Emily in Paris is the hit Netflix romantic comedy-drama series created by Darren Star (of Sex and the City fame), starring Lily Collins as Emily Cooper, a bubbly American marketing executive who moves to Paris for work and navigates love, friendship, career drama, and cultural clashes—all while serving iconic fashion looks.
Quick Overview
Premise: Emily lands a dream job at a luxury marketing firm in Paris (Savoir, later Agence Grateau), bringing her social media savvy to a traditional French workplace. Chaos, romance, and couture ensue.
Seasons: 5 seasons total (as of December 2025). Season 1–3 focused on Paris; Season 4 introduced Italy; Season 5 (premiered December 18, 2025—just days ago!) splits time between Paris and Rome (with some Venice too).
Why it's addictive: Escapist fun, stunning locations, over-the-top outfits, endless love triangles, and that perfect bingeable vibe.
Latest: Season 5 Highlights (No Major Spoilers)
This season follows Emily heading Agence Grateau's new Rome office, diving into Italian romance with Marcello (Eugenio Franceschini), while old flames Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) and Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) complicate things. It's a "tale of two cities" with professional setbacks, heartbreak, and plenty of glamour. The finale ends on a cliffhanger teasing Greece—fans are already buzzing about a potential Season 6!
The move to Rome is already boosting tourism—home swap requests for the city skyrocketed over 3,000% among some travelers after announcements!
Main Cast
Lily Collins as Emily Cooper – The optimistic, Instagram-obsessed lead.
Lucas Bravo as Gabriel – The hot chef neighbor and eternal love interest.
Lucien Laviscount as Alfie – The charming British banker.
Ashley Park as Mindy Chen – Emily's bestie and aspiring singer.
Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu as Sylvie – The fierce boss.
Plus returning faves like Camille, Luc, Julien, and new additions in Season 5.
It's pure fluffy escapism—critics call it cliché-filled, but viewers love the fashion, food, and fantasy. All seasons are streaming on Netflix now. Team Gabriel, Team Alfie, or Team Marcello? What's your favorite season so far?
Emily Cooper's Iconic Outfits from Emily in Paris
Emily's wardrobe (styled by Marylin Fitoussi, with early input from Patricia Field) is all about bold colors, playful prints, maximalist layering, and unapologetic fun—perfect escapist fashion that's inspired countless trends and dupes.
Here are some of the most memorable looks across the seasons, including fresh ones from Season 5 (set in Rome, channeling Italian glamour with polka dots, vibrant oranges, and vintage cinema vibes): Classic Parisian bold mixes and statement pieces. Fan-favorite dramatic and colorful ensembles. Season 5 highlights: Rome's influence brings fiery reds, polka dots, and Italian elegance.
Emily's style evolves but stays true to her fearless spirit—mixing high-end (Chanel, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana) with playful accessories. Which one's your favorite to recreate?
The Friendship of Emily and Mindy in Emily in Paris
Emily Cooper (Lily Collins) and Mindy Chen (Ashley Park) have one of the show's most beloved relationships—a supportive, fun, and ride-or-die best friendship that's often hailed as the true heart of the series.
How It Started?
They meet in Season 1 when Mindy, a nanny from Shanghai pursuing her singing dreams in Paris, accidentally knocks food out of Emily's hand in a park. Mindy quickly becomes Emily's first real friend in the city, helping her navigate cultural shocks, language barriers, and loneliness. Mindy encourages Emily's boldness, while Emily pushes Mindy to chase her music career (like performing publicly despite past failures).
What Makes It Special?
Support System: They're each other's "safe place"—brunch confessions, late-night advice, glamorous nights out, and cheering through career highs/lows and romantic chaos.
Fun Vibes: Endless shopping, singing, dancing, and stylish adventures (Mindy often matches Emily's bold energy with her own edgy looks).
Growth: They enable each other to flourish independently while staying loyal.
The Big Test in Season 5
The latest season (just out!) puts their bond through its toughest challenge yet. In Rome, Mindy develops feelings for Alfie (Emily's ex from Season 3), leading to a secret fling. The secrecy—not the romance itself—hurts Emily the most, sparking their first major fight and a temporary rift. It's realistic drama about honesty in friendships, but they reconcile, emerging stronger (as Ashley Park says, "cracks make something stronger").
Lily Collins and Ashley Park (real-life BFFs) have said filming the fallout was emotional but important for showing depth. Fans love how it proves their friendship endures beyond boys and drama.
It's the most consistent, uplifting relationship on the show—pure girl power! Are you Team Emily-Mindy forever?
