30 DIY Halloween Costumes For Empowered Ladies
By Emily Scott
Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) in Scandal, Screencap via ABC
Olivia Pope – Scandal
Why She’s Awesome: Scandal has become a mainstay of the Shondaland universe, and Kerry Washington’s Olivia Pope is crucial in its success. Olivia Pope is a “fixer,” or a crisis management consultant in Washington D.C. for President Fitzgerald Grant’s administration. Her fierce dedication to her work is her defining characteristic, and her competence and intelligence make her the best in the country at her job. That could have set her up to fall into the trope of a cold career woman, but the show leaves space for Olivia to have emotions, doubts, and love in her life. Scandal most recently showcased its feminist writer’s room by depicting Olivia’s abortion. The audience didn’t even know she was pregnant when she had the procedure, but she walked away from it knowing it was right for her. All of this and more make Olivia one of the most badass ladies on TV.
What You’ll Need: Olivia’s wardrobe is much more light and fresh than that of most political types. To channel her clean, polished look, try pairing gray dress pants with a pastel pink top and a white or light-colored blazer. Make sure to include her a white peacoat, and go classy with the jewelry. Any high-end-looking extras, like long gloves or a luxe hat, would just be icing on top of the cake.
Next Level Move: Whatever you’re drinking at your Halloween party, drink it from an abnormally large wine glass. Olivia’s vice of choice is a good red, but regardless of what you prefer, it’s the classy long-stem that counts.