Bike rides into the city, a stop at your favourite breakfast spot, and a world-class football tournament – these make up Emily in Paris actor Paul Forman’s perfect London summer. Now, he’s the frontman for ASOS’s summer menswear drop of dreams.
There’s something inherently cinematic about a London summer – the long evenings, impromptu pub gardens simmering with the smoke of cigarettes and a stealthy mix of beer and Pimms. Most likely, football fever is sweeping through the city, and there’s a low-hum feeling that plans are best left loose. It’s exactly that spirit that French-English actor Paul Forman taps into with ASOS’s new summer-steady edit. Relaxed but elevated, polished without trying too hard, the collection mirrors the actor’s own approach to dressing: effortless silhouettes, lightweight tailoring, and pieces that can transition seamlessly from day to night.
Best known for playing sharply-dressed heir Nicolas de Léon in Netflix’s Emily in Paris, Forman exists at the intersection of European glamour and laid-back British cool – both personally and professionally. But away from the screen, his personal style is far more understated. Think linen shirts thrown over relaxed trousers, soft tailoring designed for movement, and simple staples that can be reworn summer after summer – and whatever occasion you have planned, the fix can be found on ASOS. “I’m very into pieces that can move between day and night without feeling over-styled,” he says, a philosophy that sits at the heart of the campaign.
This staycation edit leans into spontaneity and self-expression, encouraging consumers to be free and fun with their style. Across the imagery, Forman embodies the modern summer ideal (and gentleman): aspirational yet accessible, stylish without sacrificing comfort. Whether he’s reminiscing about flying back to London for England’s Euros final, discussing his love for escapes across the Mediterranean, or mapping out the perfect day in the city, the charming actor’s version of summer is rooted in an effortless ease, with spells of connection and curiosity.
A week out from returning to set for the sixth (and final) season of Emily in Paris, the actor speaks to Man About Town about summer shenanigans and finding freedom through fashion.
Images are courtesy of ASOS.
Hi Paul, first off, how’s your day going? How’s the week been so far?
Paul Forman: I’m having a nightmare today. My boiler broke down, I’ve got people in to replace it, and I’m ill. This is my day of karma.
Hopefully, after this call, things will be looking up. To start, tell me about your relationship with ASOS and how this came about. What interested you in the opportunity to front the campaign?
It was such a quick turnaround, which was great for me. ASOS has always been about individuality and accessibility, and I liked the conversation around this campaign. It was more about confidence and self-expression rather than chasing perfection, you know? We just aligned creatively quite quickly. I wanted the shoot to feel elevated and cinematic, but also relaxed and wearable – something aspirational without feeling out of reach. That balance really appealed to me, and they were exactly on the same page. I’m really happy with the shots.
The campaign looks really fun – it definitely gets you excited for summer. I’m curious: where in the world would you say is the best or most underrated hotspot for fashion?
That’s a really good question. I think for me, the most underrated is probably somewhere like Copenhagen. A lot of people talk about the obvious fashion capitals, but Copenhagen has this effortless relationship with style that I really admire. It feels understated and functional, but also cool without trying too hard. I feel like everyone there looks incredibly well put together but still comfortable, which I love.
That’s a good pick. What are you looking forward to this summer? Any fun plans?
Yes and no. We start shooting in a week or so, so I’ll be pretty busy this summer shooting the new season of Emily in Paris, which I’m really looking forward to. And then it’s the World Cup as well – that’s always such an exciting summer when there’s a big sporting event. So I’m looking forward to those two things. I’ll be trying to monitor the World Cup whilst working.
Who are you rooting for – is it England, or someone else?
Definitely England. I’ve always supported England. I was ridiculous last time – when we made the Euros final, I was in the south of France with my family, and I decided to take a plane back to London. Everyone thought it was crazy. It was beautiful in the south of France, we were eating such good food, but I wanted to be back just in case we won it. I didn’t want to be in France in case England won the Euros, you know what I mean? And the atmosphere that day was incredible. There’s something so special about everyone being out and rooting for the country. Even if you’re not into sports, witnessing that energy is incredible.
When we have a big football tournament, summer in London just hits different. That said, when you think of your summer capsule wardrobe, what pieces are included?
It’s usually pretty simple with me. I like good trousers, relaxed shirts, white T-shirts, very lightweight tailoring, and a great jacket for evenings, because, as we said, British weather refuses to commit to being summer. I’m very into pieces that can move between day and night without feeling over-styled. I think that sums it up.
There’s quite a bit of that in this collection as well. You mentioned the south of France earlier, but where would you say is your ideal holiday destination, and why?
I think it’s anywhere along the Mediterranean for me. So yeah, south of France, or somewhere like Formentera or Sardinia. They’ve got such an incredible balance – incredible food, beautiful water, and very little urgency, which the older I get, the more I appreciate. I’ve realised I’m happiest when days become a bit shapeless, and I think the Med captures that so well. We’re lucky in Europe to have that.
We really are. Everything’s quite close and still so different. But with the weather in the UK, it feels like we can never quite be prepared. How does your style change in the summer as we transition between seasons?
