The internet is a-buzz with this sparkling jewel of a series – I mean, what’s not to love about a young beauty in Paris? The sights, the food, the wine, the clothes, the youngsters falling in love … As any good lover of fashion would do, I put on my fancy shoes, poured a glass of wine, cued it up on streaming, and binge watched the entire season while my husband was away on a business trip. Just what a gal needs from time to time!
Did I fall in love with this story — was it a match made in Netflix heaven? Ok, I’m not gonna lie, if I was watching this with MY mom we would have to fast-forward through the sex scenes LOL! But for those of you who know my story, you’ll recognize the similarities in the country girl going to the big city, and my [irtatious aaair with luxury fashion. You MIGHT wonder if I could truly relate to this 20-something girl gallivanting around the couture houses of Paris and night-clubbing her way through the hot and heavy social scene. Since I’m LITERALLY old enough to be her mother, that’s a fair question —
let’s dive in …
Adorable and clever, “Emily in Paris” is a fun girl-adventure about an adorable social media marketing gal thrown into the rarefed French fashion industry … now, Captain-Obvious-Moment, she IS in luxury beyond marketing and knows her way around the world of fashion, whereas when I was her age I didn’t have a clue about the difference between Valentino and Versace, or much about couture ANYTHING. But I completely understood how Emily feels when she can’t communicate, doesn’t understand the ogce “code” and generally just feels like she’s completely in over her head.
I recognized the clashing of cultures and genders, values and creativity – and the challenges of acquiring a new language, learning your way around (while feeling like you’re going in circles), following your dreams, owning your mistakes, and standing your ground. And I appreciated that the narrative works to address a toxic sexist work culture in its own way (well, almost) – at least holding it up for examination while coming at it with some witty humor to smooth the edges.
Along the way, Emily posts cute, authentic (ok, maybe a little cheesy) social posts about her day that magically drive up her number of followers (ha! I only wish it were that easy!). And as the story progresses and Emily learns her way around the big grown-up world, her clothes and “look” subtly change too … I got a kick out of the way her wardrobe effortlessly shifts from midwestern American girl-next- door to fun French chic. From fuzzy dreams to fantastical reality.
But “Emily in Paris” is more than just a social media rom-com — if you watch the show, here are a few things you’ll learn from the Emily adventure:
TRANSPARENCY IS OVERRATED
“You have no mystery – you are very obvious.” I love this line, because I’ve thought for a long time that transparency can be dangerous. Sometimes we need to keep our own counsel, hold onto our own truths, write our own stories, and make sure that the people with whom we choose to share ourselves are willing to really listen, to really hear us.
LISTEN MORE, TALK LESS
Haha – easier said than done! In Emily’s enthusiasm and nervousness, she over-compensates by chattering away … Lots. Of. Words. I recognize myself in that — one of the first dates I went on as a young teenager was with a cute boy from church. I was SO excited for this date I could barely breathe! It was just as I’d pictured it … he pulled up the front drive in his car, came to the door to say hello to my parents, opened my car door, and off we went. It started oa like a dream. And then … silence. Apparently, Jeff was not a big talker. At ALL. All the way TO the movie, all the way HOME from the movie, I tried to make conversation, ask questions, make things “comfortable.” Well girlfriends, he never asked chatty “moi” out again. Fast forward — he started dating this quiet little blonde thing who barely said a word – but had the cutest giggle. Turns out, what made HIM comfortable was sharing quiet spaces. And I’ve learned the same goes for some friends and kiddos and bosses – you get the picture. Silence is golden, as they say. Yes, indeed … you’ll never go wrong listening more, and talking less.
TAKE YOURSELF HOME
Emily’s the girl who takes herself home rather than compromise who she is … and let me tell you, I wish I had listened to my girlfriends like Emily! Don’t fall for the fantasy and give yourself away too easily … don’t get fooled by the smooth talker, or the big ego hiding behind a charming smile. Listen to your gut – if they say or do something that jolts you way down deep (if you get that “full body NO”)– then just get up and take your sweet-smart-empowered-self home, girlfriend.
FEMME VOYAGE
Yep, that’s how you say “girls trip” in French! Sounds SO much swankier! When Mindy’s friends force her to sing at the cabaret club, my heart melted … that’s what your girls do … get you to sing your heart out, push you beyond your fears, help you hold on (or let go!), or whatever it is you need to do so that you can JUST BE YOU. Hey, and with those same girls it’s okay to drink Sancerre for breakfast – ‘cause it’s a “breakfast wine” LOL
DON’T RUN AWAY FROM THE HARD PART
“American romantic comedies are so dishonest” – yup, happy endings are SO American Now the French, they say, want to inhale life. Their idea of a good romance story is watching the hero “tortured for his love.” While fantasy romance IS fun, I agree that thinking you can escape life’s challenges and just skip to the happy ending isn’t the answer. It’s the “hanging in there” that makes life worth living, the pain that creates the poetry. Because no matter how hard you try, tomorrow comes and reality comes with it. And I’ve learned the hard way that facing life head-on is the only way to make it – don’t kick that reality-can down the road. Yep, the only way out is straight THROUGH it, ladies.
AND FOR THE FINALE, DON’T FORGET YOUR FANCY EUROPEAN “TOASTS”
Santé! Skol! Saluti! If you didn’t know them already, now you can just throw some of these sophisticated Euro-toasts out into the air next time you’re at a dinner party.
Or just yell “PARIS HERE WE COME!” and I’ll meet ya on the Champs … and in the meantime, we can jump into Emily’s French follies and laugh out loud. Enchanté, girlfriends!