I New Yorks heftige moteverden der modellene blir stadig tynnere og en "bad hair day" kan ta knekken på en karriere, er Runway Magazine å betrakte som Den hellige gralen. Styrt med nydelige manikyrhender tilhørende Miranda Priestly - moteverdenens mektigste kvinne - er Runway en fryktet gapestokk for alle som vil være noe innen moteindustrien. For å gjøre Runway til New Yorks motebibel - og dermed også resten av verdens motebibel - har ikke Miranda latt noe stoppe henne underveis... inkludert en lang rekke assistenter som ikke dugde. Det er en jobb intet menneske med selvrespekt kan overleve, og likevel er det en jobb en million unge kvinner i New York ville drepe for.

Edward Kaminsky, an aging ad man, wants a golden parachute from his agency; he must first land the Opel auto contract. Rosa, a youth with wealthy parents, wants to establish herself as an artist. The clumsy and enthusiastic Viktor, not quite honest, wants work. When he wanders into Kaminsky's meeting with Opel and says something about irony, the Opel director wants him in on the campaign. Then he steals an idea from Rosa that the Opel director loves. Before Rosa discovers he's expropriated her idea, Rosa and Viktor become lovers. Father-son feelings materialize between Kaminsky and Viktor. Can the impulsive Viktor hold it together before Rosa learns the truth and flies away?