E mily in Paris, the hit Netflix show that follows the American expat Emily Cooper as she navigates the capital, is known for outraging Parisians with its cliches about berets, their rudeness and fondness for long lunches. However, it was millennials this week who were left horrified after the release of a trailer for its highly anticipated fourth season. In the sneak peek, its protagonist, Emily, is seen wearing a bright pink bolero, reminiscent of the tiny shrugs that dominated wardrobes circa 2000.
“Been there, done that, no need to revisit,” reads one comment on social media . “Hideous,” reads another. One user simply wrote “NO”.
But in a summer where erratic weather has made getting dressed to maintain a comfortable temperature difficult, there is some rationale behind the bolero’s resurrection. “On first glance, there isn’t much to recommend a shrug as it seems to have very little purpose; it’s basically a piece of fabric with arm holes,” says Natalie Hammond, Grazia’s senior fashion news editor who has written about the trend. “When you’re living through a gloomy summer like the UK’s, however, I actually do see the appeal of a micro-cardigan.
It covers your arms, but doesn’t tip you over the edge temperature-wise.” Just as with low-rise jeans and baby tees, the bolero resurgence taps into a wider trend among gen Z for all things Y2K. Boleros are being worn over white vests, teamed with sporty crop tops and sometimes, somewhat bizarrely.