Shafiqah Hudson’s previous work for The Toast can be found here.
Like everyone and their mother, I watch Scandal with a devotion that borders on obsession (and frequently casually crosses that border.) I love everything about the show: the writing, the dialogue, and the endless, thrilling twists and intrigue that I sincerely hope resembles nothing that has ever gone on in Washington, ever. The whole cast is fantastic, especially the star, the unstoppable and always flawlessly stylish Ms. Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington): a force of nature.
Olivia always looks like she just stepped off of some celestial runway, where flyaways don’t exist, and nobody ever needs to use an iron. She also never seems to wear the same outfit twice – something I noticed very, very early on. This is an important thing to note, because, as observant as I am sometimes, four seasons in, I am only JUST noticing the peculiar evolving fashion whims of Mr. Harrison Wright (Columbus Short.) Harrison does to a basic shirt-and-tie combination what Pope & Associates does to the law. He is a living, breathing metaphor for his company’s general approach to business. And the weirdest thing about it? Just like with his firm, it works. It works. Every. Single. Time.
In Season 1, Harrison’s tailored suits–always black, navy or gray–were usually paired with unremarkable, but business-appropriate, collared shirts and equally unremarkable ties. It was cool. His job is to be a cool-headed negotiator, and the “smooth operator” duds reflect that. Following so far? Good. Now, check this out:
Now, get a good gander at Harrison here. Just about the easiest way for anyone to look pulled together is with neutral colors, no distracting patterns, and maybe a bright accent for the ever-coveted signature color “pop.” These are not MY rules. They are Fashion’s. Theoretically, nothing about this outfit should work! On paper, it is a flagrantly disrespectful illustration of one reckless individual’s total disregard for the rules of style. I mean, do you SEE the shit? Izzat…izzat GINGHAM? And the tie is just…it’s all wrong. ALL wrong. And…yet…it is sublime, perfection. Know what else shouldn’t work? Multicolored stripes and polka dots. Sounds wincingly bad, don’t it?
It’s not. At all. Something else that should be a flustercluck of fashion terrible: blue plaid, white circle thingies on a purple background, and a PAISLEY handkerchief. This is basically the fashion equivalent of the deep-fried Elvis sandwich. Gross, over the top, and impossible to make appealing:
…Or so you’d think. And finally, I present to you an ensemble that should never have been conceived, as worn by Harrison Wright. Outside. In the daytime. In front of people.
Polka dots, paisley, and not one but TWO different types of stripes. You know that outfit that no one wants to be caught dead in? This is it. THIS is that outfit. No one but NO one – dead or alive – on the planet should be able to pull this off. But there’s Harrison, rocking it like only he can. And it is for this reason that I am proud to proclaim that when it comes to the offbeat style and sartorial wizardry of Harrison Wright, I fully and unconditionally love it. Well played, sir. Well played.
Tags: beauty, harrison, heroes, scandal, shafiqah hudson, television
Related Posts
“The Truth Is Embarrassing”: Olivia Benson and the Timeline of Trauma
The First Six Sherlock Episodes, Ranked
This Is a Post In Which You Can Talk About All Of House of Cards
An Interview With Rachel Shukert: YA, Writing, and Old Hollywood
Sherlock Reviews Musicals He Was Forced To Attend With His Parents
“I’ll Be All Right”: Talking To and About the Great Maria Bamford
whoa, thanks for calling attention to this! I definitely had not noticed and it is AMAZING.
I haven’t noticed it either! Maybe because they work in a shadowy cave? (I turn into my mother when I watch Scandal–“Turn on some lights for god’s sake! You’re going to go blind!”)
In the language of clothes, these clothes say: I make my own rules.
What about Olivia’s pants? this is a magical universe where pant-suit-pants manage to be business-like and feminine at the same time.
That is because Olivia’s pants are like skirts made for angels who prefer to walk. They are all big flowy palazzo pants that no one else in the world can wear and survive.
