Anna Wintour's ex-assistant linked to The Devil Wears Prada goes viral

With her quick intelligence and flawless style, Emily Blunt's role in The Devil Wears Prada won over fans while also striking fear into many. But did you know that her character was apparently inspired by someone from real life?

Victoria 'Plum' Skyes, currently 54 years old, is a British writer and journalist. She served as an assistant to Anna Wintour and contributed to American Vogue as a fashion writer during the 1990s and early 2000s.

Coming from an aristocratic family and having studied at Oxford, Sykes became a prominent figure in New York's fashion world after moving there in 1997. Recently, she gained significant attention on X (formerly known as Twitter) when an old video of her went viral.

A clip featuring Sykes from the 2000 BBC One documentary "Boss Woman," which highlights Wintour and the creation of the February issue, has caught the attention of social media users. In the video, Sykes, who was in her late 20s at the time, talks about an outfit she sported at the office.

"The outfits people don during the day here are likely what most folks would choose for their fanciest night out all year," the author of Wives Like Us remarks with a refined British accent, displaying her stylish attire, which includes a sleeveless white top, a flowing floral chiffon skirt, black tights, and sleek black heels.

A video featuring Plum Sykes has gained widespread attention, showcasing her work attire. She is wearing a white sleeveless blouse paired with a floral skirt from Dolce and Gabbana, complemented by black tights and stylish black pointed heels.

"Who's really going to wear a chiffon Dolce and Gabbana skirt like this to the office?" she questions, rising to display her fashionable look to the cameraman.

"Just me," she replies with assurance. "Or perhaps someone employed by Vogue."

Her commitment and straightforward approach have intrigued social media users, who were thrilled to discover that Emily is a real person.

Sykes found her outfit to be quite unconventional back in the day, leading to a conversation about her stylish yet straightforward look. Today, in 2024, it's likely something you’d see office workers wearing, but it certainly wasn't common in 1999.

"Absolutely, a chiffon skirt paired with a casual top is a typical outfit for the office that you'll come across at TJ Maxx in 2024. I recall back in 1999, women's workwear primarily consisted of pantsuits or pencil skirts with blazers. It seems like the observations from 'The Devil Wears Prada' hold true once again," remarked one user.

"Many of the kids here don’t realize that it wasn’t too long ago when everyone dressed in suits and blazers for work," someone else commented.

"Some people were highlighting a valid observation about her wardrobe and how simple it appears. This is mainly because individuals like her in high fashion have set the standard, making it commonplace for everyone else," another user remarked.

Some people criticized the high price of her clothing.

"Plum Sykes is just focusing on the cost of her outfits. Someone commented that she acts superior to others simply because she wears pricey clothing to work, not because her style is particularly trendy."

Lauren Weisberger, the writer of The Devil Wears Prada and a former assistant to Anna Wintour, is said to have drawn inspiration from Sykes for the character of Emily, who works as the assistant to the formidable editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly, as reported by Marie Claire.

The book became incredibly popular and was adapted into a film in 2006, featuring performances by Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, and Emily Blunt.

Her commitment and straightforward approach have drawn the interest of social media users, who were thrilled to learn that Emily is a real person.

Victoria 'Plum' Skyes, 54, is a British writer and journalist who served as an assistant to Anna Wintour and was a fashion writer at American Vogue during the 1990s and early 2000s (shown in a photo from 2024).

Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, and Emily Blunt star in the 2006 movie, The Devil Wears Prada.

Emily's character in the movie, portrayed by Emily Blunt (shown here), is said to have drawn inspiration from Sykes.

The popular video has ignited conversations about what people wear to work and a secret agreement made between the United Kingdom and France in 1916.

Social media users who were paying close attention became curious about the fashion writer's last name, as it turned out her great-grandfather was Mark Sykes, a British diplomat known for creating the Sykes-Picot Agreement in 1916.

The secret deal struck between the United Kingdom and France after World War I determined how land would be divided in the Arab Middle East, laying the groundwork for the contemporary Middle East. This arrangement led to disputes over borders in the region, as the new boundaries ignored the existing ethnic and cultural divisions.

"I keep coming across this video on my timeline. There's a woman whose great grandfather was Mark Sykes, the one who created the Sykes-Picot agreement," a user shared on X.

The user shared a video with the comment, "A confidential plan from 1916 between the British and French that shaped the Middle East's borders in a way that would ensure ongoing conflict, all to facilitate British oil extraction."

The situation with Plum Sykes really highlights what's happening on Twitter right now. 1. It's reminiscent of a scene from *The Devil Wears Prada* come to life! 2. The topic begs for discussion (just take a look at her from 1999!) 3. The social and political consequences are beyond what anyone could have imagined (think of the Sykes-Picot agreement in the Middle East), as someone else noted.

Sykes now resides in the Cotswolds with her husband, British businessman Toby Rowland, and their two daughters, Ursula, who is 18, and Tess, who is 13.