Gisele Bündchen’s Y2K style in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ is this summer’s style blueprint
If you have found yourself trapped on the fashion side of TikTok, you may have noticed a new genre of super niche style references bombarding your page. One of which is taking the likes of rectangular reading glasses, slick back claw clip, mid-length pencil skirt, Mary Janes, chunky jewellery, and a supermodel-worthy smize to the streets — yes, we are talking about the iconic cameo from Noughties supermodel Gisele Bündchen in The Devil Wears Prada.
The fashion girlies of TikTok are rising from the ashes with interpretations of the look, which saw Bündchen play the intimidatingly gorgeous Runway employee Serena. Though she may not have been in the movie for more than a few minutes, her stylistic influence is still being felt now. Acting next to Emily Blunt as her bitchy (but iconic) co-worker, she donned the likes of a super tight-fit blouse with flattering stomach darts, super tight ebony pencil skirts, matching blazers, and most importantly *those* glasses. “To the untrained eye, this is just a basic outfit but to the fashion girlies it’s a niche Gisele Bündchen in the Devil Wears Prada reference,” said one TikTok user, as she modelled her own iteration of the look complete with a frilly shirt and mini baguette bag slung over the shoulder. “Instantly saw the vision,” responded commenters, with one adding: “Grade 9 French teacher vibes, love it.”
Users are dubbing the look ‘Bayonetta’, inspired by the video game character who wears the same glasses from the series of action-adventure games created by Hideki Kamiya. And archival TikTokers are pulling out the actual 90s Miu Miu rectangular spectacles that Bündchen wore in the film, with the likes being sold for hundreds on resale apps like Depop and eBay – but be warned, they are going fast.
The hot nerd look was even picked up by the 2023 ‘It’ girl Bella Hadid, and of course, has now exploded in popularity with her own sporty injection to office-ready professional look. Hadid often pairs the shirts and glasses with running jackets and mini chequered skirts, in a Blokecore meets professional office girly hybrid. Skinny scarves, chunky necklace pendants on rope, off-the-shoulder knits, and comfy trainers as though you are on your walk to a 9-5 are also accompaniments to the vibe. Beauty looks include the likes of Gabriette’s skinny brows and super chiselled contour, with the influencer also picking up her own specs and reimagining the look with a slight gothic take. It’s pulling what the girls on TikTok are calling the ‘face card’, meaning it’s all about the supermodel attitude and uber-glam undertones to balance out the nerdy ‘fit.
To get the look yourself, simply raid your mum’s old office wardrobe or head to your local charity shop to scour for the discarded Y2K suit sets. Megan Fox, Angelina Jolie and Kate Moss pics are swirling for inspiration, with paparazzi shots of the off-duty model sexy librarian look providing the perfect vibe. What’s more is that the looks are championing comfort and effortless chic, so any aspiring fashion girlie can take their looks to the office with them. Calling all arty girls stuck in a 9-5, this niche genre of supermodel style is for you.
