Emily Cooper, of Emily in Paris, is known for many things. Her ability to come up with a seemingly mind-blowing marketing pitch on the spot, her poor decision-making when it comes to European men and her marmite wardrobe. Emily’s style is love-or-hate; over the seasons, she’s had a lot of hits and many misses.

One viewer knows the wardrobe styling of the hit Netflix show better than most. Ernesta (@emilyinparisoutfits) has been sourcing and reporting pieces of each character's wardrobe since 2021. Her Instagram account is a goldmine of style inspiration for anyone who wants to shop like Emily, Mindy, Camille or Sylvie.

Digging deep into her account, I kept track of how Emily’s style has both changed and stayed the same over the seasons and asked Ernesta for her thoughts.

During season one, Emily wore a lot of athleisure. Nike was a staple brand in her wardrobe, alongside Kenzo, Ganni, Alica and Olivia, Rag and Bone and, of course, Chanel. Costume designer Marilyn Fitoussi used specific pieces to cement Emily as an American trying to achieve a stereotypical French style, notes Ernesta.

“Emily’s style has evolved so much throughout the seasons. In Season 1, Emily arrived in Paris as a young, excited American girl, full of clichés with Eiffel Tower prints, berets and a Mona Lisa tote bag.”

The use of berets, tweed and bold patterns keeps Emily firmly on the opposite side of the style spectrum to her French co-workers and friends, who opt for more neutral colors and simple silhouettes.

“While she was completely new and didn’t quite fit in, she still stood out fearlessly, embracing bold colors, playful prints and experimenting with different styles, often taking inspiration from icons like Audrey Hepburn.”

In season two, Emily’s style stayed more or less the same, with a few vintage pieces thrown in for good measure. Her colors scheme still consisted of a lot of bright pinks, greens, and yellows, and her outfits were formed of concoctions of colors and patterns.

For the third season, Emily’s colors palette took a purple turn. She also donned a lot of puff sleeves and metallics. Brands like Miu Miu and Dolce & Gabbana were thrown into the mix. Ernesta pointed out that it was also the first time we saw Emily change her hair.

“Over time, her wardrobe became more refined and elevated, reflecting her personal growth and her life in Paris. Her hairstyle also makes a part of her style evolution; we already saw a shift begin in Season 3 when, in a moment of emotional confusion, she cut her bangs.”

The move to Rome in season four saw the introduction of a classier wardrobe for the main character.

“While in Italy, her wardrobe becomes more romantic and relaxed. She wears more polka dots, floral prints and soft silhouettes referencing classic Italian cinema. As costume designer Marylin Fitoussi shared in some interviews, she not only explored more Italian brands while in Italy but some looks in this season also pay tribute to icons like Sophia Loren and Claudia Cardinale, bringing timeless styling that feels both vintage and fresh,” Ernesta explained.

Influenced by Italian style, Emily’s look had the most obvious change during season five. Debuting a chic new hairstyle in the season premiere, Emily began dressing in a more muted color palette. Blacks, reds and whites were the most used tones with blues and greens thrown in. Her love for polka dots continued, and pieces from Victoria Beckham and Marc Jacobs were added to her roster.

Emily’s style has definitely evolved over the last five years. Ernesta suspects that her wardrobe changes were subtly influenced by Sylvie and also a reflection of how long she had been living in Paris by the fifth season.

“Paris is no longer just a place where she works; it’s her home. She now fully understands the elegance and sophistication of French fashion but never loses her Emily spark with the bold prints, bright colors and unexpected silhouettes.”

While Emily’s style will probably remain a divisive topic for seasons to come, Ernesta believes there is something great to be said about her loyalty to her personal style.

“She continues to wear color, prints and bold pieces, but there is a new balance of Parisian tailoring, beautiful suits, structured coats and sleek monochrome looks. It is more elevated, mature and elegant, but still full of the personality and joy that defines Emily.”

Emily Cooper’s Style Evolution Proves that Personal Style is Irreplaceable.

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