It becomes much softer and more relaxed. I love linen shirts, open collars, and slightly oversized tailoring – things that feel very easy to throw on after being at the sea all day or out and about. That’s how my style is in the summer. You’ve got to be able to move and breathe and just be relaxed.
What would you say is your guide to a perfect London summer, your ideal day?
That’s a great question. I think I’d cycle in the morning to my favourite Aussie brunch place, Granger & Co – shout out to Granger. I love a brunch, so I’d cycle there with some friends and meet people. Then maybe a bit of a sports day – play some football in the park or something. In the evening, I like days where you don’t plan too much, and you let the day catch you by surprise. You end up in an outdoor garden pub somewhere and turn it into a night of celebrating life and summer. I feel like in summer people are more open to different possibilities and trying new things, which is really cool. So I don’t plan too much, but I definitely start with an Aussie brunch.
On that slightly spontaneous theme, is there a standout or favourite summer moment that you always come back to?
The first thing that really comes to mind is what I mentioned earlier – that Euro’s final, where I cut my summer vacation short just to be in the country. There was something so magical about it. Seeing hundreds of thousands of people on the streets – at least where I was – it didn’t feel unsafe. It was such a beautiful, positive energy. Everyone was out, rooting for the team, and there was this unity that was so beautiful to witness. It felt like a point in history I could one day tell my children or grandchildren about – “I was there when…” We didn’t win, but that energy was priceless.
As far as London summers go, that’s definitely a peak moment. What would you say you’re shopping for right now, clothing-wise?
Good question. I feel like I’m transitional at the moment. I like things that work both casually and slightly dressed up. I’m more into buying fewer things but making sure they’re pieces I’ll wear for years to come. I like to mix and match, so I’d say smart-casual is what I’m into at the moment. What I like about that is that with a simple T-shirt, if you just add a jacket and a few accessories, you can turn it into something quite interesting with minimal effort.
For sure. And within the ASOS campaign, what pieces did you like the most or are you most looking forward to wearing?
I loved a look with pleated trousers – exactly that smart-casual but relaxed fit, very light. I think I was wearing the yellow top with that, which is exactly what I’ve been describing – that perfect balance between elevated, but still relaxed and comfortable. I thought those were really beautiful pieces. I really loved that look.
Moving on to Emily in Paris, which feels very summery in itself and is what’s coming up next: the show obviously has a big fashion pull, and as the seasons have gone on, even more so – especially with your character Nicolas, who’s at the centre of it with the family business. Were there any costumes or pieces you wore while playing him that influenced your personal style?
Perhaps all of them. What’s so amazing about that production is, first of all, shout out to Marilyn [Fitoussi], our costume designer. It’s such a collaborative process in that room. I really got to pick with her, and we discussed at length what the character would be wearing and how his fashion evolved over the seasons, because he relaxes a bit as time goes by. Playing someone so immersed in that world, it rubs off on you a little bit. As a character, he’s probably more polished and precise than I am naturally, as you can tell. But I was definitely more aware of tailoring, silhouettes, and how much clothing and fashion can communicate before someone even speaks. So there’s been influence, in that sense. I really love everything I wear on the show, especially now, because those costume fittings are a completely collaborative process. I have as much of a say as she does, which I’ve really come to cherish.
That’s really good to hear. It’s nice to know it feels like a real 50/50 collaboration.
With Marilyn, yeah, absolutely. I’m so grateful for that – I always will be. It’s not always the case. But as the seasons went by, she trusted me more with this character, and we felt very aligned on how he would dress, because that’s a form of communication too. I like the shift you see throughout the season: he starts more square, polished and safe, and as he relaxes and distances himself a bit from the family business, he finds his own identity as well, which is really cool.
Definitely. Obviously, it’s a really exciting time – you’re off to film in about a week. With what you can say, what can fans and viewers expect from the new season, and from Nicolas specifically?
I’m sorry, I can’t say too much, but from what I’ve read so far, season six feels very ambitious to me. The world gets bigger – emotionally and visually – and relationships get even more complicated, in a way I think audiences will enjoy. As for Nicolas, I’ve loved the path he’s on – rediscovering who he is and finding his true identity. This season, he’s honed in on that. He knows what he wants, and he pursues it wholeheartedly, which I think is going to be such a great experience for me as an actor. It’s quite rare that you come back to a character after four seasons and there’s such a shift in who he is. It’s rare to reinvent a character like that, and we’re continuing in that direction, which I love.
So good – that sounds fun. And aside from being in front of the camera as an actor, are there any other roles around film and TV that you’re interested in?
Definitely. I’ve become more and more interested in storytelling beyond just acting. I’ve been writing a lot more for theatre – writing is something I now care deeply about. I’m very intrigued by producing as well; I’m looking to put on a play that I wrote, and just be involved early in the creative process – shaping projects from the ground up, developing material, and collaborating with different people in the industry: writers, directors, producers. The longer I’m in this industry, the more I’m fascinated by how everything comes together behind the camera as well. It’s been an incredible path for me to learn.
Lastly, if you could summarise the collection in three words, what would you say?
Three words? I’d say: elevated, soft and playful.
Perfect for summer.
I think so. We’re on-brand here.
Shop the ASOS staycation edit now.
