Can someone please tell me just what it is about those Netflix series that cause us to adapt our entire personalities to a show particularly surrounding its release? Wednesday had everyone in an all-black haze…but move over, because Emily in Paris has returned for Season 3.
Anyone who’s watched the show says the same thing: “it’s so bad but I can’t stop watching.” The corny dialogue and trite, predictable plotlines makes us cringe, but at the same time it makes us feel so good.
Or, how about the fact that Lily Collins’ Emily didn’t speak a word of French before conveniently relocating to Paris…then falling in love with the hot chef who conveniently lives in her building? It’s a love story fit for a Disney movie.
Each episode, Emily does something to colossally mess up her professional and personal life. Season two brings us a fresh love interest – predictably, a finance bro – because she finally decides to go learn French after living there for quite some time.
However, Emily in Paris has no problem stepping on a few toes in the process. The tea is…Parisians detest the show due to the way the series portrays them. Chicagoans hate it because it bashes their pizza. And to further fuel stereotypes they even depict a Ukrainian man stealing from stores!
And finally, the outfits. In the City of Light and neutrals, Emily dons loud and bright colors. She wears stilettos…which I’m sure can’t be comfortable on those cobblestone streets. We are anticipating a whole season of mistakes and offenses with Emily in Paris Season 3.
The major takeaway from the teasers we’ve seen is Emily’s trauma haircut. The girl gets bangs (gasp) which I fear will inspire an overnight tsunami of women chopping off their hair. Stay strong, girls!
Warning: Spoilers for the first three episodes of “Emily in Paris” season three below.
Our favorite accidental marketing wunderkind Emily Cooper (Lily Collins) has become a sought-after Parisian professional — even though she still can’t speak French fluently.
In season three of the popular Darren Star series “Emily in Paris,” the charming (yet, at times, exasperating) Chicagoan juggles deux high-profile job opportunities, as opposed to two love interests, like when we last saw her. (Well, at first, anyway. This is “Emily in Paris.”)
Ahead, Fitoussi takes us through Emily’s new fashion arc, which was inspired by a drastic haircut; the color she won’t be wearing again; and a hint at her path for season four. Plus: a preview of Camille’s newfound appreciation for color and Mindy’s sure-to-go-viral Mugler moment.
Emily’s Literally Dreamy — and Symbolic — Pink Feathered Cape
Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) confronts a post-dinner Emily (Lily Collins), in a custom cape, over a Magda Butrym dress, with custom Christian Louboutin platforms.
Photo: Stéphanie Branchu/Courtesy of Netflix
Season three opens with Emily still working for American boss Madeline (Kate Walsh), while accepting a position with Parisian mentor Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu). She hasn’t fessed up to either yet, and the anxiety is getting to her.
Of course, Emily’s stress dream — which foreshadows a disastrous dinner involving McDo (McDonald’s en français) — is essentially a fashion editorial, concluding with her falling off the Eiffel Tower. Madeline overbears in a sparkling black P.A.R.O.S.H. jacket over a sequin-checked Michael Kors number, which is actually two dresses reworked into a maternity look. Sylvie then appears in a stunning metallic sequined cape from the Barbara Bui archives, over a Victoria Beckham dress.
“She’s in the middle of a very dark nightmare with those two witches, who are coming on top of her,” says Fitoussi. “They need to look terrifying.”
Since Emily ends up in a freefall, Fitoussi wanted a costume adorned with fluttering feathers, which also connect to the gleaming eagles on Sylvie’s cape.
“I wanted Emily to be much more fragile, very bird-like and sweet, like she’s about to be bitten,” says Fitoussi. She couldn’t find a cloak like what she imagined, so she custom-designed a feather-embellished cape and collaborated with Parisian brand Marcy to build it. To perfectly match the pink and red on Emily’s midriff-baring Magda Butrym ensemble, artisans custom-dyed all the plumage, which were hand-sewn on.
Fitoussi also points out that Emily’s profusion of pink pays homage to her Parisian origin story in season one — and also marks a new turn for the character’s fashion story. “That’s the end of the pink. Everyone’s wearing it, and it’s not interesting anymore.”
The Very Camp-y Pierre Cadault Retrospective
Pierre Cadault (Jean-Christophe Bouvet) and one of ‘his’ creations in season two.
Photo: Carole Bethuel/Courtesy of Netflix
Sylvie’s longtime client Pierre Cadault (Jean-Christophe Bouvet) is honored with a museum retrospective in the third season.
