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Scandal fans got a special treat during the unveiling of ABC’s new fall programming this week with an exclusive sneak peek at the show’s explosive season finale. Trust us, something shocking is about to happen to Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) and it goes way beyond the White House mole Pope’s “Gladiators” have been hunting down (and whose identity will finally be revealed!). But, let’s face it, what we’ve all really been waiting to see is what will happen between the steamiest twosome on TV, Olivia and Fitz, now that their affair is going public. Luckily, Scandal’s brilliant costume designer Lyn Paolo gave us some inside scoop on tonight’s finale—and a lesson in power dressing! Contrasting last week’s darker tones, Paolo told us you can expect to see her in lighter hues. “It has been a long time since she has been this certain of her relationship with Fitz and suddenly we are back in lighter suits,” she told InStyle.com exclusively. Case in point: The pale blue Armani jacket over a cream Natori shell Olivia wears in her office (above). In true Scandal fashion though, nothing is as it seems and, “by the end of the episode, Olivia is a gladiator in a white Tom Ford jacket with crisp clean lines and a tight clasp holding in her mid-line,” Paolo said. “Her waist is accentuated and her shoulders look broad enough to carry any weight.” The weight of the presidency no doubt. Cliffhangers somehow seem easier to take in Tom Ford. Tune in to Scandal tonight at 10 p.m. EST on ABC for the dramatic season finale. We. Can’t. Wait.

Plus, see all of Kerry Washington’s Oliva Pope looks from season 2 of Scandal!

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• See Kerry Washington From Our April Issue
• The Cat’s Out of the Prada Bag on Scandal

— Angela Salazar

Kerry Washington stuns us week after week as the woman in the middle of it all on Scandal, and now she’s starring in something new—a fashion feature for InStyle‘s new May issue! Inside, she’s as bold as her character, modeling looks revamped with bold color by designer labels like Dolce & Gabbana (shown above), Erdem, Peter Som, and Fendi. And it’s daring style the actress adopts in her off-duty life, too. “I need to challenge myself,” Washington says. “Whether it’s fashion or life, I like to go for it. As long as I feel good about what I’m wearing, it doesn’t matter if so-and-so calls it ugly.” And that’s not all—be sure to read the full interview and see more photographs when the new Emily Blunt-covered May issue hits newsstands Friday, April 19—or download it to your iPad, Nook, or Droid tablet.

Plus, see Kerry’s best looks as Olivia Pope on Scandal.

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• Olivia Pope Loves Max Mara!
• The Cat’s Out of the Prada Bag on Scandal
• Pope Blows Her Cover in Escada

• Download the new issue on your tablet:
• 1. iPad
• 2. Nook
• 3. Kindle
• 4. Google Play

Kerry Washington plays the ultimate fixer on ABC’s hit show Scandal. Her character Olivia Pope runs her own law firm, Pope and Associates, maintains a relationship with the President, and manages to keep Washington scandal free all while looking impeccable in an array of designer duds. “She’s very tailored and put together. I try to think about the way she dresses as she’s a powerhouse,” Washington told InStyle.com. And whether she’s on the job in a Max Mara coat, celebrating the President’s birthday in a vintage Fares gown, or attending a political function wearing a black and white Escada sheath, Washington’s Olivia Pope looks are the perfect complement to the ever-changing political landscape. Click through the gallery to get the inside scoop from costume designer Lyn Paolo about all of Washington’s outfits from this season of Scandal, and tune in for new episodes Thursdays at 10/9c.

— Angela Salazar

On tonight’s all-new episode of Scandal, expect to see a new wave in Olivia Pope’s (Kerry Washington) wardrobe. Mirroring the twisty plot—with Fitz realizing the truth behind his rigged presidential election campaign, and Olivia struggling to move on with her life—Pope’s attire takes a sudden, and decidedly more Dorothy Draper, turn.  “You will see [Olivia] as you have never seen her before in the opening scenes of the show,” costume designer Lyn Paolo revealed to InStyle.com. “Our choice of the Max Mara suit, which is in a light green, is one that reflects the role Olivia is playing in this episode. The color and the silhouette are both out of character for Olivia but when you see the scene you will know why we made this choice.”

Be sure to clue into Pope’s accessories on tonight’s episode as well: they’ll hint that “time has passed and Olivia has in some ways moved on in her style evolution,” according to Paolo. “The main fashion note for this episode is the introduction of the new purse choices for Olivia as well as our continued use of opera length gloves to accent her coats,” Paolo said. Those new bags include the cream Prada satchel (shown above with a camel Max Mara coat and Dorothy Gaspar gloves), and the black Prada Saffiano Tote Pope wears with her pale green Max Mara suit. We’ll take one of each, please! Tune in to Scandal tonight at 10 p.m. EST on ABC to see more of Olivia’s style transformation.

Plus, see Kerry Washington’s transformation!

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• Olivia Pope’s Red Carpet Worthy Dress
• The Cat’s Out of the Prada Bag on Scandal
• See Kerry Washington’s Best Style Moments

— Angela Salazar

On tonight’s all-new episode of Scandal, flashbacks to the Cytron case will reveal more about Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) and Verna’s involvement in the cover-up of Lindsay Dwyer’s identity (a.k.a. Quinn Perkins). It will also reveal the more feminine wardrobe Olivia had, pre-Pope & Assoc. “This particular outfit is a perfect example of how we change Olivia into a different look in the past,” costume designer Lyn Paolo told InStyle.com. “It is subtle, but notice the dress (not pants), the dangling earrings (not her usual close to the ear look), her shoes have pointed toes and are more of a princess heel, and, as always in her flashback looks, [she carries] the Goyard tote, not her usual Prada bag.” Past or present, we love Pope’s tan Burberry coat paired with a plaid Ralph Lauren dress, and her very of-the-moment bangs, thanks to Michelle Obama’s recently debuted fringe. “We think that these small changes, along with her different hair style, help to tell the audience that we are in a different time and place,” Paolo said. Tune in to Scandal tonight at 10 p.m. EST on ABC to see what happens—and to see Olivia’s full look!

Plus, see Kerry Washington’s best looks ever.

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• Olivia Pope’s Red Carpet Worthy Dress
• Kerry Washington’s Gorgeous Globes Gown
• More Scandal Fashion Details!

— Angela Salazar