Style Guide

How to Dress Like a Boss: 10 Style Tips Inspired by Empire's Cookie Lyons

Who run the world? Cookie, and with her fierce fashion cues as a guiding force, you can too.

By Sarah Rufca Nielsen September 21, 2015

#1: Animal Print

In the wild, it's the tigresses and lionesses that rule the pride. If you want to convey boldness and daring, you can't go wrong with head-to-toe cat-itude.

Photography by Courtesy of Fox

#2: The Element of Surprise

When curve-hugging dresses and plenty of cleavage is what you wear on the average Tuesday, how do you top that when you need to seduce your ex-husband? Show up to dinner in your most fabulous fur and not much else.

#3 Statement Jewelry

It was Theodore Roosevelt who advised others to speak softly and carry a big stick. In the business world, sticks are discouraged, but major piece of jewelry has much the same effect.

#4 Keep It Classy

Taking it down a notch does not preclude Cookie from wearing sequins, but the demure cut of her dress works to show she doesn't have to try too hard, even when saying grace means spearing a rival: "God, please do not withhold your blessings, even from hoes that hire skanks to spy on me."

#5 Make It Monochrome

Complement your body-conscious abstract dress with an office decorated entirely in the same white/beige/gold color family. This poses a wardrobe challenge but if Cookie can make it work, so can you.

#6: Wear Red

No one can keep their eyes off a woman in red—Valentino based his entire brand around it.

#7 Hats

Note that every time Cookie trades in one of her sheath dresses for a button-up blouse, she adds a hat to draw attention, add some feminine flair and complete the outfit.

#8 Know Your Power Colors

Cookie's are purple and gold—the colors or royalty and power, obviously—and when she wears them, she usually matches her lipstick to add an exclamation point to the look.

#9 Wear Capes

They make you look like Superwoman.

#10 Be Confident

Do your homework, know your strengths, look your best and then walk around like you own the place—people will believe you.

Sent your DVRs, friends. Season 2 of Fox's hit show Empire debuts on Wednesday night, and while some people are watching for the campy drama and others tune in for the Timbaland-produced original music, we'll be watching, as always, to see what Cookie Lyon (a.k.a. Taraji P. Henson) is wearing. (And what comes out of her mouth. We like that too, kitty boo boo!)

In anticipation, let's review how Cookie, in prison for 17 years while her ex-husband built a music empire, used her sartorial skills to maneuver herself into the most powerful person at Empire Entertainment in Season 1. Who run the world? Cookie, and with her fashion cues as a guiding force, you can too.

Empire, Workwear

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