In a sequence in regards to the tense internal workings of a kitchen, it’s no shock that vogue would take a backseat to meals. For essentially the most half, restaurant uniforms are fairly, effectively, uniform: crisp white shirts for servers within the front-of-house and crisp white coats for cooks cooking within the again. The potential for private model on this kind of surroundings has at all times been minimal. And but, from the beginning of The Bear, FX’s dramedy a few culinary wunderkind, Carmine “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), and the Chicago restaurant he takes over, garments have at all times performed an important position in its story. Because the present’s debut, much fuss has been made about Carmy’s perfect white t-shirts and classic selvage denim (which he, hilariously given the “chef” of all of it, retains in his oven).

Not each character’s vogue is as flashy. In an interview in regards to the present’s second season, costume designer Courtney Wheeler told Esquire that, for essentially the most half, Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri), the gifted cook dinner Carmy initially hires as his sous-chef, wears what she will be able to discover. “She acquired that from her mother,” Wheeler stated of a Million Woman March tee the character wears in a single episode. “That Bulls t-shirt? She in all probability discovered it in her dad’s closet and stored sporting it. For characters like that, they’re simply choosing up no matter.” Sometimes, there have been glimmers of persona in Sydney’s wardrobe—particularly via her seemingly infinite provide of colorful hair scarves—however you by no means acquired the impression that Sydney cared an excessive amount of about “model” exterior of the kitchen. Within the present’s third outing, nevertheless, Sydney will get to expertise a mode evolution of her personal, and it completely coincides together with her journey throughout the season.

Choosing up quickly after the semi-disastrous “Pals and Household” gentle opening that capped off the present’s second season, The Bear’s junior effort largely focuses on the staff’s battle to show their little restaurant right into a reliable, profitable enterprise. Sydney, nonetheless hyper-focused on her duties, begins the season in her normal workwear; in early episodes, we infrequently see her exterior the kitchen, and once we do, she’s dressed down: t-shirts, denims, outsized button-ups. On her method out to work one morning, her dad even remarks on the truth that she has “holes in [her] sleeves.”

It will be straightforward for her to remain on this aesthetic world—as long as she felt comfy in her behind-the-scenes position at The Bear. However because the season progresses, Carmy appears decided to make her second-guess her place. Regardless of naming Sydney a “accomplice” in his culinary endeavor, Carmy not often treats her like one; he alters the menu, rearranges the furnishings, and often makes govt choices with out ever contemplating her (or anybody else’s) enter. Relatively than being a real equal, Sydney is, like everybody else, prey to Carmy’s whims. If season one was about Sydney in search of employment at The Bear (then referred to as “The Beef”) out of a way of admiration for a chef she had lengthy idolized from afar, and season two was about discovering widespread floor with him, then season three is all about her butting up towards the restrictions of this association.

For Sydney, this season is about development. It’s about realizing what she wants from her enterprise companions, tapping into her personal energy, and eventually seeing what (and who) she might be with out Carmy. This journey begins within the season’s seventh episode when Sydney takes a gathering with Adam Shapiro (performed by Adam Shapiro, although he isn’t taking part in himself), a chef on the triple-Michelin-starred fine-dining institution Ever, who was impressed by her scallop dish at The Bear. He provides her a chef de delicacies place at a brand new restaurant he’s opening. The proposal—full with “a partnership stake, clear settlement, $80k to begin, advantages, well being, medical, [and] bonus upon overview”— is big. Whereas Carmy is busy altering the few dishes Sydney has been in a position to create, Adam tells her, plain and easy, that she’d have whole management over the menu.

However greater than the supply is the outfit she wears to obtain it: a stylish pair of flowy black shorts, a cropped black jacket with a sailor collar, loafers, and, to prime all of it off, a giant assertion bow to carry her hair again. The look is a far stretch from the classic t-shirts that had grow to be the character’s staple, standing out for its elevated sophistication. It’s one thing a public-facing chef would put on, and one can’t assist however marvel the place this Sydney has been hiding for the remainder of the present.

