By now, it's obvious that I wish Olivia Pope was real and that I go into a shallow depression every week once I'm done watching Scandal. There is just so much to learn from her, especially from her carefully thought out wardrobe choices (which aren't fictional!). Olivia is always walking purposefully to destinations around Washington, D.C. putting out fires, and it's not a city without seasons. Most of the Scandal year, we see Olivia in a number of different coats, and when you see a nice, well-tailored coat over an equally nice outfit, it's inspiring to up your outerwear game.

I hate coats for many different reasons, but I now understand the need for nice looking outerwear. When I see Olivia patrolling the city streets in various lengths, colors and styles of coats, I'm reminded that coats can really enhance a look, or ruin one when they're not quite right. Take some notes from Olivia, then fill the several empty hangers in your coat closet. I didn't realize how many coats a person really should have until I moved to Chicago, (short, long, casual, formal, sort of casual/sort of formal...my head will start spinning) and though they're not cheap, they last and are an important investment. Once you get to a certain age or stage in your career, that slightly too small puffer coat that doesn't quite cover the bottom of your blazer or cardigan just doesn't quiiiiite match your sophistication level. Or at least the one you're trying to convince people you have achieved.

Olivia is always well-equipped for any level of chill, and her coats always look nice with her outfits. They're long enough to cover whatever is underneath and they can trick someone into thinking they are actually part of her outfit, which is the key. Whenever you get a coat, it should be versatile enough to wear with several different outfit combinations. Shorter and longer nice coats are extremely important for wear over both dresses/skirts and pants, and the neckline of the coat should complement the type of clothes you usually wear. If a lower cut neck opening adds confusion to your look, get one with a high neck closure. If you have an abnormal waist and a belted coat doesn't look quite right, get one that's well tailored using buttons and darts and ditch the belt. 

Most real humans don't need quite as many coats as Olivia, but she has such a variety and wears them so thoughtfully that it's a good idea to use her for guidance and to kind of shop a look for you. If you're meeting someone new during the colder months, the coat is their first impression of how you present yourself, so make it as good of a choice as Olivia always does.

Shop some Olivia look-alikes for her feminine, structured and indulgent outerwear look. Try this, this and this for some similar looks (I'm pretty sure that trench is one she's worn on the show). And if you can't get her Burberry duplicate, Gap has a worthy reasonable alternative.

Tonight was everyone's favorite men want to be with/women want to be situation: the Victoria's Secret fashion show. This sparkly, pink, musical runway peppered with celebrity models and a crowed filled with model celebrities and fashion people is the most commercialized of fashion shows/parties and undoubtably a great time. The zoom-happy, televised version will air December 10th on CBS when the country (and world?) can get backstage and showtime close-up shots of giant wings, gravity defying platforms, mind bending lingerie contraptions and the result of models' grueling show beauty and diet preparation (aka non-human perfection). Until then, we'll have to do with our favorite square, filtered visuals and crippling FOMO.

And check out #VSfashionShow for lots more Instagrams from behind the scenes and the runway.

This special, unplanned post brought to you by Scandal and its dropping a black tie event on us when we least expect it. NO SPOILERS AHEAD! I'm not sure when Olivia Pope has time to shop for black tie gowns, but we've seen her wear a few of them, and she never repeats. I guess I shouldn't be so surprised given the fashionable spin she gives to everyday workwear. And we know she has the money. We've also almost only seen her go formal in black tie, except for the one time her and Fitz...you know, in the oval office post-inauguration, and another time she opts for a short dress in preparation for a night out (we see her in her room, but I think she gets interrupted and never wears it outside? I might be wrong). Lyn Paolo, costume designer on Scandal has been quoted saying that the use of black and white in costuming represents the uncertainty of good vs. bad and who fits which description when, and nothing is more notable about the color palette than its consistent presence in Olivia's gowns. 

Her first formal appearance in season one, episode 3 (my favorite look she's ever worn) has her in an all white, halter-neck, backless number that shows what a fashion player she is, considering this is in her closet or someone is on call to get this for her. She surprises Fitz by showing up at a state dinner, and I think that dress works as an excellent vehicle for a strategic surprise. I wish I knew who designed it.

The next time we see her in a gown is in season 2, episode 7 on her way to Fitz's 50th birthday "bash" that he doesn't want and doesn't end up going to. The gown is Jean Fares and is from a previous season than when the episode was airing. By the next time we see her dressed up, it's at a fundraising gala where she's on call for a client later in season 2 (episode 15). Lines have started to be blurred at this point, and we can tell because she's in black and white. Fitz also attends this gala. Jealousy ensues. I also love that this Escada gown with a sheer lace back is reminiscent of her inauguration dress.

