You Didn’t Choose—You Were Chosen
What if the decisions you make every day—what you wear, what you buy, what you believe—aren’t really yours? What if your “freedom of choice” is just a well-designed illusion, curated by people you’ve never met, operating behind the scenes? From fashion to politics to technology, there exists a quiet machinery of influence that shapes your preferences long before you even realize you have them. It’s not a conspiracy—it’s a system. And once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
One of the most striking illustrations of this system appears in The Devil Wears Prada. Around the 27-minute mark, Miranda Priestly delivers a monologue that dismantles her assistant Andy’s casual dismissal of fashion. She explains how Andy’s cerulean sweater was not a random choice, but the result of a long chain of decisions made by elite designers, filtered through fashion houses, department stores, and finally into the clearance bin. “You’re wearing a sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room,” Miranda says. It’s a moment that echoes the ideas of Edward Bernays, the father of public relations, who argued in his book Propaganda that our minds are molded and our tastes formed by an “invisible government.” But who are these invisible rulers—and are you one of them, or just another follower?
The Cerulean Thread: How Influence Becomes Invisible
Miranda’s monologue isn’t just about fashion—it’s about systems of influence. The cerulean color was chosen years earlier by high-end designers, then trickled down through the fashion ecosystem until it reached Andy. She believed she made a personal choice, but in reality, she picked from a menu that had already been designed for her. Bernays would call this a textbook example of propaganda—not in the negative sense, but as a neutral term for organized influence. “The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society,” he wrote. Bernays believed propaganda was necessary to help people navigate complexity, but he also warned that it could be used to manufacture consent without awareness. The cerulean sweater becomes a metaphor for every decision we think we make independently—when in fact, we’re often choosing from options that were selected for us long before we arrived.
The Invisible Government: Clubs, Lodges, and the Power Behind the Curtain
So who exactly makes up this “invisible government”? Bernays wasn’t referring to elected officials or shadowy conspiracies. He meant the web of organizations and institutions that shape public opinion and behavior—often without public scrutiny. These include nonprofits, trade associations, media outlets, religious institutions, and yes, even social clubs like the Rotary Club, Masonic lodges, and golf clubs. These are the places where influence is traded, where reputations are built, and where decisions are quietly made that ripple out into society. In The Founder, Ray Kroc understood this perfectly. He didn’t just sell burgers—he sold a vision of McDonald’s by pitching it to these very groups, knowing they were the gatekeepers of local influence. That story deserves its own deep dive, but for now, it serves as a reminder: the invisible government isn’t a theory—it’s a network, and it’s been shaping your world for decades.
Propaganda Without Malice: Influence in a Democratic Society
One of the most misunderstood aspects of Bernays’ work is the word “propaganda” itself. Today, it carries a negative connotation—associated with manipulation, deceit, and authoritarian control. But Bernays saw it differently. To him, propaganda was simply the mechanism by which ideas are spread and adopted. It could be used for good or ill, depending on the intent and transparency of the source. The fashion industry, the tech world, politics, education—all rely on forms of propaganda to shape public perception. The danger lies not in the existence of influence, but in our ignorance of it. When we fail to recognize the systems guiding our choices, we become passive participants in a narrative we didn’t write. The cerulean sweater becomes a symbol not just of fashion, but of every decision made under the illusion of independence.
Conclusion: See the Machinery, Reclaim the Choice
The intersection of The Devil Wears Prada and Edward Bernays’ Propaganda reveals a powerful truth: influence is everywhere, and it’s often invisible. From the clothes we wear to the services we use; our lives are shaped by systems of persuasion that operate quietly and efficiently. For example, did you choose your Local IT support—or were they chosen for you through a web of recommendations, marketing, and industry norms? This isn’t a call to paranoia—it’s a call to awareness. Ask yourself: who decided what your options were? Who benefits from your choices? Are you part of the invisible government, or are you being governed by it? Once you begin to see the machinery, you can choose to engage with it consciously—or even reshape it. These principles apply not just in New York or Los Angeles, but in Tokyo, Berlin, São Paulo, Nairobi, London, Dubai, and yes—even in San Antonio. Propaganda is not confined to politics or fashion—it’s woven into the fabric of everyday life, everywhere.
