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Here’s The Real Tea On Why Olivia Pope Carried A Signature Prada Bag On 'Scandal'

We're missing Kerry Washington's boss bih swag already!

After seven great seasons of watching Kerry Washington slay as crisis manager Olivia Pope on the political drama Scandal, the series is coming to an end. And not only are we mourning the show’s ending but also the loss of Olivia’s boss bish swag.

Known to slay a coat like no other, Kerry Washington’s character in the series took business professional to new levels. Challenging the stigma of “appropriate” corporate attire, which boasted of boring black and white suiting options, dull-colored wardrobe and overall lackluster personality pieces.  

Breaking all the rules with the help of costume designer Lyn Paolo, Olivia became a fashion icon as we swooned over her corporate slays. With fashions from chic, tailored coats, power suiting and bold colors, Paola ensured Pope was draped in designer luxury. Including, perhaps the most iconic piece Olivia has carried with her season after season, her Prada handbag.

But according to Lyn Paola, Olivia’s Prada bag wasn’t something she had strategically planned as a part of the character’s wardrobe. In fact, Prada is more of the designer’s personal style as she calls herself “a Prada girl.”  

And on just how Pope’s purse became so iconic, Paolo says, “I carry a Prada purse, and so that purse was in the room during Washington’s very first fitting. It was literally mine.” She further explains that she loaned the bag to Kerry’s character to shoot the pilot. And it organically became Olivia’s bag from there. She further explains that the Prada bag remained in Kerry’s fitting room throughout the entire show, and that she later decided to gift it to Kerry as a keepsake.

Ahh, if only we could get someone to gift us this iconic bag, in which similar ones can run you close to $3,000! For now, we’ll continue to live vicariously through Olivia Pope.

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