Although she originally auditioned for the part of Rory, actor Liza Weil impressed the producers so much they created the character of Paris just for her. Creator Amy Sherman-Palladino said, “Liza was in my brain from auditioning for Rory. And I’m like that girl is not right for Rory but she’s unbelievably brilliant—she’s like a master comedienne so I just wrote her in.” Unsure if she could play such a role after reading Paris’s lines, Liza admitted, “The younger version of myself was really freaked out that that’s what they wrote. I couldn’t fathom that they would think that they could do that! But now I think it’s really flattering and I’m really glad.” Part of a mean girls trio at Chilton, along with her friends Madeline and Louise (played by Shelly Cole and Teal Redmann, respectively), Paris declares Rory her arch nemesis, upping her intensity when she realizes Rory also has her sights set on Harvard. Weil stated, “Looking back at my time on Gilmore Girls, was how fortunate I was to be a young actor and to be on a show that made it really cool for girls to be smart. I really don’t think there were any other shows like that at that time that were portraying young girls like that.” Rory and Paris eventually become friendly after being thrown together for school projects, attending the same social events, working on The Franklin together, and looking to each other for advice. Rory helps Paris relax, gives her the support she lacks at home, and encourages her to ask Tristan out, eat her beloved mac and cheese, and loosen up. The two remain close and even become roommates while attending Yale—cementing their friendship for life.

Inspired by Paris’s love of one of Rory and Lorelai’s favorite comfort foods, mac and cheese, this oversized drop-shoulder cardigan is worked flat in pieces and then seamed, and features an allover macaroni noodle–style cable pattern. The ribbed placket is worked at the same time as the body until the shoulders. Once the pieces are blocked, the shoulders are seamed, the sleeves attached to the body, then the underarm seams joined. The collar is then seamed to the back neckline.