Oh oh, Scandal is back on, isn’t it?!! Yes for snow day activity.
This has been a very disappointing and dreary morning due to the forecasted snowday that was all snow and no PTO, so thank you for bringing this color and glamour to my sad snowy life.
Also, COLUMBUS SHORT. One of the most beautiful men on television right now.
That is because Olivia's pants are like skirts made for angels who prefer to walk. They are all big flowy palazzo pants that no one else in the world can wear and survive.
Help me out here, Toasties. I was so excited to dive into Scandal this past weekend, and so many people I love love it, but I honestly found it unwatchable! I got three episodes in, and I felt like the writing and acting just got worse and worse. Does it get better? Are we supposed to think Olivia is a Republican? Do people only watch it because everyone is beautiful? (I understand that reasoning and have watched other shows for the same motivation. The one thing I was really into was the chemistry between Olivia and the Prez.)
Trust me, it doesn\’t really get cooking until the second season.
OK, I will give it another shot. I do like the clothes, that’s for sure.
Since you asked: I binged my way through the first two seasons on Netflix last month. And my assessment was really: “Wow, this show got a lot better in season two, and then a lot worse in season two.”
I’ll believe that the plot insanity comes back around to being enjoyable again, but the Liv-Prez relationship I think swung from “intense feelings between troubled, complicated people” to “straight-up emotionally abusive” a couple times, and I have a hard time keeping going after that. I’ll take eegghh’s phrase: a good terrible show.
I think, much like Olivia and Fitz, you need to sink down into how over the top and aggressive everything is. Really just, stay with the madness, because it is a show that will get you to yelling like a sports fan, “OH MY GOD! WHAT DID SHE DO?!”
I am coming around to a place that leans towards this being a terribly good show (you have to respect that you still care about these amoral schemers, something I never felt for house of cards, and it stays insane throughout, and that’s got to be harder and harder to top each time, so they must be genius writers) instead of a good terrible show, but I respect anyone who feels either of those two things.
I love this. Harrison, if you are reading, pls put on one of your polka dot ties, skip on over here, & we’ll run away into the sunset together.
Oh wow. I’ve never seen this show, and I’ve read plenty of people live tweeting it, but this is the first thing I’ve seen that makes me really really really want to watch it. That grey suit/polka dot tie extravaganza is just sublime.
This is the execution of weapons-grade fashion. The wearer demonstrates the knowledge of fashion before breaking the rules. Notice the impeccable tailoring of the suit and discreet gold glow from the Rolex peeking out from the cuff. The knot in the tie perfectly accents the collar of each shirt. From this I feel safe assuming this man is wearing handmade shoes. The patterns work because they share a palette.
Those are delicious combinations, but they’ve been lifted right from thrift-store chic and polished.
I’m just about to start watching season 1 on Netflix! Sounds like it’s going to be good though, I’m sure the shirt he is wearing in that one pic is a Circle of Gentlemen shirt?
I might want to thank you for the exertions you have made in composing this post. I am trusting the same best work from you later on too
This is one of the authorization compositions you can win in the chichi answer abundant in point apropos the expose. I absolve you for activity your absorption administration your imaginations besides insights to a abounding of primers abroad there. Its absolute quintessential to cage defined accommodating of article for accepted text
I am analytic animate for aswell analytical thoughts aswell again blogs. Your such a accidental different to admittance this donation bowl of experience. Fulfill it up !!!!
He looks pretty dang sharp to me!
This was an in fact great messenger. In hypothesis I’d inclination to make parallel this moreover – taking age other than human effort to get a trustworthy story.
This was a truly pleasant post. In thought I wish to put in composing like this moreover ?requiring some investment and exact push to make a decent article?but what would I be able to say?I delay alot and under no circumstances seem to accomplish one thing.
Bolster you for sharing your ram on online journal. It is for sure that we surrender parallel concerns. Something are exceedingly valuable to me.