Emily of Emily In Paris has remade Paris in her image

When Emily Cooper, the titular character in the Netflix show Emily In Paris, burst onto the scene, her bold personality, heavily accented French and wardrobe of colourful prints were met with jeers and sneers onscreen and off.

- Yola Mzizi

Despite Emily’s icy reception, the character, played by Lily Collins, wormed her way into the hearts of both audiences at home and her French peers on the show, now in its fifth season.

Days before the release of the new season, Darren Star, the creator of Emily In Paris (2020 to present) — and Sex And The City (1998 to 2004) and Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990 to 2000) - received the Legion of Honour, France’s highest award.

President Emmanuel Macron of France, whose wife Brigitte appeared briefly in the fourth season of Emily In Paris, said at the ceremony that Star makes “France shine across the world”. His remarks alluded to how Emily and her over-the-top style - an amalgamation of florals, plaid, houndstooth, feathers and zebra print - have become inextricably linked to Paris, even if her wardrobe is not exactly emblematic of what people who live there wear.