Florence Cassell Signature Look: Style Breakdown & Costume Evolution

 Explore Florence Cassell’s signature look on Death in Paradise: from floral dresses to palm‑leaf prints, how her style reflects her character. Read now!

Introduction

Florence Cassell — played by Joséphine Jobert on Death in Paradise — is known not just for her detective work, but for her distinctive, vibrant wardrobe. Her signature look combines tropical prints, breezy fabrics, and professional-yet-feminine silhouettes. For fans and entertainment writers, her style offers a fascinating window into character design, production decisions, and how a show uses costuming to reflect setting and personality.

Every piece Florence wears feels intentional: a palm-leaf top in one episode, a bright floral dress in another, or a linen jumpsuit for undercover work. These aren’t random clothes — they help tell her story. And looking at her fashion, you can trace how her role evolves. In this article, we’ll unpack what makes Florence Cassell’s look so memorable, how her wardrobe supports her character, and what costume choices say about representation and realism in a tropical police drama.

Key Elements of Florence Cassell’s Style

Here are the central features that define her on-screen fashion.

Tropical Prints & Florals

• One of her most iconic looks is a palm leaf print top, worn in Season 7, Episode 3. Spotern

• She also wears floral tops, like the Amedee boxy floral top noted on Spotern. Spotern

• These bold patterns evoke the lush Caribbean setting. Rather than plain police blues, her wardrobe feels rooted in the island’s natural environment.

Breezy, Lightweight Fabrics

• In an early episode, she sports a linen top in a beige and black pattern (Season 11, per Spotern). Spotern

• Linen is ideal for a hot, humid setting: breathable, relaxed, but still professional enough for a detective.

• She also wears a high-neck bamboo cami from Warehouse in a later season. Spotern

Dresses and Jumpsuits

• For more formal or off-duty scenes, Florence wears dresses. In Season 8, Episode 5, she wears a green floral dress. Spotern

• In Season 10, Episode 2, she sports a sunflower playsuit by Pull & Bear. Shop Your TV

• These choices help balance her role: she’s not just law enforcement; she’s a layered character with feminine style.

Undercover and Alternate Looks

• There is a notable change when she goes undercover: Joséphine Jobert described switching to cream dungarees and tight curls for an episode. HELLO!

• In an interview, Jobert said the curly hair was done to look natural and younger. HELLO!

• This transformation isn’t just about disguise — it helps show a different side of Florence, making her less “detective uniform” and more flexible in her identity.
  
  
  
  

Why Her Costume Matters for Character Development

Florence’s wardrobe isn’t just decorative — it’s deeply tied to her character and the show’s tone.

1. Reflection of Setting

   • Death in Paradise is set on a Caribbean island. Her tropical prints, breathable fabrics, and bright prints reflect that environment.

   • This helps ground her character in the world she inhabits. She looks like she belongs in St. Marie, not dressed like a city detective.

2. Professional but Personal

   • She’s a detective — but she doesn’t wear a stiff uniform. Her clothes are a mix of functional and expressive.

   • The linen top or floral dress strikes a balance: she’s professional but not rigid. That communicates her competence and her individuality.

3. Character Growth & Story Arcs

   • Her undercover outfit shows that she can step out of her usual self. The cream dungarees and curly hair are a deliberate costume choice for her transformation. HELLO!+1

   • Over seasons, her style has small shifts — more jumpsuits, different prints — which subtly signals growth or change in her role.

4. Gender & Perception

• On Reddit, some fans argue that Florence’s wardrobe is sexualised compared to male detectives:

  “Her clothes are not appropriate for a detective.” Reddit

• Others claim the wardrobe helps challenge stereotypes: she’s not bound to a stiff uniform just because she’s a DS.

Notable Florence Cassell Outfits Over the Seasons

Let’s break down several standout looks from her time on the show.

Palm-Leaf Cami (S07E03)

• In Season 7 Episode 3, she wears a palm-leaf print cami from Oasis. Spotern

• This top is leafy, bold, and very tropical. It’s a strong visual choice — a detective who’s also very connected to her surroundings.

• Mistake some shows make: minimalising female detective wardrobes. But this one leans into colour and pattern without losing authority.

Green Floral Dress (S08E05)

• The green floral dress identified by Spotern Spotern is more feminine, flowy.

• Paired with her policing work, it shows she’s comfortable switching between “detective” and “resident of the island.”

• Designers use such dresses to emphasise her roots, her softness, and her approachability — not just her role in crime-solving.