The exhibition’s opening gala calls back to Emily’s season-one career successes, including a client gig modeling a Pierre Cadault bird-of-paradise white dress, which was actually designed by couturier Stéphane Rolland.
“All the display gowns [in the Pierre Cadault retrospective] are by Stéphane Rolland,” says Fitoussi, “167 haute couture dresses.”
Fitoussi recalls “splashing” Rolland’s gowns with paint to masquerade them as Cadault designs for his disruptive Paris Fashion Week runway — the one that Emily masterminded. The ghost-designed pieces are described as as “‘ringarde‘ and ‘tacky,’” in the script, but according to the costume designer, “[Rolland] is a very, very adorable man and he was very satisfied with the project. He has no problem at all with that. It’s my tribute to him, because he has such a sense of humor. It’s rare.”
Emily, Madeline and Sylvie in Pierre Cadault Archival Couture
Emily, obviously in Cadault at a Cadault event.
Photo: Marie Etchegoyen/Courtesy of Netflix
The retrospective gala also provides a suitably glam setting for a comedy of errors, featuring a professional and sartorial showdown between Madeline and Sylvie.
Sylvie, of course, pulls a severely sculptural black gown, with a molded spherical collar, out of the Cadault archives. Needing a last-minute option, Madeline savvily rents the same one from Louer the Runway. (Bravo to the writers on that one.) “It’s a couture car crash,” observes a bystander.
Of course, Sylvie wears hers in the most understated French way, while Madeline goes Midwestern American Maximalist with loads of chunky gold jewelry.
Sylvie’s gown is actually a past-collection Rolland, which Fitoussi replicated as a maternity look for an almost-due Madeline. “I chose this design because I was sure that the dress would look wonderful and equally beautiful on those two beautiful woman,” she says.
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Emily’s winged zebra-print blazer, paired with Miu Miu shorts (above), is actually by Dolce & Gabbana. Fitoussi originally had the piece in mind for outrageous best friend Mindy (Ashley Park), but realized that it would be the ideal counter to Emily’s bosses’ stark monochrome.
“She needed to be more powerful and to have more presence,” says Fitoussi.
Mindy’s Sparkling and Slinky Solo-Artist Wardrobe
Mindy (Ashley Park) in her sequined and studded denim theme for season three.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix
Mindy realizes her singing dream — with Benoit (Kevin Diaz)’s blessing and, erm, pre-performance support. She also steals the spotlight off-stage in an expanded wardrobe stacked with bedazzled denim, like fully bedazzled jorts by Kevin Germanier for a gathering celebrating Alfie at le chef hot Gabriel (Lucas Bravo)’s restaurant.
“She has no limit,” says Fitoussi. “She’s onstage performing, but she’s performing in her own life all the time. She likes excess. She likes success. She’s the typical girl with total freedom, because she can wear sequins during the day and doesn’t care.”
Mindy goes solo in Mugler.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix
But Mindy contains multitudes. She makes her jazzy solo debut at La Trompette Bleue in a real statement outfit commensurate with Park’s Tony- and Grammy-nominated talents. Of the illusion-paneled neon-yellow catsuit from Mugler‘s Spring 2022 collection, Fitoussi predicts: “It will be one of the most reposted outfits.”
“She’s very confident, so she can afford to have this strong color,” she adds.
Camille’s Foreshadowing With Color
Camille (Camille Razat) wears — gasp — color!
Photo: Stéphanie Branchu/Courtesy of Netflix
Camille comes to support Mindy’s solo outing — sans Gabriel, who’s working yet another late night at the restaurant. I did a double-take at the usually all-black, Marant-clad Parisian “It Girl,” waiting for her friends in a pink (!) sequined gingham dress by Carolina Herrera. In episode four, Camille also shocks in a lime-green oversize blazer (above) by Jacquemus.
“If I remember well, those are the only two colorful moments [for Camille],” says Fitoussi. “Because she was very, very happy at this point in the story, and we’re preparing the audience. We’re lying to the audience, because we want to show the drama which would be happening in the next episode.”
Sylvie’s Sartorial Influence on Emily — and Vice Versa
Sylvie (Phillipine Leroy-Beaulieu) and Emily, also in color.
Photo: Stéphanie Branchu/Courtesy of Netflix
Staunch Parisian boss Sylvie seems to have reluctantly warmed to Emily and may even be picking up on some of her underling’s traits — and, of course, Emily has always looked up to Sylvie.
