Does Season 2 Of Emily In Paris Get Your Style Approval?

Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no denying that Emily In Paris is one of the latest guilty pleasure shows on Netflix. If you weren’t binge-watching this series during lockdown in 2020, then let me give you a brief on how this show rapidly rose to popularity. 

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Emily In Paris debuted in October of 2020, from the creator of Sex and The City, Darren Star. The show follows Marketing Consultant Emily Cooper (Lily Collins),  who relocates from Chicago to Paris, to give an “American” perspective at the marketing firm Savior. Although this is a once-in-a-lifetime job opportunity Emily is ecstatic for, the transition is not at all smooth. In this 10-episode season, we closely follow Emily’s struggles with understanding a new culture, maintaining friendships, and finding love.

However, the show received many negative reviews being described as “shallow,” “cliche,” and “stereotypical” from publications like Rolling Stone, Vox, and The Guardian. The show proved to be a hit after being viewed in 52 million households in the first 28 days of its release. Regardless of feedback, it seems no one can turn their heads from a soapy sitcom. 

One of the most discussed topics of the show was Emily’s boisterous style. Since this series is from the creator of Sex and The City and the plot takes place in Paris, many viewers (including myself) expected chic, sophisticated, and avant-garde looks. But, instead, it delivered quite the opposite that left viewers to have a displeasing taste. Mina Le, Haute Le Mode, and ModernGurlz, posted style analyses to youtube discussing how the costume development ultimately lacked cohesiveness and genuine style, to which many viewers agreed.

Now, with its recent release of season 2, fans couldn’t wait to continue their love-hate relationship with the series. But, most importantly to see if Emily’s style made a significant improvement. So, I’m going to let you be the judge. 

*Warning: Fashion Spoilers Ahead*

Season 1 Style review

Legendary Costume designer Patricia Field was the head creative for Emily’s wardrobe. Field is known for her styling on TV icon Carrie Bradshaw, but she had a different idea in mind when it came to Emily’s looks. 

“The show is all about ‘fashion statements,” Field tells New York Post.

A multitude of Emily’s looks includes flashy and bold colors, mix-matched patterns, various accessories, and unique silhouettes. A fragment of her looks almost always include a beret, gloves, ankle boots, and neckties that act as a “statement” piece.

Popsugar writer Nikita Charuza says, “I didn't have any issue with any of the pieces Emily wears on the show, it was more about the sheer amount of items that are lumped together to create ‘a look.’”

Throughout the series, Emily is also seen wearing designers like Marc Jacobs, Chanel, and Prada through handbags, shoes, and accessories that many fashionistas would love to have in their closets. But, the styling choices made the wardrobe feel “over-the-top,” which distracts the viewer from seeing these stunning pieces in their entirety. Needless to say, Emily’s wardrobe misses the mark on effortless-Parisian fashion.  

But, what exactly is “Parisian” fashion? 

Stéphanie Delpon, the cofounder of Parisian creative agency Pictoresq, tells Vogue, “The French style is all about creating space to breathe, carving out empty zones where beauty and character can emanate naturally.”

Since Emily struggles through her personal and work life to adapt to the Parisian culture, it, unfortunately, reveals in her wardrobe. It’s important to embrace new ideas in order to expand stylistic views and apply that to your personal wardrobe.

For season 2, we hoped that Emily can become more in touch with the culture that surrounds her and adapt to a more functional way of dressing in Paris. 

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Season 2 Style Review

With a newly released season, fans weren't surprised when Emily debuted yet another pattern-clashing couture look in its first episode. This lead viewers to believe that nothing has changed when it came to her wardrobe. But, that’s not entirely the case. 

Reigning with Patricia Field, costume designer Marilyn Fitoussi contributed heavily to this season’s attire. Although many styling choices are questionable, there is no denying that we can see an improvement in Emily’s style. With fewer accessories and more mindful layering, Emily shows more sophistication and that she is slowly growing accustomed to Parisian culture. Some of the new staple pieces in her looks include printed hats, oversized blazers, patterned blouses/skirts, and thigh-highed shoes.  

Field and Fitoussi had agreed that Emily is an individual who loves to stand out and be the reason people turn heads. “Her outfits may hurt your eyes, they may not appeal, but they leave no one indifferent…For me, Emily being too chic or too French would have meant that she’d given in and that her personality was no longer as strong,” Fitoussi tells Vogue. As much as we want to change Emily’s style, it is not meant to be simplistic nor minimal in any way. She has her own dress code to live by and this ideal allows her to keep her individuality, rather than converting to a style that changes her character.

Source: Cosmopolitan

Although, Emily’s wardrobe appeared to fall short in season 1, fans can expect a more cohesive narrative behind her looks in season 2. Emily’s styling choices seem to be more understandable as we continue to see her on screen. The significance behind the mixed patterned and bold colored looks are to solidify Emily’s character as someone who wants to be highlighted as a striking individual. The audience is meant to question her appearance as it invites curiosity and draws attention to the details of her attire. As the series continue to be a success, we can all except to see Emily in even more “out of the ordinary” outfits in season 3.


Do you think Emily’s style improved in season 2? Leave a comment below!

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