5 Runway Trends that 'Emily in Paris' Couldn't Stop Wearing
Since it's release earlier this month, Netflix's Emily in Paris has made headlines for its steamy French love interests, ambiguously aged protagonist, and closet full of designer clothes that a recent college graduate should not be able to afford. The popular series stars Lily Collins as Emily Cooper, a young 20-something girl from Chicago who moves to Paris for a job at a marketing firm. Throughout the first season, her unabashed American-isms cause friction with her co-workers, including her intense sense of fashion—a departure from the French's fondness for black. While her boss may find her over the top, her style has certainly has that je ne sais quoi. Here, L'OFFICIEL charts the five trends that Emily in Paris took straight off the runway.
Berets
If there's one French stereotype that all Americans know, it's the beret. The versatile style makes it an unassuming, yet chic addition to any look. Emily leans into the "American in Paris" vibe by co-opting the accessory for several ensembles. In this scene, the young ingénue pairs a simple red beret with a black and white check jacket and shorts from Veronica Beard.
Pink Coats
Adding a dash (read: ton) of color to her winter wardrobe, the fresh-faced lead hits the streets of gay Paris in a blindingly bright pink coat from Kenzo over a matching pink sweater, skirt, heels, and socks. While a head-to-toe monochrome moment isn't for everyone, an elegant pink coat is a must-have statement piece from the runways.
Bag Charms
In Episode 5, Emily scares away couture designer and potential client Pierre Cadault with her Eiffel Tower bag charm, for which he dubs her ringarde (“basic”). Not one to accept defeat, Emily finds him at the ballet where she wins him over by professing her love of fashion and Gossip Girl. Admittedly, the bag charm is a 2000s trend that fashion icon Serena Van der Woodsen rocked throughout the Upper East Side.
Many designers sell bag charms as an accoutrement to their handbags. In fact, Karl Lagerfeld introduced the "Karlito" charm at Fendi's Fall/Winter 2014 show. On more recent runways, the Italian luxury house fashioned an Airpods case into a bag charm, and Versace made its Medusa head emblem into one.
Check Print
After struggling to adapt, Emily manages to makes a French gal pal (and the epitome of French girl fashion), Camille. In this check dress from See by Chloé, actress Camille Razat demonstrates how less really can be more. Major labels like Chanel, Christian Dior, and Burberry have found their signature interpretations of the checkered pattern, which can be found throughout their runway archives.
Little Black Dress
No matter where you live, every woman needs a little black dress. In Episode 2, Emily dons a strapless black Alexandre Vauthier dress that conjures thoughts of Audrey Hepburn. The dress' classic silhouette makes for a timeless look in a scene that cements Emily as an enviable lead that audiences can get behind. The power of an LBD is infinite, which is why it’s a staple runway piece for shows like Chanel and Marc Jacobs.