“I like to play a mirror game between them because, at this point, clever Emily knows the French rules. She knows what the French style is about, and she’s very respectful and full of admiration for Sylvie,” says Fitoussi.
Emily begins to take on Sylvie’s French minimalism, with a pewter-and-black square-printed blazer by Junya Watanabe, vintage Dries van Noten shorts and black suede tall boots by Roger Vivier in episode seven.
“At the same time, Sylvie’s full of admiration for this annoying little American girl, who’s insolent,” adds Fitoussi, who presented Leroy-Beaulieu with the mirroring concept.
“She said, ‘Mmmm so much color… Doesn’t it look too much like Emily?’” recalls Fitoussi, with a laugh. “Sylvie will still be more French. She needs to keep the crown of the the iconic French woman, but Emily, this time, tried to take the crown.”
Emily’s Mod Influence
Emily goes mod in Paris.
Photo: Stéphanie Branchu/Courtesy of Netflix
Torn between her two mentors and conflicted about her future job situation in Paris, Emily does something drastic: She cuts her own “trauma bangs,” as Mindy says, while a perpetually clueless Gabriel asks, “What did you do to your hair?”
Fitoussi took Emily’s new fringe as a catalyst to veer into new fashion territory.
“It was the starting point of a little bit [of a] ’60s iconic silhouette,” she says, referencing mod muses like Françoise Hardy, Jane Birkin and Jean-Luc Godard favorite Anna Karina.
In episode three, Emily wears a vintage cropped orange Courrèges jacket from Plaisir Palace over a Jean Paul Gaultier mesh bomber with black straight-leg trousers by Ines de la Fressange. To make her strolls along the cobblestone streets a bit easier, she also transitions from stilettos to platforms (like the burgundy patent-leather pair by Christian Louboutin above).
“She’s more in chunky shoes and boots,” says Fitoussi. “You will see a journey.”
Emily’s mid-century inspiration also indicates her trajectory towards becoming a true French Girl™ — “We’re progressing to season four, where she’s supposed to be ‘Parisian,’” explains Fitoussi — although the jury is still out on whether or not she’ll finally learn to speak French.
Through the rest of the season, Emily’s color palette will soften, too — although, Fitoussi can’t totally give up her own “trademark” prints for the character, assuring: “She will never finish in a full black look.”
The leading lady of the popular Netflix series “Emily in Paris” revealed that she responds to both her own name and her beloved character’s name, Emily Cooper.
“I get called Emily all the time,” the actress laughed while chatting with Porterfor the magazine’s new cover story. “I respond to either one now. I take it as a compliment.”
For the past three years, Collins has starred as the titular millennial marketing assistant, whom she is very fond of. She’s set to continue portraying Emily for at least one more season, given the show’s renewal for season four.
“She’s somebody who is optimistic and solution-driven, and to play someone like Emily can give me a boost when I don’t even know I need it,” the actress said of her starring role. “Just to be able to feel a sense of positivity; that’s what Emily does for me.”
Salut les filles! Whether you genuinely love the show, love to hate it or hate that you love it, “Emily in Paris” is coming back forseason three on Dec. 21. (How many times have you watched the trailer? Be honest.) As we await Emily, Mindy, Sylvie, Camille, Gabriel and Alfie’s returns to our screens, the cast gathered in — where else? — the French capital on Tuesday to premiere la nouvelle saison, and did so in characteristically expressive fashion.
Lily Collins went with a sand-colored, tied-cutout dress from Saint Laurent, while Ashley Park went maximalist in a gold sequined gown with matching duster coat by Valentino. Camille Razat also went with Valentino, but opted for a more muted look — a cream long-sleeved top and feathered trouser from Spring 2023 — and added a magenta choker necklace (and eyeshadow) for a pop of color.
As they prepare to face off on screen, Philippine Leroy Beaulieu and Kate Walsh went with different approaches to sartorial sculpture: Leroy Beaulieu in an asymmetric-front strapless LBD, Walsh in a formfitting long-sleeved Stéphane Rolland gown with a gathered fabric detail along one side.
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Though most of the attention was on the principal cast, Kim Cattrall made an appearance in a black sleeveless jumpsuit and fascinator that gave us flashbacks to the veiled hat she wore to Carrie’s book party post-chemical peel in “Sex and the City.” (Does this confirm rumors that the actor is reuniting with Darren Star for a cameo?)
