed designer collections as irrelevant, just remember: Miranda Priestly was correct. The fashion industry already decided what you’ll be wearing next year — you might as well start paying attention.
