With hugely-budgeted period-piece dramas like Mad Men and Game of Thrones and their enviable dresses, you might not expect a network sitcom to really bring it in the costuming department, but The Mindy Project definitely does. After all, according to Kaling, there are a whopping 19 costume changes in the 21-minute season finale (that’s almost an outfit a minute!) Plus, she recently Instagrammed a picture of her character’s wardrobe, and it’s pretty darn formidable – if you find a veritable rainbow of button-downs, cardigans, wool coats, and pencil skirts formidable, that is.
And without a doubt, Kaling is the style star of the show. Her creatively preppy wardrobe is quite the sight for sore eyes. Who knew you could wear that many colors, prints and layers at the same time? That may sound like a backhanded compliment, but it really is awe-inspiring – a sunshine yellow coat over a houndstooth dress over a heart-printed collared shirt is a feat of nature. She is a veritable explosion of Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, and J. Crew, and again: I mean that in the best way possible.
Like the rom-com heroines she aspires to, her style has pluck, finesse, and more than a touch of eccentricity, all served with a healthy dollop of girlieness on top – she wears glittery sweaters to work out in, after all. She’s always perfectly put together (when she’s not drunkenly driving children’s bikes into pools, or lounging around in sweats and a serial killer-proof mask, that is). She’ll pair a navy blue sweater vest with a pink patent leather belt, or wear a classed-up sweatshirt decorated with rhinestones, or better still, a delicately polka-dotted button-down shirt, coupled with a plaid tie. But whatever it is she wears, you can bet she spent some time concocting the perfect outfit.