And since that gala, it's been a while! Until last night, season 3 episode 5, Olivia was back at it, and she really upped her game this time. This time Olivia is at the White House Correspondents' Dinner and she goes for a structured bodice Rubin Singer dress, also in black and white. And she goes with gloves to accessorize as well as a fancy hairdo. It's actually not one of my favorites by comparison, but it makes a statement and it's part of a formal dressing evolution Olivia's character is continuously going through. And it's inarguably a beautiful gown. I'm glad they stayed with the black and white theme. Going back to all white would have seemed weird at this point. And color? No. I wish there was a full length picture of her wearing it because there were several in the episode, but I can't find one as of now and Hulu isn't formatted for stealthy screenshots. If you want to be just like Liv, you can buy this dress right now at Saks and Neiman Marcus. That is, if you have 3,000 dollars lying around.

It's obviously possible to endlessly analyze Olivia Pope's wardrobe choices, but I think her formal style is interesting. Most people don't get to go to black tie events...ever, so it's interesting now that we've seen Olivia attend four different ones at different times in her situation with Fitz and other surrounding life events. Kerry Washington and Lyn Paolo do an excellent job at keeping it realistic when it comes to Olivia's income, style, personality, event and the way she usually approaches getting dressed. I love seeing what they come up with. I just still have to wonder if she has these hanging in her immaculate closet (where the clothes she wears actually hang! and they repeat them!) or if she has a personal shopper friend/former client at Saks or Barneys or some such that pulls these out when she needs them. That season 1 gown was very last minute, after all. 

At this point, I don't think it's a secret that I'm a fan of costuming in shows and movies, and I notice it as much as whatever is happening on screen. Which brings me to Edith Head, one of the absolute greats in the business. She won 8 oscars for her designs and was the mastermind behind some of the most iconic movie looks in the history of film. Google had this lovely doodle for her birthday yesterday, and Honestly WTF did a roundup of some of her designs, which invite you to stare for hours. So, go on.

Update: catching up on reading, and The Cut has arelated slideshow, too.

Following in the much-discussed Elisabeth Moss, Anne Hathaway, Emma Watson, etc. chop department, Shailene Woodley has been added to the Hollywood pixie cut list. In preparation for her role as Hazel Grace in 2014's The Fault in Our Stars (based on the amaaaaaaazing but weepy young adult novel by John Green), Shailene chopped off and donated her very long, very thick hair (and asked others to do the same). I couldn't stop staring when I saw an Instagram photo of her on the red carpet at Elle's Women in Hollywood event for which she is one of the cover stars in the corresponding November issue. Every role she's had before has her hair long and flowing, so I never really thought about how she'd look with such a short cut, but I'm officially obsessed. I think she looks great, and it's styled perfectly here. I can't wait for her to start press for March's Divergent (and then almost immediately after for Fault, probably) so we can see what else she does with it.

About seventeen years ago, my mom became a breast cancer survivor. Four years later, she became a double survivor, very thankfully. Since that time, the breast cancer cause has been one that's very close to me, whether it's contributing through races and donations or really any other type of support possible. This is why I love the fashion industry and the "girl power" attitude that comes with it. Over the years, many fashion and beauty brands have come to participate in the cause, so it's very easy to get involved or contribute money through various "pink" efforts. Now, so many national companies are on board, not just in fashion and beauty, but food, tech, activewear and many other genres of business. I'm so thankful that such a large number of companies get on board so that more people struggling now and in the future can have success stories like my family's. I love you, mom, and I'm grateful every day for your fight.
-E

food
Chop't salads, Panera bread and Crumbs Cupcakes are just a few food outlets that contribute to BCA efforts, both with financial contributions and specialty food items and containers that signify the cause.

beauty
Tons of beauty brands participate in BCA efforts with different pink beauty offerings the contribute to the cause. Amongst them are popular brands Essie, Ralph Lauren, Bobbi Brown, Bumble and Bumble, Clinique, Estée Lauder and Paul Mitchell.

fashion
Fashion brands are also quick to get on board with the cause. Big names like White House Black Market, Rebecca Taylor, Ann Taylor and LOFT, Lilly Pulitzer, Van Cleef & Arpels and Coach all have clothing, accessory and jewelry offerings as contributions.

