The Cast of Emily in Paris Reflects on Season 4
From unexpected quiet luxury to intentionally edgier aesthetics, there was plenty of discussion-worthy fashion this season. Here, the show's stars share their takes on what it means.
Lily Collins swears Emily Cooper is a good friend. Sure, the Emily in Paris protagonist is not exactly known for her winning communication skills, respect for boundaries or ability to follow through on platonic pacts. But aside from those (totally fixable!) shortcomings, her intentions are pure. “Emily’s a really good listener,” Collins tells me during a press junket with the Emily in Paris actors. “And sometimes, she gives wisdom that she doesn’t take herself.”
The star is reflecting on her fourth season playing the peppy American ex-pat — of which both parts are now available on Netflix — and she’s noticed Emily frequently fails to process situations before acting on them. “I’m like, ‘Come on, girl! Take a page from your own book.’ Breathe, let it soak in,” she says. Still, she maintains that her on-screen counterpart has evolved since first landing in the French city several seasons ago. Even her all-over-the-place aesthetic has veered toward quiet luxury. Now that’s growth.
Indeed, season 4 saw Emily in Paris turn its signature saccharine storytelling into something a bit more substantial. Recent episodes tackle sexual misconduct at work, the pressures of a biological clock and the consequences of Emily’s refusal to learn the language. The show even subverts its own premise by moving her from Paris to Rome! Through it all, this series — described as “Cocomelon for adults” — stays true to its roots of nonsensical silliness and head-turning outfits. Below, FASHION caught up with the Emily in Paris actors about the way things went down in season 4.
Emily gets a girlboss-y glow up
In season 4, Emily Cooper trades feminine silhouettes for an array of pantsuits. As the episodes go on, her corporate costuming only becomes more established, with crisp ties, structured shoulders and menswear-inspired overcoats. “I think she’s wearing the pants in her relationship with Paris,” says Collins. “She’s more confident in herself, the city, her job and her life…She doesn’t have to show all the colours, textures and prints all the time.”
Early on, we never quite knew what Emily was thinking behind her can-do attitude and perpetually plastered-on smile. “In season one, you’re getting to know the character visually and emotionally,” Collins explains. Her clothes, in turn, were always doing the most as her main means of self-expression. But season 4 of Emily in Paris sees her become more vulnerable. “She’s finding new ways to vocalize herself, so she can communicate less with clothing,” Collins continues, pointing to her openness with boyfriends-turned-exes Alfie and Gabriel. “There’s a more French, elevated, pared-down, tailored aesthetic to her this year.”
Case in point: In episode 8, Emily has her first-ever moment of quiet luxury when she wears a black scarf that she is gifted from a new Italian love interest. “I think the more quietly confident she gets, the more the quiet luxury can seep in,” Collins reflects. “She’s becoming more comfortable without having to have the colour on her all the time.”
Of course, there are still areas in her life that she’s not so comfortable with. “She wants to say so much more to Gabriel, but the language barrier is hard,” Collins notes. “Hopefully, if we get to go to another season, she can learn some more French to be able to do that.” (The show has just been confirmed for season 5 — so here’s hoping.)
Sylvie’s style rubs off on Emily
Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, who plays the endlessly chic Sylvie, will let you in on a secret: her character’s style is not actually that of an understated French woman. “The funny thing is she is over the top. She goes to the office wearing golden shirts and things like that,” Leroy-Beaulieu laughs. But in the over-saturated Darren Star universe, where stilettos will always usurp sneakers, she best embodies pared down dressing.
“There is a thing with French women wanting to be impeccable at eight in the morning, which is Sylvie’s trademark,” Leroy-Beaulieu says. “But she’s a bit more than the usual Parisian woman that you meet in the street.”
It’s no secret that Sylvie is the style star of the series, with backless dresses, strapless necklines and exceptional draping that stand out in a colourful cloud of camp. Emily reveres her boss’s refined tastes, and we see that come to life through her mellowed out style moments. “Emily’s trying to imitate [Sylvie] more and more, so that she can also become the effortless chic French woman,” says Leroy-Beaulieu. “I think Sylvie is inspiring Emily to become more relaxed, less perfect, accept mistakes and explore life.”
She may be blunt and hard to please, but she’s also emotionally intelligent. “My favourite thing about her is her vulnerability hidden behind an armour,” Leroy-Beaulieu says. That trait shines when she exposes a powerful former boss for harassing women at work. She’s empowered to do this not for business-related reasons, but because she feels for the victims involved. This season, Sylvie’s sharp style is all the more indicative of her layers.
Camille enters her villain era
Justice for Camille! Not only is Camille Razat’s character one of the only people in the show to explore a queer relationship, but she seems to always be struggling in some way. She’s working through two break-ups: first with Gabriel then with her girlfriend Sofia. She’s preparing for her baby and then grappling with the reality that she had a false positive. Then, she’s pretending to be pregnant, because this show thrives on mess.
Needless to say, Camille has the most serious storylines this season. As her arc take a gloomy turn, so does her wardrobe. “Her style is becoming bolder, edgier and a little more gothic,” says Razat. She sports dark outfits with intricate lace, bold eyeliner and sharp shapes.
“She’s in a very vulnerable position. Everything she thought would happen in her life — having a kid, getting married to Gabriel, having a relationship with Sofia — all of that is gone,” reflects Razat. Camille has always had a refined je ne sais quoi French style. But this year, her moody wares reflect her unapologetic approach to the challenges that come her way.
Mindy is just as extra as ever
In a sea of over-the-top outfits, Ashley Park’s Mindy manages to stand out as the most shockingly maximalist of all. Her blinged-out style is unwavering, whether she’s headed to a café or a club. This season, we see her double down on this image when her boyfriend’s snooty father shames her playful sense of style.
“I felt a little slut shamed on her behalf,” says Park. “I was like, ‘I didn’t think I was slutty…what are you talking about?’ But I love how diligent she is about staying strong. She doesn’t judge anybody, so why should anybody judge her?” Naturally, she refuses to dim down her look.
As always, Mindy’s wardrobe is nothing if not an unapologetic array of neon, cutouts, and outside-the-box textures. While her outfits stay loud, they also get sexier and more self-assured, says Park. “We see her comfortable in the woman that she is,” she notes.
Aesthetic choices aside, Park is clear on her character’s best trait. “Mindy is the friend that everyone wants to have and didn’t know they needed,” she explains.
Perhaps that’s why, when asked who she wants Emily to end up with, Lilly Collins doesn’t hesitate. “Mindy,” she replies. Maybe season 5 will see that relationships evolve. At the very least, we know the outfits will be interesting.
