‘Emily in Paris’: How Lily Collins’ Bob Haircut Inspired a Season 5 Full Style Makeover
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- Marylin Fitoussi, the Emmy-nominated costume designer who has worked on 'Emily in Paris' since Season 1, said Season 5's wardrobe was dictated by Lily Collins' sharp bob, which 'symbolized a new chapter' and unlocked bolder fashion choices.
- Season 5 shifted toward Italian-inspired aesthetics, signature prints, bold block colors, and more black — reflecting Emily's pivot from business goals to 'achieving something at a personal level' with a character who 'is not hiding.'
- The bold red Barbara Bui blazer Emily wears at season's end was what Fitoussi called 'a manifesto' — a strong silhouette meant to shock audiences and project 'a confident, strong woman who is not hiding behind girl stuff.'
- The blazer carried narrative weight: Fitoussi noted that red was originally Sylvie Grateau's restricted color, and Emily 'taking the private color from my boss' reflected her evolving mentor relationship and growing confidence.
- Fitoussi earned an Emmy nomination for Episode 10, in which Emily attends a Venice Fashion Week show creator Darren Star conceived as a mix of the Palio di Siena's bareback horse race and Polo Ralph Lauren aesthetics.
- Fitoussi had three weeks to research and design that Episode 10 collection, incorporating patchwork and a 'Singin' in the Rain' tribute celebrating French, American, and Italian cultures in a 'subtle Venetian palette' of pastels and soft colors.
Why it matters: The bob haircut functioned as a narrative shortcut unlocking Season 5's bolder aesthetic, and Fitoussi's Emmy nomination for Episode 10's Venice Fashion Week confirms the costume work itself is now a critical asset for the show — with the Barbara Bui red blazer pulling double duty as both a character beat against Sylvie and Season 5's visual climax.
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