See all the best looks from the season three premiere of “Emily in Paris” below.
Lily Collins wearing Saint Laurent at the season three premiere of “Emily in Paris” in Paris. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Ashley Park wearing Valentino at the season three premiere of “Emily in Paris” in Paris. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Camille Razat wearing Valentino at the season three premiere of “Emily in Paris” in Paris. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu at the season three premiere of “Emily in Paris” in Paris. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Kate Walsh wearing Stéphane Rolland at the season three premiere of “Emily in Paris” in Paris. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Kim Cattrall at the season three premiere of “Emily in Paris” in Paris. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Monday.
Malone Souliers launches “Emily in Paris” shoe collection In anticipation of the third season of “Emily in Paris,” Malone Souliers teamed up with the show for a “très chic” shoe collaboration. The collection boasts 11 new styles in a variety of colorways inspired by the characters of the show, including The Emily, The Camille and The Gabriel. “Like everyone else, I became obsessed with ‘Emily in Paris’ when it first aired in 2020,” Mary Alice, the brand’s creative director, said in a statement. “The witty humor is what first drew me in, but then I couldn’t take my eyes off the outfits. I knew it would be the perfect show for Malone Souliers to collaborate with.” The collection is available to shop Dec. 6 at the brand’s Mount Street flagship store and online at MaloneSouliers.com. {Fashionista inbox}
The rise of resale in New York retail For The Cut, Emilia Petrarca interviews Emma Rodelius, founder of Lower East Side vintage shop Rogue, about how the neighborhood has shifted retail trends in New York. Rodelius calls the Lower East Side “the new Soho” and adds that it’s gone too corporate for her. Nostalgic resale and vintage finds for accessible prices are what attract customers to what she has coined the “Vintage District.” With the help of pop-up events, influencer closet sales and a strong social media presence, Rodelius says, “This is going to be an empire.” {The Cut}
The body behind the Y/Project x Jean Paul Gaultier body morph prints For Vogue, José Criales-Unzueta talks to the literal man in the multi-colored body-illusion graphics Glenn Martens designed in collaboration with Jean Paul Gaultier, which have been spotted on A-listers galore. Javier Des Leon, Spanish model and content creator, describes the birth of the print saying, “Glenn was interested in me, so they asked me to be a part of the next collection. I didn’t know what I would do or what the process would be like. They just told me I had to be nude and pose as a statue. It was a simple process, just working the lighting and trying to find the right pose.” When asked what it feels like to see his body on runways, tabloids and celebrities, Des Leon says, “I’m just very proud to have been a part of this and grateful to Glenn and his team. He’s a genius, and I love the direction in which he’s leading fashion right now.” {Vogue}
We all buy clothes, but no two people shop the same. It can be a social experience, and a deeply personal one; at times, it can be impulsive and entertaining, at others, purpose-driven, a chore. Where do you shop? When do you shop? How do you decide what you need, how much to spend and what’s “you”? These are some of the questions we’re putting to prominent figures in our column “How I Shop.”
Actor Ashley Park is best known these days for her fan-favorite role as Mindy Chen in the rom-com Netflix series “Emily in Paris.” Since the show debuted back in 2020, Park has proven to be a style star both on and off the screen — and she’s just getting started.
Ahead of the show’s anticipated return for its third installment on Dec. 21, Park has a new project up her sleeve: her first-ever fashion collection, made in collaboration with Rent the Runway. The exclusive line of party-ready silhouettes launched on Nov. 15, just in time for the holiday season.
The actor tells Fashionista that she’s been a fan of the site since the early days of her career when she first moved to New York City almost 10 years ago. “[For my auditions and events], I remember debating if I should buy something, wear it and then return it with the tag,” she says. “Finding out that Rent the Runway existed was really a game changer for me because I didn’t feel out of place when I was going to certain events and I could really shine at that moment. I didn’t have the burden of trying to keep everything and cram it all into my little tiny studio closet.”
Rent-and-return platforms have gained popularity over the past decade, allowing shoppers to take more fashion risks without the commitment — solving a dilemma that’s often prevalent around this time due to end-of-year festivities.
Park’s collection includes eight silhouettes that can be worn from day to night, ranging from $55 to $65 per rental. The faux-leather outwear, sparkly dresses and velvet minis reflect Park’s personal sense of style, she says.
Ashley Park at the 2022 Met Gala in New York.
Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Her closet, she admits, is a little different, especially post-pandemic. “I really prioritize comfort now, especially because of the things I’m asked to do on set and sometimes I’m in heels for like a whole day,” she says. “So I’d say my personal style is comfy and chic.”
Ahead, Park discusses her oversized blazer obsession, the importance of shopping intentionally and which “Emily In Paris” character would wear each of her designs.
“I love combining both masculine and feminine styles. For example, I’ll put on a cute tank and crop top with baggy jeans and an oversized blazer.
“Speaking of oversized blazers, I guess it’s the headline of my fashion style. When I unpacked in France when filming the latest season of ‘Emily in Paris,’ [it] was all oversized blazers and neutral colors. I love stuff that makes you comfortable in your body and it doesn’t have to always be so revealing.
“I’m a huge fan of over-the-top shoulder pads, and that’s why I like oversized blazers. I love to have the structure up top, but also comfort.
“Recently, I’ve also been a fan of halters and wide-legged pants. My favorite pair would be these black Phillip Lim cargo pants. It works so well with any top and I can wear it out to dinner, or while I’m walking around the city. I have these Roger Vivier boots that are such a wardrobe staple. I can wear any of these pieces just about anywhere at any time of the day.
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Photo: Courtesy of Rent the Runway
“If I had to choose a piece from my RTR that could be worn from office to night, Sylvie and Emily [from ‘Emily in Paris’] could both rock the ‘business in the front, party in the back’ tuxedo jumpsuit. I think that Emily would love this velvet dress especially since it’s very elegant but also super flirty and fun. Mindy would also look amazing in that halter jumpsuit because she definitely gravitates toward suits sometimes but loves a sexy halter moment. She loves not to be confined to a box because she has a lot of sides to her. For Camille, I can really see her in that vegan leather blazer — she would really rock that purple color and it feels very structured and mature for France.
“I realized that I’d been traveling a lot — I don’t think I’ve been in the same place for more than a few months at a time for the past couple of years. Whenever I’m shopping, I try to pick out something that I can wear in all seasons, all places, at all times. That’s what I love about those oversized blazers. You can wear it off the plane and then you move straight to a nice dinner and your outfit still looks elevated.
“It’s so funny because I was just trying to ‘Marie Kondo‘ my stuff recently by getting rid of things in my closet and I noticed a lot of my staple pieces are my mom’s, especially clothes that she had in the ’90s. She had this nice black blazer and ugh, I just couldn’t get rid of it because it was hers!
“Aside from my mom, when it comes to style inspiration, I would have to say Zendaya is a major one. Her style is so sophisticated yet sexy, and it’s almost this easy-breezy glam. What I love about her style is that the outfit never owns her; she’s owning the outfit. I’ve learned a lot from that and apply it to myself now, especially when I’m picking out clothes for my character, because [Mindy] likes to take risks but she’s not so obnoxious about it.
“Honestly, I’m not even sure if I have anything on my wishlist this holiday season, but if I had to choose, I think maybe my wish list is to just organize what clothes I already have.
“These days, I definitely shop with more intention. I can’t remember the last time I went into a store. Don’t get me wrong — I love to window shop, but for me, I usually find pieces when I see it on somebody and I’ll be like ‘Where’d you get that top? Oh my gosh, I wish I had it in my suitcase.’ Also, Instagram ads know me really well, too.
“I do believe in shopping therapy sometimes, but for me, it’s really become quality over quantity. I used to shop for as many things as possible for the best deal. Nowadays, especially with the way that I travel and work, I’m like, ‘Okay if I’m gonna get a quality black T-shirt, what’s the most versatile shape I know I can have for a long time? What is the best option that I can wear with just about everything?’
Ashley Park at the Valentino Spring 2023 show in Milan.
Ashley Park at the Valentino Spring 2023 show in Milan. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
“Over the years, I’ve grown such an appreciation for the craftsmanship and the thoughtfulness behind a design. Coming from a theater background, I now look at a brochure and know all of the different elements and people that go into putting something together.
“I went to the Valentino fashion show where they returned to Rome. Pierpaolo — I love everything he does — he brought out the seamstresses at the end along with the models. [That moment reminded me] that I’ve learned so much about fashion, and it’s an opportunity to be a storyteller and uplift different cultures, ideas and perspectives. That’s been a really impactful and fun part of the journey [designing my first collection], and I’ve learned so much as well.”
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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