Such questions answered themselves when Sydney returns to The Bear following her assembly, her mind racked with confusion over what to do subsequent. When Carmy compliments her, saying, “You look good,” she sheepishly thanks him, then reaches for the bow to drag it out. Provided that she’s again within the kitchen making ready to work, the gesture isn’t stunning. But, there’s something in her motions that feels a bit nervous and rushed, virtually as if she feels compelled to strip away these persona markers and shrink herself on this surroundings—all the higher to fade into the background. In any case, The Bear has at all times been Carmy’s pet undertaking, and regardless of her “partnership,” Carmy’s habits is as clear an indication as any that she’ll in all probability at all times be relegated to the sidelines, compelled to exist in his shadow. Is it doable that this different Sydney has been there all alongside, simply ready to interrupt free?

By the season finale, it definitely looks like sure. In “Endlessly,” Sydney will get gussied up for a flowery “funeral dinner” soirée at Ever, which is now closing. The look — a smooth satin shell prime with an identical skirt, accessorized with a cool silver necklace, pearl drop earrings, and a black Ganni Bou Bag with a braided deal with—is her most putting but. It is elegant, skilled, and evening-appropriate. It’s, as soon as once more, a brand new aesthetic for her character, which is probably why, upon coming into, Sydney appears to be like a bit stiff and considerably misplaced on this group of well-known cooks. However because the night time wears on, she progressively loosens up, ultimately laughing, smiling, and exchanging tales with everybody else. It is a extra relaxed and easygoing Sydney than we’ve ever seen within the kitchen. On this new surroundings, surrounded by these new individuals, plainly Sydney is allowed to blossom. And sitting there on this newly elevated ensemble, it’s straightforward to think about what “Sydney, Chef De Delicacies” might seem like.

Whereas Sydney is bonding with this coterie of recent buddies, Carmy is much more in his head than normal, spending nearly all of the dinner obsessively glancing over at David Fields (Joel McHale), the abusive chef that has lengthy been the bogeyman haunting Carmy’s each restaurant-related thought. Although he hasn’t labored for (and even seen) Chef David in years, that traumatic work expertise continues to be the explanation he can’t sleep at night time and what informs the capricious modifications to his restaurant and menu. It is also the explanation he pushed away his love curiosity, Claire (Molly Gordon), and fairly presumably, the explanation why, when all is claimed and carried out, he may lose Sydney.

On the impromptu afterparty Sydney hosts at her condo, Carmy is the one no-show, however the Ever company nonetheless come along with Sydney’s Bear coworkers to bop, drink, and snack on frozen waffles with caviar. The temper shifts when Sydney stumbles upon a newspaper clipping pinned to her fridge. It’s a four-star overview of The Beef, and after recognizing it, Sydney turns into visibly flustered, ultimately excusing herself from the occasion so she will be able to step exterior, the place she begins respiratory very exhausting earlier than sliding to the ground, crying.

The present performs coy with what the newspaper clipping means for the longer term, although it’s in all probability some sophisticated combination of her love for the household she’s constructed at The Bear and her concern of how accepting Adam’s supply would necessitate leaving all that behind. What is obvious is that Sydney is affected by a panic assault, succumbing to a number of the identical troubles Carmy has been battling because the present’s begin. Regardless of his consciousness of the poisonous work surroundings created by Chef David, Carmy has nonetheless, one way or the other, managed to duplicate that dynamic along with his personal star protégé. Sydney could also be dressed to the nines, however so long as she’s certain to Carmy, she’ll by no means really feel like an ideal 10.

The “To Be Continued…” ending of season three leaves a lot within the air: Will Carmy acknowledge the error of his methods? Will Sydney keep at The Bear? Will there even be a Bear for her to remain at? (An all-important restaurant overview within the Chicago Tribune has come out, although whether or not it’s good, unhealthy, or some mixture of the 2 is but to be decided.) However no matter selection Sydney finally ends up making, I’m certain she’ll have the outfit to do it proper.

All seasons of The Bear can be found to stream on Hulu now.