If you’re still craving a touch of Paris in your life now that the Olympics have left our screens, don’t worry.
Netflix’s hit series Emily In Paris returned to our screens last week for its highly-anticipated fourth season, with its heartwarming and heady cocktail of drama, love triangles and spectacular costumes.
But if you’ve always thought that these costumes were haute couture and outlandish, and that only the show’s protagonist, played by Lily Collins, could wear, this series is a game changer.
Of course, Emily hasn’t abandoned her signature style of contrasting patterns and bright colors, but now we see them interspersed with more mature, more French looks (the show’s costume designer, Marylin Fitoussi, is from Toulouse, after all).
Think tailored, Katharine Hepburn-inspired trousers and Audrey Hepburn-inspired ballet flats. Emily is in her power-and-revenge era and her wardrobe reflects that.
There’s certainly no better place to find inspiration for your fall wardrobe, so read on to find out how to incorporate just the right amount of Emily style, no matter your age.
Classics for a reason
The ever-elegant Audrey Hepburn (pictured) is one of the inspirations for the new Emily In Paris series
Dress, £130, monsoon.co.uk
Shoes, £27.99, newlook.com
‘I don’t like fashion, I like clothes,’ reads a quote on Marylin Fitoussi’s website, and nowhere is this mantra more evident than in her inspiration for the new Emily In Paris series, the ever-elegant Audrey Hepburn.
Emily’s modern homage to Hepburn in My Fair Lady shows her attending a masquerade ball in a custom-made head-to-toe striped jumpsuit, beneath a belted, splayed skirt designed by Harris Reed for Nina Ricci, topped off with a wide-brimmed hat. Very Eliza Doolittle-esque.
For those whose life doesn’t include lavish balls, you can incorporate a similar chic touch through the elegance of monochrome. Try Monsoon’s Sicily dress (£130, monsoon.co.uk). Pair it with ballet flats during the day for an Emily-approved look.
Surprisingly, she wears flat shoes for the first time in this series. Hers are from Miu Miu and are covered in crystals, and are one of only 2,500 pairs of shoes used in this series!
Faux fur adds a touch of luxury
Unlike her multi-coloured faux fur creation, Emily’s beige faux fur coat (pictured) is a more accessible style inspiration.
Coat, £109, issylondon.co.uk
From left to right: hat, £35, collar, £20, both helenmoore.com
A shortcut to autumn glamour? Faux fur is the answer.
While the multi-colored faux fur creation Emily wears in the season four trailer may be a little extravagant for off-screen, check out her beige faux fur coat worn in another episode for more accessible style inspiration.
Emily’s coat is by French designer Isabel Marant and costs £795, but independent label Issy London has an equally sumptuous coat (£109, issylondon.co.uk).
For faux fur accessories, like the hat Emily wears in a recreation of an Audrey Hepburn look in the 1963 film Charade, Helen Moore (helen moore.com) is the best bet.
Grandpa chic
From left to right: Emily adds her own contrasting print aesthetic to the ‘grandpa chic’ trend; shirt, £109, karenmillen.com
Miu Miu and Chloé spearheaded a “grandpa chic” aesthetic on the fall/winter runways: think loafers, cardigans and knitted vests in nostalgic prints.
Naturally, Emily adds her own print-contrasting aesthetic to the trend, pairing a striped shirt and built-in tie with a camel-colored sleeveless printed cardigan; and a monochrome checked shirt with a monochrome floral tie.
Karen Millen has an organza shirt with a built-in tie (£109, karenmillen.com). The fact that the tie and shirt don’t clash like Emily’s, but are the same shade of blue, makes the look less scary.
Complement your look with Emily
Emily never skimps on accessories – just check out the head-to-toe yellow Twiggy-inspired ensemble (pictured) she wears in one episode.
Sunglasses, £197, blackeyewear.com
From left to right: Earrings, £80, pinarozevlat.com; bag, £49.99, zara.com
Emily never skimps on accessories – just look at the head-to-toe yellow Twiggy-inspired ensemble she sports in one episode. As if the yellow coat, skirt and shirt weren’t enough, a tasselled bag and knee-high socks in the same shade complete her look.
Emily’s bag is by Colombian designer Silvia Tcherassi and costs £532, but the High Street is full of colourful bags – check out Zara’s satsuma clutch (£49.99, zara.com).
Accessories are an easy way to add a dose of Emily’s whimsy to any outfit, so treat yourself to a clutch or a pair of quirky earrings. After all, fashion is supposed to be fun.
Power movements
Emily’s newfound love of smart suits reflects her newfound confidence at work – she wears the pants literally and metaphorically.
From left to right: Jacket, £156, Trousers, £96, jigsaw-online.com
Emily begins season four heartbroken, but instead of adopting Bridget Jones style and donning pajamas, she opts for something more Princess Diana-like: dressing up for revenge.
While dresses used to be a staple, suits now take center stage.
“I think what will define the new season is this masculine-feminine twist that we never had before,” says Marylin Fitoussi.
And this newfound love of smart suits reflects Emily’s newfound confidence at work: she wears the pants literally and metaphorically.
Most notable is the deep cobalt blue trouser suit that Emily wears in one episode. Jigsaw has an equally spectacular suit on sale (jacket, £156, trousers, £96, jigsawonline.com).
And for an extra touch of style, a head-to-toe color-block design à la Emily, who pairs her cobalt suit with a shirt in a matching shade.