bonus: sports! love from the men

Don Jon has a lot going for it as a movie. Mainly, it has two very notable leads and it's the writing and directing debut of almost universally loved Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The movie had me at JGL. I went to see it last weekend, and there were many good things about it. It's an interesting parody on a certain type of person, socioeconomically, geographically and stereotypically, but it's also a commentary on the different perceptions people have of sex and love through the media. This all ended up being accurate, but nobody told me the costumes were going to be so good. I was so impressed by how costume designer Leah Katznelson portrayed a realistic wardrobe for this Italian-American, New Jersey based family and didn't cross the fine line of parody costuming, which would have been extremely easy to do (think every Jersey Shore Halloween costume you've ever seen). She outfitted the actors honestly and parallel to the story without distracting from the action onscreen.

There's not too much else to say besides the presence of vests, bandage dresses and wife beaters was rampant and so, so right. Let's take a look:

I couldn't find a picture, but another of my favorite outfits of JGL's character was a church-going outfit where he wears a cobalt blue button down. It's pretty eye-searing and so right for his character's standards of "Sunday best."

Happy Scandal premiere day! We're all excited to see what fabulous outfits Olivia Pope pulls out of her closet for tonight's episode. The show quickly (and rightfully) joined the list of shows with avid fashion followers by its second season. From Olivia Pope's perfect athletic looks and luxurious loungewear to her "wears the pants" in a fashionable way work attire and red carpet-worthy formal looks, it's not hard to see why. Like Mad Men, Sex and the City and Gossip Girl before it, costume designer Lyn Paolo has been understandably thrust from behind the scenes into the press to spill her secrets and share each look's designer components. Paolo has gone on record saying she has worked closely with star Kerry Washington on curating Olivia Pope's sleek, modern wardrobe, and Washington live tweets the show, sharing the designers of outfits she's seen in throughout each episode. Pope's D.C. fixer professional-but-feminine wardrobe is one that isn't impossible to duplicate, and can inspire those required to wear professional style clothing in the workplace to get a little creative. 

And if you've ever wanted to get an OP-like wardobe, now you can. Well, that is if you can shop at Saks. The luxury department store is giving Scandal fashion fans that opportunity by collaborating with Paolo and Washington to sell a Scandal-inspired collection at Saks stores, with Scandal-inspired windows going up in select cities nationwide. Complete with look-alike mannequins, I'd say the collaboration turned out pretty spot on. Check out the Vine above to see a video collage of all the looks to see if you agree.
-E

When I checked Instagram this morning, the many fashion players I follow photographically informed me that while I laid in bed, they were all at the Chanel fashion show in Paris. But my FOMO didn't stop at that fact. More than photos of the clothes coming up on my feed were photos of the set. Now, designers often go all out with the sets for their shows, and they're often very cool and expensive, but I think this year's "art" theme is probably one of the coolest I've ever seen, and I'm not usually such an art person. It was interactive, creative, fun and all the made-for-the-show multi-genre art was creatively Chanel related. And the makeup and clothes matched, obviously. I definitely wanted to take home a few art pieces for myself, and that says a lot when competing with a fresh clothing collection. Take a glimpse at what the show's set had to offer (and how great a background it made for the collection). Too bad all art exhibitions aren't like this.
-E

Find more up close looks at the works of art by searching #chanel and #pfw on Instagram!

First of all, let's just take a second to celebrate the fact that Parks and Recreation is back in all its hilarity. And now, let's talk about the fact that Amy Poehler needs some serious style Rx from her TV persona*, and it occurred to me during the season 6 premiere. Amy Poehler has gone on record saying that Leslie Knope has been her favorite character to play, so it's not out of the question that she could gain some influence from more than just her fictional personality. Plus, Amy's the best, and her public appearance outfits should match. It's not asking a ton, it's not like Leslie Knope is Blair Waldorf or anything.

In the first episode of the season, Leslie attends an awards gala where she wears a form fitting short sleeved dress with figure flattering green detailing along the side, a la celeb fave Stella McCartney (editor's note: turns out the dress she wears on screen is also Stella. We'll suspend disbelief based on price and the fact that Leslie would not be able to afford this in Pawnee world.). You can see a more unflattering paparazzi shot of said dress above. Poehler looks great as Leslie in this episode wearing it with a small, long-strapped bag. After seeing herself in this success of an outfit, I wonder where she even got the idea that her Emmy dress this year (also above, right) was in any way okay. It was weird and ill fitting and it made me sad.

Amy doesn't always get it totally wrong when it comes to red carpets, though.