Almost the entire month of December passed with an Emily in Paris breeze sweeping through the fashion world. As with every new season, the show was once again on the agenda not only for its storyline but also for the fashion debates it sparked. In this piece, I want to approach the show less through its story and more through its clothing and style.
From the very first season, we see strong references to 1950s fashion in Emily's style. Yet Emily nods not only to a single era but also to icons who left their mark on fashion history and to cult films. Breakfast at Tiffany's, My Fair Lady, Roman Holiday… In particular, it feels as though we're watching a modern interpretation of Audrey Hepburn's elegant, feminine, yet equally powerful style.
This season, too, we've left behind a world where countless different brands practically lined up for the styling. Between skirts, dresses, bags, and shoes, jewelry brands were also among the strong players on stage. As in previous seasons, Emily once again appeared before us with a style built on contrasts. Completely different ethnic and modern patterns, stripes with polka dots, neon color transitions, and clashing fabrics coming together in the same outfit actually define the character herself.
The styling rooms we occasionally glimpsed behind the scenes were the most concrete example of this. Dozens of shoes, outfits waiting to be completed, accessories, and a bustling crew rushing about… These background images showed just how aware everyone was of the enormous and detailed work involved in the show. What impressed me most was precisely this sense of "care." From the very first episode, Emily in Paris presented fashion and different styles right in the heart of Paris, and these brief backstage moments clearly made the viewer feel just how rigorous and meticulous the work behind it was.
On the accessory side, while shoe and bag choices were especially eye-catching, this season we also saw plenty of jewelry. Bracelets, rings, and hair accessories were an inseparable part of nearly every outfit. Like many viewers, while I admired Emily's style, one thought never left my mind: most of these outfits are almost unwearable in real life.
But the interesting part begins right here. Although the outfits, considered as a whole, seem overly bold and unrealistic, when the individual pieces within them are examined one by one, each is a flawless "star piece." It's impossible not to fall in love with at least one item in every outfit. The green striped jacket Emily wore in the first episode was one of the best examples of this.
Of course, it would be unfair to talk only about Emily. Especially in season 5, the show plays seriously with fashion across all of its characters, both women and men, regardless of the size of their role. We watch strong collections carefully selected for each actor and perfectly aligned with their character. And it's impossible to skip over Sylvie, the character closest to my own taste. I absolutely loved the shirt-top and draped, fitted dress combination she wore in the first episode of season 5.
Sylvie's timeless and placeless elegant dresses, spread across the season, were among the strongest examples of quiet luxury and effortless chic. I think that in real life—especially alongside the wild and overly bold fashion sensibility of recent times—this stance has become even more longed for. Sylvie's style offered a look that drew attention without shouting, powerful yet calm.
The character Mindy Chen, Sylvie's complete opposite, was practically a spectacle all on her own. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to call the outfits she wore not only during her performances but also in her daily life and at events "costumes." For her off-stage looks, I would have liked to see a tone that felt a little less like a costume and a bit more wearable. Because especially in productions that place fashion at their center, the viewer sometimes expects to find a piece of themselves as well. Still, the dress Mindy wore at the concert that began with her singing on a boat and ended in a martini glass—in the most beautiful shade of blue, embroidered from head to toe with beads—was truly breathtaking. That scene was one of the strongest examples of how the show uses excess as a deliberate choice.
Finally, it's not possible to say that only one or two details stood out in the show. The elements that generally stuck in the mind were neon colors, the use of clashing patterns within the same outfit, gilded and shimmering-textured fabrics, garments that at times felt like costumes, and the frequent preference for floral patterns.
To sum up, beyond its subject matter and whether one likes it or not, Emily in Paris is a show that can host many ideas and critiques. It's too multifaceted to be approached from a single angle. With its characters, outfits, settings, food, dialogue, and humor, it offers a world woven with energy from head to toe. Perhaps that's why one doesn't want it to end. I'm already eagerly awaiting season 6. 🙂
Flz.