Things are heating up in the Empire tonight—and InStyle got an exclusive sneak peak! Ahead of tonight’s brand-new episode, we caught up with the show’s incredibly talented costume designer, Rita McGhee, to discuss one of Cookie’s (Taraji P. Henson) raciest looks this season.
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After Lucious (Terrence Howard) offers a romantic, flowery gesture on their anniversary last week, Cookie assumes that the two are getting back together when he asks her out to dinner.
In the opening scene of tonight’s episode—spoiler alert!—Cookie is frantically scouring through her to-die-for closet to find the perfect outfit for what she thinks will be her first date with Lucious since their divorce.“Cookie tries on everything from bedazzled dresses and skirts to fierce animal prints,” McGhee tells InStyle. “She wants to find a look that will not only make Lucious want her but will also make her feel and look strong and beautiful. It’s all about the art of seduction and for Cookie, an important part of that is feeling confident.”
After trying on several sizzling looks, Cookie chooses a vintage, plush, purple fur coat with very little underneath—nothing but Victoria’s Secret lingerie! “She goes with fur and lingerie because she owns and embraces her femininity and her sexuality. She decides she’s really going in for the kill tonight,” McGhee revealed. “She went with purple because it’s Lucious’s favorite color—I mean, she pulled out all the stops. She was in it to win it.” Unfortunately, things quickly take a turn for the worse and the evening does not go as Cookie had planned.
Tune in to Fox tonight at 9 p.m. ET to see how the “cookie” crumbles, and check back tomorrow on InStyle.
com for a full fashion recap on all the fabulous looks from the episode.SHOP: 3 Essential Tips for Valentine’s Day Lingerie Shopping