Why Camille’s the true style star of Emily In Paris
THE EMILY IN PARIS phenomenon is in session once again. Last year, it was the show that everybody loved to hate. A reported 58 million households tuned in to the series during its first month on Netflix – October 2020 – with viewers immediately railing against its cultural stereotypes and overly plucky characterisation of Parisian expat Emily Cooper. Now in its second season, the show seems to have already made itself a bona fide cult classic. Whether you chalk it up to a widespread desire for escapism or the chance to immerse yourself in the stylish world of costume designer Patricia Field (whose styling defined Sex And The City), there’s no denying its mass appeal.
If you can’t stand Emily herself, season two offers more in the way of character development of the women around her. Are you a no-bullshit, smoke-in-the-office Sylvie, sass-laden former Pop Idol Mindy, or a Camille, with her pared-back chic and quick wit? Played by Camille Razat, she has emerged as the most likable character on the show, not to mention becoming a true style icon. In her first season two appearance she wears a statement Balmain jacket, high-waisted Patou trousers and larger-than-life Zeus + Dione sunglasses, which prove a chic reprieve from the saccharine sweetness of Emily’s ensembles. ‘It was one of my favourite looks,’ says Camille when Grazia catches up with her. ‘So fresh, young and powerful.’
Patricia Field is an expert in sartorially defining female leads, a skill honed during her six-year stint as costume designer on SATC. Camille, meanwhile, brings over a decade of fashion experience, having modelled since she was 16 for brands such as Celine and Cartier. Now 27, she says, ‘What I love most is that I am allowed to introduce new designers to the team and shine a light on them, too.’ This season, she spotlights rising French designer and friend Alphonse Maîtrepierre, a former assistant to Jean Paul Gaultier – ‘He’s a genius,’ she says – as well as Coperni and Patou: ‘I love Patou.’
When it comes to beauty, Camille’s on-screen looks are based, perhaps predictably, on the French girl aesthetic of effortless waves and minimal make-up. ‘That’s the biggest misconception though,’ laughs Camille. ‘French women do put the effort into their hair, make-up and fitness – they just don’t talk about it as loudly as British or American women.’ She insists French girl beauty is a very personal thing and that, for her, it’s about using just a few high-quality products in exactly the right way.
‘I’m a real fan of L’oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renew Midnight Serum. I massage it into my skin with a gua sha tool, which I find helps to lift and de-puff.’ And make-up? ‘I love L’oréal Paris Volume Million Lashes Balm Noir Mascara Brown, which makes my eyes look bigger and sexier. If I have an event in the evening and don’t have time to change, I layer it up to make myself look edgier, a little rock’n’roll.’ And finally, her four non-negotiables are the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, L’oréal Paris Elvive Colour Protect Wonder Water, Byredo’s Mojave Ghost fragrance and Augustinus Bader’s The Body Cream.
Camille and Emily Cooper might be rivals in a love triangle on-screen but, off it, she and Lily Collins ‘hit it off instantly’, she says. Filming for the new season reunited Camille, Lily and Ashley Park – who plays nanny-turned-singer Mindy Chen – in the South of France. ‘We hadn’t seen each other for a year and a half because of the pandemic,’ explains Camille. ‘We were so happy to be back shooting together.’ In a break from the romcom series rule book, the dynamics of female friendship take centre stage in Emily In Paris. ‘Friendship is not meant to be perfect,’ stresses Camille, ‘it demands work and resilience. That’s what the show’s all about.’ Fallibility, c’est chic.