High-Neck Bamboo Cami (Ware­house)

• In Season 8 Episode 5 (or around that), she wears the Warehouse bamboo high-neck cami. Spotern

• The bamboo fabric is light, natural, and ideal for a hot location.

• The high neck gives her a modest but stylish look — suitable for work yet visually interesting.

Sunflower Playsuit (S10E02)

• In Season 10, Ep2, she wears a Pull & Bear sunflower playsuit. Shop Your TV

• Playsuits are practical (movements, action) and feminine. She can chase clues, move quickly, and still embody her signature style.

• It’s a bold, youthful choice, showing her confidence.

Undercover Cream Dungarees & Curly Hair

• In a major storyline (episode 4, as per Hello!), she changes her look to cream dungarees and curls. HELLO!+1

• Jobert said they wanted her to “look younger” and more natural. HELLO!

• This change matters: it’s not just a disguise, it’s a moment of transformation for Florence.

The Debate — “Is Her Wardrobe Too Casual?”

Florence’s style has sparked discussion. Some praise it; others question its realism for a detective role. Here’s what’s going on.

Criticism from Fans

• On Reddit, a user argued:

  “Her clothes are not appropriate for a detective.” Reddit

• Others pointed out that her first-day outfit included “tiny black hot pants” — which not everyone feels fits a professional police role. Reddit

• There’s a broader discussion: do female detectives on this show get more “eye candy” outfits than male counterparts? Some fans clearly think so.

Defence of Costume Design

• Other fans argue that Death in Paradise is set in a hot, Caribbean locale — casual, breathable clothes make sense in context.

• The wardrobe team seems to allow more relaxed, colourful gear because the show leans into its tropical identity.

• Some also note (from Reddit) that outfit repetition is common on the show, reflecting realistic island life more than fast fashion. Reddit

Actor’s Voice

• Joséphine Jobert herself has spoken positively about working with the costume team. In her undercover episode, she said they spent hours figuring out hair and clothing to get the right “natural” look. HELLO!+1

• She sounded genuinely excited about the creative freedom — it wasn’t just “put on the uniform.”

The debate matters because it touches on gender, realism, and how television shows balance style versus functionality.

H2: How Florence Cassell’s Look Compares to Other TV Detectives

Putting Florence’s wardrobe in a broader context helps show why her style is interesting, not just pretty.

1. Compared to British Detectives

   • In many UK crime shows, detectives wear business suits, trench coats, or plain shirts.

   • Florence’s tropical, colourful wardrobe is a contrast: she wears island fashion, not London office wear. That reflects her environment.

2. Compared to Female Detectives on Other Dramas

• Many female detectives in American dramas lean into sleek, dark wardrobes, leather jackets, or tailored pants.

• Florence, by contrast, embraces prints, breezy fabrics, and light colours — showing a different style sensibility.

1. Compared to Other Death in Paradise Detectives

   • Her predecessor, Camille Bordey, also wore bright, feminine outfits. But Florence’s fashion feels slightly more laid-back, less “pop-star detective” and more rooted in the island.

   • The show’s costuming for women detectives reflects its setting: not a generic crime show, but a very tropical police drama.

These comparisons reveal how her costume choices are not just for aesthetics — they help define the show’s tone and her character’s place in it.

H2: Behind the Scenes: Costume Design Insights

Here’s a look behind the curtain — how costume design shapes Florence’s signature look.

• The costume team clearly draws from high-street and accessible brands. For example, the warehouse bamboo cami is affordable and practical. Spotern

• Designers choose prints like palm leaves and florals intentionally, because they tie into the island’s vibe and feel appropriate for an on‑duty detective working in a tropical climate.

• For undercover or special episodes, the costume team gives her very different clothes (like dungarees) to match the narrative shift. Jobert confirmed they spent time designing her look for that specific role. HELLO!

• Hairstyling also matters. Jobert said for the undercover episode, her curly hairstyle was designed to look natural and effortful, which took extra prep time. HELLO!

The costume department isn’t just dressing her for looks — they’re building her character visually.

FAQs

Conclusion

Florence Cassell’s signature look is more than a collection of pretty clothes — it’s a visual expression of who she is, where she lives, and how she works. From palm-leaf tops to flowing floral dresses, linen cami to undercover dungarees, her wardrobe blends practicality, femininity, and the tropical setting of Death in Paradise.

Her style sparks debate among fans, but that’s part of what makes it so compelling: it’s not just decoration. It reflects character, context, and costume design choices. Whether you admire her outfits, question them, or simply appreciate their uniqueness, Florence’s fashion is a core part of her identity on the show.