How is the response in Paris?
The Reception of Emily in Paris in Paris/France
Overall, the response in Paris and among the French has been mixed to negative, especially from critics and many locals, who see it as full of outdated stereotypes. However, there's growing acceptance (or tolerance) due to its massive positive impact on tourism.
Main Criticisms
Stereotypes Galore: French reviewers and Parisians often call it "ridicule" (ridiculous), complaining about portrayals of French people as rude, lazy (late to work, long lunches), chain-smoking, unfaithful cheaters, and arrogant snobs. Emily is seen as an "American savior" imposing her ways on "backward" Parisians.
Unrealistic Paris: Clean streets, perfect English everywhere, endless romance, glamorous lifestyles—no real diversity, no everyday struggles. Early seasons got slammed hard (e.g., 2020 reviews called it "embarrassing" and cliché-heavy like old movies).
Fashion & Culture Offenses: Emily's bold outfits were mocked as "tasteless" by some Parisians; even berets offended people!
Positive Side & Shift Over Time
Tourism Boom: This is the big reason opinions have softened. A 2024 study showed 38% of tourists cited the show as influencing their visit to Paris. Filming spots (like Place de l'Estrapade, Jardin du Luxembourg) are now official tourist attractions. Businesses near locations love the extra customers. Even President Emmanuel Macron has defended it (playfully "fighting" to keep Emily in Paris when the show moved partly to Rome in Season 5).
Guilty Pleasure for Some: Younger French viewers or expats find it fun escapism. Some say stereotypes go both ways (Americans as naïve/workaholic). By 2024–2025, articles note many French have "come to like it" for the economic boost.
With Season 5 (Rome-Focused)
The latest season (December 2025) splits time between Paris and Rome, which relieved some "fashion police" pressure on Parisian style critiques. But core complaints about fluffiness and clichés persist—though global fans keep bingeing!
In short: Parisians mostly eye-roll at the fantasy version of their city, but they're not complaining too loudly about the tourist euros pouring in. It's escapist TV, not a documentary—bon pour le tourisme!
Top 10 female-oriented tourism marketing webseries
Here are the top 10 web series/TV shows that stand out for their female-oriented narratives combined with strong tourism marketing impact. These often feature women discovering new places through romance, self-growth, fashion, or adventure, inspiring viewers (especially women) to travel and explore destinations. They promote locations via glamorous visuals, cultural immersion, and escapist storytelling, much like Emily in Paris has done for France and Italy.
Emily in Paris (Netflix)
The ultimate modern example: A young American woman's glamorous life in Paris (and later Rome) has massively boosted tourism to the City of Light, with visitors flocking to filming spots like Jardin du Luxembourg and Place de l'Estrapade.
Sex and the City (HBO/Max)
Iconic for showcasing New York City as a playground for ambitious women, it sparked "SATC tours" and influenced fashion-forward tourism in Manhattan for decades.
Eat Pray Love (Film adaptation, but series-like inspiration; available on streaming)
Julia Roberts' journey of self-discovery in Italy (food), India (spirituality), and Bali (love) dramatically increased tourism to these spots, especially appealing to women seeking solo transformative travel.
XO, Kitty (Netflix)
A teen spin-off from To All the Boys, following a young woman studying abroad in Seoul—promoting Korean culture, K-dramas, and youth travel with romance and self-discovery.
Valeria (Netflix)
Spanish series about a writer and her friends navigating life, love, and careers in vibrant Madrid, inspiring visits for its chic, relatable female friendships and city vibes.
The Bold Type (Hulu/Freeform)
Three ambitious women in New York City's magazine world; glossy NYC portrayal encourages career-driven female travelers to explore the Big Apple.
Younger (Paramount+)
A woman reinventing herself in NYC's publishing scene—fashion, fun, and empowerment that highlights the city's energy for women chasing dreams.
Places to Love with Samantha Brown (PBS/streaming)
Long-running travel series hosted by a female explorer, showcasing hidden gems worldwide with an approachable, inspiring lens for women travelers.
Thirst with Shay Mitchell (Max)
Actress Shay Mitchell explores global drink cultures and destinations, blending adventure, food, and female-led discovery.
Mysterious Islands with Kellee Edwards (Travel Channel/streaming)
A Black female host (pilot and diver) uncovers island secrets respectfully, promoting adventurous, inclusive travel for women.
These shows blend female empowerment, romance, and stunning locations to market tourism subtly yet effectively perfect for wanderlust! If you're planning a trip inspired by one, start with Paris or NYC for that classic escapist feel. Which destination appeals to you most?