Ah, Emily Cooper—the bubbly, overly optimistic, and always fashionable American heroine we know and love from Emily in Paris. Like so many, I’ve been completely OBSESSED since the show first hit Netflix. 

Travel, fashion, love triangles—what’s not to love?!

But beyond the fantasy of Emily living out my Parisian daydreams (like seriously, I want her life!), as a brand designer, I couldn’t help but notice something else…there’s a lot we can learn about personal branding from this beloved fictional character.

So, after watching four seasons (and maybe a few re-watches… just saying), I had a thought, what if Emily ditched her corporate job at Agence Grateau and decided to build her own brand?

Can you imagine? Ooh la la! 

We’ve watched her evolve over the seasons, and in my mind, she’s ready to blend her American hustle with her newfound Parisian sophistication, all while globe-trotting as a digital nomad.

Whether you’re building a brand from scratch or looking to refresh your current one, there are some trés chic lessons to learn from Emily’s character in the show and how you can apply them to your own personal brand.

In this post, I’ll take you through how I reimagined Emily’s personal brand—just as if she were my real client—and share tips on how you can apply these same strategies to your own brand.

Ready? Let’s dive in!

My Branding Process: Crafting Emily Cooper’s Brand Identity

Now, I know you’re dying to see the final result (patience, mon chéri!), but let’s start with a little peek behind the curtain at my branding process. Trust me, it’s more fun than you think!

1. The Branding Questionnaire:

First things first, I always start every branding project with a solid foundation. If Emily were my real client, I’d want to know EVERYTHING about her. Her tone of voice, personal style, competitors, goals—the whole shebang.

Here’s a sneak peek into some of the questions I’d ask Emily and what I imagine her responses would be:

• Tone of Voice: What does Emily Cooper sound like? Fun, quirky, with a dash of Parisian sophistication.
• Competitors: Who is Emily competing with in the marketing world? Likely other bold, chic, fashion-forward marketers and consultants.
• Style Inspiration: What does her personal style look like? Bold colors, playful patterns, and iconic fashion nods (looking at you, Audrey Hepburn).
• Audience: Who is Emily targeting? Fashion brands, influencers, and small businesses looking to level up their marketing.

2. Mood Board Creation:

After gathering all that juicy info, I would ask Emily to create a Pinterest board and share it with me, so that I can really get a feel for her vibe and overall visual aesthetic. 

Using Emily’s pins and what I know about her style from the show, I’d create a mood board to set the tone for the entire brand direction, pulling images from the Pinterest board she shared and her real life that reflect her Paris-meets-Chicago vibe. 

Think bold, bright colors mixed with sleek, elegant Parisian aesthetics. Her wardrobe is a MAJOR source of inspiration, and I build her color palette around these elements.

3. Logo Design:

With colors in hand, it’s time to create a logo that’s as memorable as Emily’s outfits. The goal? Balance sophistication with playfulness – just like Emily herself. 

The result? A logo that feels high-end but still approachable.

4. Brand in Action:

Here’s where it gets exciting. I’d create mockups of how the brand would look in real life. Business cards, marketing materials, merch, etc. I want Emily to see her brand coming to life.

5. Website Mockup:

Since Emily’s going freelance, she needs a killer website. I’d create a mockup that’s as eye-catching as her outfits, with clean lines, bold colors, and a user-friendly interface.

6. Brand Guide:

To tie it all together, the last step in the process is to create a comprehensive brand guide. This includes everything from font choices to image styles, ensuring Emily’s brand stays consistent across all platforms.

And there you have it – the inside scoop on how Emily Cooper’s brand would come to life. It’s a process that blends strategy, creativity, and a whole lot of fun!

Spoiler: if we were to work together, the process for creating your personal brand would look pretty similar! If you want to experience it for yourself, click here to connect.

Now, let’s dive into the juicy lessons we can learn from Emily’s brand!

What Emily in Paris Can Teach You About Building a Personal Brand

1. Your Personal Brand is Already Part of You (Ooh La La)

Emily’s life is full of bright colors, quirky accessories, and bold statements—and let’s be real, that’s not just her wardrobe. It’s who she is. 

Your personal brand works the same way. It’s not something you invent; it’s already there, waiting to be uncovered.

In Emily’s case, I blended her colorful, quirky American roots with her newfound Parisian sophistication. Her brand is bold, fun, and playful, but with a touch of elegance that comes from her Parisian influence.

Emily embraces both her Midwestern charm and her flair for French fashion. So, when I created her branding, I relied heavily on her personal style to create her color palette because your personal style is a massive part of your personal brand. 

✨Branding Tip:

If you’re creating a personal brand, don’t be afraid to lean into what makes you, you. Maybe that means bold colors, maybe that means something a little more subtle. Think about how your personal experiences shape your personal brand. 

What’s your story? What’s your personal style? How do you decorate your home? How do you sign off from emails?

Let those elements guide you because a personal brand is just that, personal, which means it should be authentic to YOU.

2. Brand Evolution (AKA Why Refining Your Brand is Très Chic)

Season 4 Emily? She’s still bold, but there’s something different about her now—she’s refined, a little more polished. We even see several nods to Audrey Hepburn, a massive style icon who perfectly embodies that blend of elegance and boldness. 

