Cover Picture-postcard Paris, handsome men at every turn, long lunches fueled by wine and cigarettes—Emily in Paris is brimming with Parisian clichés. Beyond the romanticised Paris of TV shows and advertisements, the French capital reveals a far different reality (Photo: Instagram / @emilyinparis)
Picture-postcard Paris, handsome men at every turn, long lunches fueled by wine and cigarettes—Emily in Paris is brimming with Parisian clichés. Beyond the romanticised Paris of TV shows and advertisements, the French capital reveals a far different reality (Photo: Instagram / @emilyinparis)
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Picture-postcard Paris, handsome men at every turn, long lunches fuelled by wine and cigarettes—‘Emily in Paris’ is brimming with clichés. Beyond the romanticised ‘City of Lights’ of TV shows and advertisements, we reveal a far different reality to the French capital
For many, Paris is a dream city: a place of stunning architecture, captivating history and a culture steeped in art and gastronomy. Emily in Paris has fuelled this dream by portraying a seemingly effortless existence of instant relationships, exclusive parties and seamless integration into French society. This romantic vision, however, contrasts sharply with the reality on the ground. As Alexandre Dumas, the famous French novelist, astutely observed, “God invented Parisians so that foreigners would not understand anything about the French”.
Beyond the cinematic clichés lies another Paris, a city where the gap between dreams and reality yawns wide. The Paris of long lunches, short working hours and romance around every corner is a seductive fantasy that has sucked us in—even as French expatriates—and forms the backbone of multiple books, movies and TV shows, including the love-it-or-hate-it Netflix hit. Here is what Emily in Paris got wrong about Paris, Parisians and the French lifestyle.
In case you missed it: A French fashion insider’s view on if ‘Emily in Paris’ depicts real Parisian style or just a fantasy
No, Parisian women are not all white, slim and living a bohemian lifestyle
Above Emily in Paris depicts an unrealistic version of Parisian women (Photo: Instagram / @emilyin.paris)
Emily in Paris depicts an unrealistic version of Parisian women (Photo: Instagram / @emilyin.paris)
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When you think of la Parisienne—a Parisian woman—what typically springs to mind is Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve, Inès de la Fressange and Charlotte Gainsbourg—in other words, elegant, sophisticated white women who never gain weight and who are often depicted leisurely smoking cigarettes and savouring exquisite wines on a terrace. This cliché can be found in Emily in Paris in the characters of Sylvie Grateau, Emily Cooper herself and most of the passersby in the streets of Paris.
The show has been criticised numerous times for whitewashing and homogenising the diverse streets of Paris. In her book I am not Parisian (2019), Alice Pfeiffer criticises pop culture for propagating a unique version of la Parisienne: inevitably white, slim and upper-class, living a bohemian lifestyle while never being short in cash—a version that does not match the reality.
“Who is this woman everybody talks about but actually never met?” she writes. For her, women living in Paris are culturally, physically, professionally, economically and sexually diverse, and clichés sustained in pop culture—and certainly in Emily in Paris—are not even close to reality.
No, French people aren’t lazy at work
Above There's a robust emphasis on work–life balance in the French culture (Photo: Instagram / @emilyin.paris)
There's a robust emphasis on work–life balance in the French culture (Photo: Instagram / @emilyin.paris)
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While Emily in Paris attempts to portray French workers as having flexible hours, arriving late, and enjoying extended lunch breaks fuelled by cigarettes and bottles of red wine, the reality is quite different. French professionals generally maintain a strong respect for work hours. In most French companies, the working day typically begins around 8.30 am and concludes around 7 pm. Furthermore, although France boasts excellent wines, excessive alcohol consumption is far from commonplace. The show’s romanticised depiction of Parisian office life is, frankly, ludicrous.
However, Emily in Paris touches on a crucial element of French culture: the strong emphasis on work-life balance. There is a clear separation between work and private life, with minimal contact outside working hours or at weekends. While personal time is highly valued, this doesn’t mean a lack of professional commitment.
No, Paris isn’t the most romantic city on earth
Above Emily in Paris suggests a city overflowing with handsome, readily available partners, a notion far removed from reality (Photo: Instagram / @emilyin.paris)
Emily in Paris suggests a city overflowing with handsome, readily available partners, a notion far removed from reality (Photo: Instagram / @emilyin.paris)
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Let’s face it: one of the main attractions of Emily in Paris (apart from Marilyn Fitoussi’s fabulous styling) is the show’s whirlwind of romantic entanglements between Emily, Gabriel, Alfie and Camille. The series suggests a city overflowing with handsome, readily available partners, a notion far removed from reality. Paris may be known as the city of love, but it’s not a constant parade of love-at-first-sight relationships. Navigating the initial politeness of a French date can be a challenge for foreigners. Living in France or dating a French person doesn’t automatically mean you will end up in a love triangle.
The stereotype of the charming French flirt is challenged by a survey run by dating app Happn which found that 57 per cent of French people do not like to flirt. This contrasts sharply with the portrayal in Emily in Paris of romantic Parisian experiences. The show’s depiction of first dates—romantic rooftop dinners, strolls across the Pont Alexandre III—is far from reality for many; you might not even get asked out by a local, as 30 per cent of French people describe themselves as shy.
No, Paris isn’t clean and calm
Above ‘Emily in Paris’ in shot in a clean, calm city—far from reality (Photo: Instagram / @emilyin.paris)
‘Emily in Paris’ in shot in a clean, calm city—far from reality (Photo: Instagram / @emilyin.paris)
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No strikes in sight, clean empty streets... Are we even talking about Paris?
With its most recent seasons, Emily in Paris lost sight of the real French capital: the one facing increasing homelessness and political tensions. There’s also no mention of its growing population of rats, which was recorded as being six million as of July 2024.
That’s not to say the Lily Collins vehicle is alone in depicting the City of Lights as dreamy: idealising Paris is part of a long-lasting creative tradition by writers, artists and filmmakers, with the sanitised capital appearing in works as different as Oscar-nominated film Amélie (2001) to Gustave Flaubert’s classic novel Madame Bovary (1856).
Actually, Paris has been so misrepresented in the global imagination that tourists sometimes experience a severe state of cultural shock, called “Paris syndrome”. The condition can lead to both physical reactions such as dizziness, nausea and palpitations, and psychologically, with anxiety and delusions being symptoms.
Read more: 3 beautiful French homes seen in Netflix hit series ‘Emily in Paris’
No, it’s not easy to live in France as an English speaker
Above For the sake of the show, many characters speak to Emily in English but the reality is that only a few Parisian are fluent in English (Photo: Instagram / @emilyin.paris)
For the sake of the show, many characters speak to Emily in English but the reality is that only a few Parisian are fluent in English (Photo: Instagram / @emilyin.paris)
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The appeal of the French accent is undeniable, but while English is becoming more common among younger generations, don’t expect to hear it everywhere. For the sake of the show, many characters speak to Emily in English. In reality, however, English speakers will find far fewer Parisians fluent in the language.
Expats will quickly discover that fluency in French is crucial for day-to-day interactions or making friends. And contrary to Emily’s constant luck in love, the likelihood of falling in love, rather than lust, with the first attractive Parisian you see is mince—that’s French for ain’t gonna happen.
