Meryl Streep Champions Comfort-First Luxury Shoes in Seoul Appearance

The clearest wealth signal in Seoul was not a gown or a gem, but a sandal. Meryl Streep wore gold leather Sole Bliss Riviera sandals with a Prada look at a press conference for The Devil Wears Prada 2 at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in Jongno District, and the result felt more old-money than red-carpet flashy.

That is the point of the new sequel rollout. The film returns 20 years after the 2006 original, with Streep back as Miranda Priestly, Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs, Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton and Stanley Tucci as Nigel. 20th Century Studios says it opens exclusively in theaters on May 1, 2026, and the press tour has already leaned into Miranda Priestly references and method dressing with the kind of sharp, fashion-forward polish that keeps the franchise in conversation.

Streep’s shoe choice makes that styling feel especially modern. Sole Bliss launched its first collection in 2017 after five years of research and development with European artisans and British podiatrists, and the brand says its comfort system includes three layers of underfoot cushioning plus a hidden Bunion Bed stretch panel. The company, created by Lisa Kay to serve women with foot pain, has grown into a £12 million international footwear brand and says it has more than 4,000 five-star reviews. It has also built a celebrity following that includes names such as Oprah and Queen Camilla.

That matters because comfort has become a new status sign in fashion. Anyone can buy a towering heel; the smarter luxury move is a shoe that looks refined, holds its shape and lets the wearer move without strain. Streep’s gold pair did exactly that, giving the Prada outfit a discreet shine while avoiding the brittle look of showy evening shoes. The metallic finish read polished, not loud, which is exactly why it worked.

Streep also gave the moment a sharp bit of context when she said she was surprised by the first film’s success and noted that men talked about her character. That cross-gender pull helps explain why The Devil Wears Prada still travels so well: it is both a fashion story and a power story, and its sequel is using the same logic. In Seoul, the message was clear. Old-money style now has room for cushioning, and the most expensive-looking choice may be the one that lets you stand comfortably in it.