For example, Emily’s black-and-white New York Masquerade Ball look, inspired by My Fair Lady, or her chic ski outfit, which is a beautiful homage to Hepburn in Charade. 

These moments aren’t just about fashion—they’re a reflection of Emily’s growing sophistication and her evolving personal brand.

This evolution is such an important part of personal branding—your brand isn’t something you create once and leave untouched. It’s meant to grow with you. 

Emily’s playfulness is still there but with a touch of Parisian elegance that wasn’t as present in her earlier seasons. Just as your personal style evolves over time, so will your personal brand.

✨Branding Tip:

Don’t be afraid to evolve—In fact, embrace it! You’re not the same person you were a few years ago, and your brand should reflect that growth. Whether that means refining your messaging or incorporating a higher level of sophistication (like Emily) your brand will shift and grow as you do.

3. Marrying Worlds: From Chicago to Paris, and Everywhere in Between

One of the things I loved about creating Emily’s brand was the mix of her American AND Parisian sides. She’s got that Chicago hustle, but she’s fully embracing the Parisian joie de vivre (joy of living). Her brand needed to reflect both worlds!

So when it came to designing Emily’s brand, I wanted to reflect that duality. Bold colors and playful elements tie in her American roots, while the sleek typography in her logo and minimalist layout of her website is a nod to her Parisian sophistication.

✨Branding Tip:

Maybe you’re not splitting your time between two countries (lucky Emily!), but your brand can still marry different aspects of your life. Think about how different aspects of your life come together to shape your brand.

Maybe it’s the place you grew up, your experiences, or even your current lifestyle. Marrying those worlds creates a personal brand that feels layered, authentic, and uniquely you.

4. The Power of Brand Descriptor Words

Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty: brand words. 

These are the words that describe the essence of your brand, and they’re suuuuper important for helping people understand what you’re all about. 

For Emily, I’d break her brand descriptors down like this:

• Bold: From her outfits to her career choices, Emily’s never afraid to take risks and make a statement.
• Adventurous: She’s hopping between Paris, Chicago, Rome, and beyond! In this new era, she’s fully embracing the idea of being a digital nomad.
• Optimistic: No matter the challenge, Emily keeps her head up and her enthusiasm high.
• Sophisticated: As her style and taste evolve from her Parisian influence, so does her level of sophistication.
• Playful: Emily’s love of bold colors and quirky styles reflects her joyful and creative personality, making her brand relatable and engaging.

✨Branding Tip:

When it comes to your brand, think about your own brand descriptors. What are the top 3-5 words that describe the core of who you are and what you’re all about? I’m talking about core values, personal style, personality, etc.

These words should be specific, and intentional and feel authentic to you as they will guide your decisions on everything from messaging to colors to fonts. If you’re struggling to find your brand words, read this blog post for a full breakdown.   

5. Applying Emily’s Brand to Her Services

To complete Emily’s branding, I created a strategic website landing page that highlights her services. But to take it one step further, I wanted to showcase how she can make the names of her services, fun playful, and very on-brand:

01. Digital Love Letters (Social Media Strategy):

• Description: A social media strategy service that cuts through the clutter and helps brands create heartfelt, visually stunning posts that connect with their audience.

• Why It Works: The name ties in with Emily’s playful, travel-inspired aesthetic while evoking the feeling of sending out personalized, engaging content like a love letter.

02. Postcards from Paris (Content Creation): 

• Description: A content creation service where Emily curates beautiful, on-brand visuals, captions, and stories that make your social media feed stand out.

• Why It Works: The name not only fits Emily’s aesthetic but also reinforces her travel and adventure vibes while offering a service that helps brands communicate their story.

03. Café Consult (Brand Consulting):

• Description: A personalized 1:1 brand strategy session where Emily helps clients analyze their brand and create a growth plan. Over coffee or (wine!), she’ll dive into the brand’s strengths, target audience, and messaging. By the end, they’ll have a custom plan to implement. 

• Why It Works: Café Consult channels Emily’s effortless Parisian style, offering a laid-back yet thoughtful approach. It’s all about strategic thinking in a cozy, collaborative setting—approachable, but still chic.

✨Branding Tip:

Don’t be afraid to have fun with the names of your services! You can keep them very on-brand by creating a theme, like I did for Emily. Just make sure they are clear enough that your audience knows exactly what you offer. Bonus points if the names tie into your brand’s story or aesthetic!

Channel Your Inner Emily: Your Brand’s Adventure Awaits!

Emily’s journey from Chicago to Paris isn’t just great TV—it’s an important lesson in personal branding. 

Your brand, like Emily’s, should reflect the unique aspects of you. It’s about finding that sweet spot between your roots and your aspirations, your skills and your passions.

Start by embracing what makes you stand out. Maybe it’s a bold color choice or a quirky tagline that captures your brand’s essence. Whatever it is, I encourage you to approach it with Emily’s confidence and flair!

Ready to make your brand trés chic?

Let’s chat!

P.S. If you like what you read, I’d love to hear what TV or movie character you’d be interested in seeing me brand next! Feel free to send over your ideas on Instagram, so I can continue to add to this series.