Forget Emily: we all know that the real star of the hit Netflix series Emily In Paris is Sylvie Grateau, the impeccably dressed, brilliantly bitchy, uber-confident and always fabulous Parisian PR maven, played by Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu. Not only does her formidable on-screen persona continue to steal the show, but so too has Sylvie’s extravagant couture-filled wardrobe, so it was only fitting that the 61-year-old French actor do her character justice on the red carpet – fashion-wise at least, for personality-wise, thankfully, the two could not be more different.
Last night, Leroy-Beaulieu joined Ashley Park, Camille Razat, Lily Collins and the rest of the show’s stars on the red carpet in Rome, clad in Balenciaga and Pomellato jewels for the premiere of Emily In Paris season four, part two. Ahead of the event – and the show’s much-anticipated return to screens on September 12 – the actor sat down with ELLE UK for an exclusive interview, to talk Roman vs Parisian style, Alfie vs Gabriel, the surprising fashion philosophy she lives by, and why you’ll never catch her stealing anything from Sylvie’s wardrobe…
FIND OUT MORE ON ELLE COLLECTIVE
On her look for the night…
‘We were looking for a theatrical moment for this premiere in Rome. Because Rome has a sort of drama that for me has to do with the beauty of a long dress, and at the same time there’s a twist of the Balenciaga dress which doesn’t take itself seriously. There’s a sense of humour in the dress that I really like and a beauty in the shape that makes it quite powerful. The jewellery is Pomellato from the Galleria high jewellery collection. I’m wearing a bracelet, earrings and ring that are made with the brand’s signature chains but also with these very beautiful, rare, velvety grey stones and diamonds for added drama. The designs are inspired by the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan and are typical of the amazing Milanese craftsmanship that this beautiful house is famous for.’
On the process behind red carpet dressing…
‘There’s a lot of back and forth with my stylist when preparing for a big event. I’ve been working with Clement Lomellini for two years, who is a super talented young stylist, and we have very similar taste and agree on a lot of things. When we disagree, it’s very constructive, so it’s always fun. We like to surprise each other and other people, and say “let’s not do the same thing as last time, let’s go somewhere else, let’s play another woman”. I’m an actress, so I like to play roles, even on a red carpet. I definitely don’t prioritise comfort – it’s all about the part I want to play that night, and making it as fun and beautiful as possible.’
On her red carpet inspiration…
‘Cate Blanchett has always astonished me. I think she’s quite amazing, not only as an actor but also with fashion. She’s also somebody that likes to surprise, and I love that. She’s uber elegant with a sense of humour, which I love too. This is also my motto, to always have a sense of humour.’
On her personal style…
‘I’m getting simpler and simpler with my style. I can’t think about what I’m wearing in the morning when I’m getting dressed. It’s about having good shirts, good sweaters, good jeans, good shoes – beautiful pieces that are very simple and comfortable. When I’m working, I’m not always very comfortable, so I absolutely have to be in life. Day to day I will usually wear flat shoes or boots, with some nice jeans and a beautiful jacket. I have a super simple one by Saint Laurent that I love and wear a lot. Quality is also important, because I was raised in Rome and Italy with people who have an incredible talent for, and love of, high quality.’
On her fashion philosophy…
‘Don’t try to be fashionable. That’s something my mum taught me. Don’t just follow trends, be your own trend. And also to invest in beautiful pieces that can last forever, instead of having a closet full of things you forget about after wearing it once. Quality over quantity, always.’
On Roman vs Parisian style…
‘Women in Italy, especially in Rome, want to be very feminine, while in Paris it’s more of a tomboy look. For me, that’s what really defines the Parisian style – the Inès de la Fressange look of a jacket and jeans. Women in Paris like to be comfortable and kind of boyish, in a chic and beautiful way. In Italy, it’s about being a woman, that kind of “plus plus” woman, and they’re not scared of being a little tacky sometimes, which I love because it gives a sense of humour.
‘It’s also what the British do – they’re not scared of being fun and a bit daring. The Parisians are always scared of being vulgar, so they go more classic, but the Italians and the British don’t have that complex. I’d say I’m a mix of these two styles – classy, but with a tacky twist. I always tell my stylist: “we need the tacky twist.”‘
On Sylvie’s wardrobe…
‘There are a lot of differences between my style and Sylvie’s. I’m not Sylvie in real life – she has nothing to do with me. It’s a Parisian image that we created, and I don’t really think it’s completely accurate, but there are women in Paris who dress like that and I think it makes sense that Sylvie would be one of them. It would be boring to have a character who dresses like the majority in jeans and a beautiful jacket – it’s more fun to have someone who’s strong and bold in her clothing and choices. I wouldn’t wear any of her clothes in real life. Actually, I did buy a simple, wraparound Helmut Lang shirt she wore in season one, but it’s just been hanging in my closet for years and I’ve never worn it.’
Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu as Sylvie Grateau in Emily In Paris season 4
On filming season four of Emily In Paris…
‘My best memory was being in Rome, going back to my roots. It was really magical, the light was fantastic. We’d just come out of a really hard winter of shooting in Paris, where the weather was horrible, so when we arrived in Rome it just felt like a relief for me. My heart always beats faster when I’m in Rome.’
On who she would choose between Alfie and Gabriel…
‘I’m Team Sylvie. I don’t really care what Emily does with her love life. She’s too messy. If I had to choose anyone, I would choose my old pals Julien and Luc. They always have my back.’
ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.
Clementina Jackson is Acting Site Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, working across news and features, trends, e-commerce and SEO. She was previously Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health, and Acting Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, where she was named as a PPA 30 Under 30 award winner for her work on size inclusivity. An experienced fashion, travel and luxury lifestyle journalist, Clementina has also written for Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveller, Tatler, Red and Italy Segreta.