'Emily In Paris' is back with even more over-the-top fashion

Remember when television was a means of frivolous escape and fantasy, rather than a damning condemnation of our society? Me, too, and it’s precisely why I unabashedly love Emily in Paris.

The show, while by no means a one hundred per cent accurate portrayal of the French “experience,” does provide the perfect amount of visual eye candy that has helped make it one of Netflix’s biggest (and most surprising) runaway hits since its 2020 premiere. Aside from the stellar cast’s organic chemistry, though, fashion—for better and worse—is the show’s true main character.

For Season 3, costume designer Marylin Fitoussi takes the reins from industry titan Patricia Field and provides a fresh take on our favourite French crew.

“There is sense of anticipation, especially in terms of the costumes, so the challenge is not to repeat ourselves—to continue breaking the codes, to break them completely, and to always present new looks that are interesting,” Fitoussi says of this season’s fashion story. “This season, I had an even greater freedom. I was able to establish my style much more, working in a much closer and more intimate way with the team, and with Lily Collins in particular.”

Ahead, we break down some of the standout looks from Emily in Paris Season 3, which is streaming now on Netflix.

Camille wins best dressed this season

Two things are made clear by Camille’s character arc in Emily in Paris Season 3. One, she’s really not being a good friend; she’s awful, actually. But two? Her fashion game is flawless. Camille’s sense of style is a delicate balance of the traditional French-girl foundation with a dash of kitsch as we’ve seen in Seasons 1 and 2. Bold, oversized glasses that echo Iris Apfel, citrus green oversized Jacquemus blazers, and modernized Schiaparelli tweed co-ord sets are all standout fits that Camille serves this time around.

“The main lessons I learned from Patricia was her ‘We don’t care about reality’ motto, which gave me great freedom regarding tone and spirit,” Fitoussi says regarding her approach to costuming this season, especially when it came to the native French characters in the cast. “I let go completely. I didn’t work the way we would have in a much more French manner, trying to find a daily justification for some outfits.”

Sylvie is leaning into her sultry era

Sylvie—the high-profile, no-nonsense, extremely French head honcho of Savoir Agency—always represents the ultra-luxurious, traditional Parisian woman. In Season 3, though, Sylvie is at a career crossroads that impacts how she not only sees herself, but how she dresses. This Sylvie is about taking risks in her personal and professional life, and her wardrobe is on the same page, with her character opting for plunging necklines, pristine Maison Alaïa trousers, and, when she’s feeling particularly adventurous, some colour courtesy of lush party gowns and vintage Vivienne Westwood.

“For the character of Sylvie, it’s about being able to take risks. She’s been in black and white; in minimalist colours,” Fitoussi says. “And now, Sylvie ventures to mix fuchsia with orange, maybe adding a touch of purple. But they both [her and Emily] have this same intensity of look and of intention. They continue to forge this bond, while also still challenging one another. I found it rather successful, because Lily and Philippine [Leroy-Beaulieu] themselves, in their way of moving, of speaking, and in their gestures, have managed to create that mirror effect, and to turn it into a funny nod.”

Emily is … getting better!

Emily is experimenting with her wardrobe in a big way in Season 3. Though she’s never been afraid to lean into the literal (she is an American in Paris after all), her style this time around is more refined without sacrificing any of the fun. Multicolour printed sweaters, metallic knee-high boots, and staple accessories courtesy of Louis Vuitton are all part of her latest style evolution.

“Emily is unique; she is special. She is a cheerful character, very enterprising. She is creative; she is a great observer,” Fitoussi says of how the titular character’s fashion sense has evolved. “She shows this to us particularly in Season 3, because you will discover that she has observed all the codes of French fashion and that she has reinterpreted them in her own way, the Cooper way.”

This piece originally appeared in Harper's Bazaar Arabia 

All images: courtesy Netlix