Alright, we admit we’ve already hate-watched the second season of Emily in Paris and, although everyone is talking about Emily’s outfits, we think the real style hero of the Netflix series is Sylvie Grateau, the coolest character of the show. Played by French actress Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, the chic boss lady at the luxury marketing agency Savoir is a fashion inspiration for professionals and 40+ and 50+ women. But, on the other hand, Emily Cooper’s OTT looks are not only loud but also tacky. In other words, Emily is “ringarde”, or out of fashion, tasteless, as French couture designer Pierre Cadault defines her in the series. So, what exactly is wrong with her style, and how can you be as stylish and classy as Sylvie Grateau in Emily in Paris?
Don’t be afraid to look sexy in your 40s and 50s
The coolest character in Emily in Paris is undoubtedly the fashion icon of the series. Sylvie Grateau is a welcome break from the painfully loud outfits of Emily and her BFF, Mindy Chen. Playing the part of the chic – yet stereotypical – French femme fatale, the 57-year-old Philippine Leroy Beaulieu oozes sexiness. But, like most Parisian women, her subtle sexiness is effortless, sophisticated, and certainly far from vulgar. She is a successful businesswoman who keeps her femininity despite being a demanding boss.
Sylvie Grateau style is the best office look inspo
Intelligent and provocative, the powerful Sylvie Grateau navigates the professional world in style. She wears pencil skirts with feminine shirts, cleavage-revealing tops, bodycon dresses, stilettos and statement cuffs while smoking nonchalantly and mocking political correctness.
Even wearing power suits, she manages to put a feminine spin on her office looks. Then, she throws a trench coat over a one-shoulder emerald green dress with a side slit by Alexandre Vauthier at a gala event. The masculine outwear combined with an ultra-sexy gown creates a fantastic high-low look.
To sum up, Sylvie Grateau’s style is the coolest fashion inspiration for women of all ages, but especially for women over 40 and 50 who want office outfits that are both sexy and sophisticated like Philippine Leroy Beaulieu’s character in Emily in Paris.
Finally, it’s not only Sylvie’s fashion choices that make her so chic; the way she goes about life is also very elegant. For example, in a very French-woman move, she makes fun of the spinning bike Emily is excited to advertise. But, at the end of the episode, she’s taken the bike home to exercise without telling anyone. In the same vein, you’d never see her in gym clothes carrying a yoga mat proudly under her arms.
Likewise, Sylvie Grateau has a glass of wine with lunch and doesn’t bore people talking about diets. But she certainly takes great care of herself; her hair and makeup seem effortless but are always impeccable, and her mature skin looks healthy and glowy. As a result, she surprises Emily with her fantastic figure when wearing a tiny-weeny bikini in Saint Tropez.
Why is Emily Cooper “ringarde”?
Firstly, let’s begin with Emily Cooper’s outfits. Don’t get me wrong; I find Lily Collins adorable. But her character in Emily in Paris couldn’t be more out of touch with reality – and fashion. Emily always appears in wacky cartoonish ensembles despite her fabulous designer bag collection. She wears bright colours and clashing prints. Her high-heels are too high, her hair is too done, and so is her makeup. In other words, everything about her is over-the-top, not to mention her take on the French-girl style, which is simply awful.
I mean, who on earth would ever go around wearing an Eiffel Tower blouse, animal prints with clashing neon hues and more prints, berets, driving gloves, oversized sunglasses, and heeled booties, all at once, let alone in Paris? Emily has obviously never heard of Coco Chanel’s maxim, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.”
Marylin Fitoussi and Patricia Field, the costume designers behind Sex And the City and Emily’s outfits, stated that “Too much good taste can be boring“. I beg to differ. Classic style doesn’t have to be boring; you only need to know how to style it. And Philippine Leroy Beaulieu, AKA Sylvie Grateau, is the best example of how good taste helps you look sophisticated, sexy and modern.