Lily Collins Proves Press Tour Dressing Can Be Both Strategic and Spectacular
In the constellation of animal prints that have dominated the fashion firmament this season—leopard spots prowling down runways, zebra stripes galloping through street style galleries, even the occasional deer motif making an unexpected appearance—one pattern has remained conspicuously absent from the conversation. That is, until Lily Collins stepped onto the frost-kissed pavements of Manhattan on December 10, 2025, and reminded us all that the fashion jungle contains multitudes.
Outside the Good Morning America studios, Collins orchestrated a masterclass in maximalist dressing, anchored by a vintage Roberto Cavalli coat that didn’t so much whisper as roar. The giraffe-print statement piece, rendered in Cavalli’s signature saturated palette, commanded the sidewalk with the confidence of a piece that understands its own power. Its pointed collar and tie belt provided architectural discipline to what could have been pure exuberance, while the print itself carried the entire visual narrative.
But here’s where Collins elevated the look from merely memorable to genuinely modern: she wore the coat as an above-the-knee dress, cinched at the waist with a turquoise buckled belt that introduced an unexpected chromatic interruption. It’s the kind of styling decision that separates the fashion followers from the fashion thinkers—taking a piece steeped in early-aughts excess and recontextualizing it through contemporary proportions and accessories.
The Fendi Sequin Baguette in purple proved the perfect foil to the coat’s organic pattern, introducing texture and a jewel-toned pop that felt both playful and considered. Meanwhile, her black woven sandals, featuring intricate braided details across the toe and mid-foot, echoed the coat’s natural motifs with artisanal subtlety. The Phoebe Philo Score sunglasses provided the final punctuation mark—minimalist, architectural, grounding the ensemble in the present tense.
Collins’ freshly shorn bob—sculpted with precision and tucked deliberately behind her ears—emphasized her bone structure and gold huggie hoops, creating a frame that allowed the coat to remain the protagonist while her face stayed firmly in the supporting role of undeniable facecard.
Currently in the throes of promotional duties for the fifth season of Netflix’s Emily in Paris, Collins has been spotted multiple times this week delivering precisely the kind of sartorial theater the show demands. And that’s the brilliance of this particular look: it operates as both genuine fashion moment and perfect character cosplay. The purple sparkly bag paired with maximalist print? It’s exactly the kind of fearless, slightly excessive combination that Emily Cooper herself would champion.
While celebrity character cosplay as promotional strategy often feels contrived, in the case of Emily in Paris, the costume becomes the commentary. Collins understands that the show’s aesthetic DNA requires a certain de trop quality—fashion that photographs fabulously and sparks conversation, which is precisely what a vintage Cavalli giraffe-print coat accomplishes. It’s method dressing for a show where fashion itself is the method.
