Gossip Girl Fashion – Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass.

Everyone  has  muses  and  sources  of  inspiration  when  it  comes  to  fashion. One  of  my  favorite  sources  of  inspiration  stem  from  the  cast  of  Gossip Girl.   I  have  followed  Gossip  Girl  from  the  book  series  to  the  television  where  it  debuted  into one  of  the  most  popular  shows  for  young  adults  on  television.  I  think  one  of  the  reasons  for  this  is  the  fashion.

The  fashion  is much  like  New  York  itself - cutting  edge,  chic,  cosmopolitian,  and  brilliant. The  show  itself  takes  place  in  various  chic  places  in  New  York  City  and  portrays  a  world  of  fantasy  and  suspense. The  fashion  is  cutting  edge  and  everyone  wears  the  latest  designers.

But,  most  of  the  characters  have  their  own  signature  personal  style  which  provides  a  certain  inspiration for  viewers  and  fans  of  the  show.  And  this  is  perhaps  why  this  is  one  of  the most  popular  shows  on  television.  One of  my  favorite  things  to  study  on  this  show  is  the  fashion.

My  favorite  stylish  couple  would  probably  be  Blair  Waldorf and  Chuck  Bass played  by Leighton  Meester  and Ed  Westwick  as  seen  below.

Photo Credit:  Gossip Girl Insider

Blair  and  Chuck  are  a  perfect  match  for  each  other,  but  I’m  only  talking  about the  style  this  time!  Cosmopolitan  and  chic  would  describe  their  style  perfectly. Blair’s  style  is  the  classic,  feminine,  and  polished  and  Chuck  always  looks  refined  and  dapper.  If  you  want  a  coat  like  Blair’s,  look  for  peacoats  with  feminine  touches  like  quality  details  and  ruffles.   Blair  has  worn  a lot  of  Burberry  in  Season  3,  but  you  can’t  go  wrong  with  Milly,  Marc  Jacobs,  J.Crew,  or  Banana  Republic  either.   For  handbags,  Blair  isn’t  into  trendy  handbags  but  prefers  classic  handbag  styles.

Gentlemen,  if  you  want  a refined  suit  like  Chuck, I  would  advise  looking  into  a custom  tailor  for  the  modern  male  silhouette  of  broad  shoulders,  a slim  waist,  and  slim  trousers. This  should  have  you  covered  for  the  average  suit,  but  anyone  who  watches  the  show  will  realize  that  Chuck  Bass  lives  in  his  suits.  And  it’s  no  surprise  that  he  wouldn’t  dabble  with  a double  breasted  suit  or  a classic  three  piece  suit.   When  you  purchase a  double  breasted  suit,  look  for  the  Kent cut  named  after a  style  popularized  by  Prince  George  where a  longer  lapel  extends  into  the  waist. This  will  add  height  to  your  frame  and  if  tailored  correctly,  a  slimmer  waist.

When  you  purchase a  three  piece  suit,  look  for  cohesian. The  waistcoast  has  to be  in  the  same  fabric  as  the  other  two  pieces. Stick  to  a similar  color  palette  and  unless  you  work  in  the  fashion  industry,  stick  to  pinstripes  and  forgo  any  other  pattern. Look  for a  waistcoat  whose  V-shape  stops somewhere  between  the  sternum  and  the  base  of  your  rib  cage.

 

Gossip Girl Style Series: Jenny Humphrey.

Little J has come a long way, as style observers would note. When Gossip Girl was just warming up on the CW, Jenny’s biggest concern was trying to fit in. She often dressed like the other girls, but soon enough, her true colors showed and her long peacoats were probably not designer and her headbands probably did not cost somewhere in the triple digits.

She tried to look like everyone else and hence, her style wasn’t as much fun to observe and covet like some of our other favorites.  But, just when the show started heating up on the CW, style observers noted Jenny’s sudden stroke of creativity with her style.  She may have not been born in a lap of luxury and couldn’t afford to outfit herself in the very best, but she completely reinvented her own look to something that’s completely her.

And suddenly, everyone is starting to talk about Jenny’s style.

How to Get Jenny’s Style…

Photo Credit: CW

Jenny’s new style pays a glance to the latest trends and it’s a bit rocker chic. She still loves her hats and often gives nods to the latest trends. What’s important to remember is to pay attention to the latest trends that work for you. And if pink and black doesn’t exactly float your boat? That’s okay. Find a color combination that you like and build your wardrobe around it. If you’re dressing like Jenny, this is important to remember.

Get Jenny’s Hair and Make-Up

Photo Credit: CW

Jenny gave herself a head-to-toe makeover, which does and doesn’t always work for everyone. If you’re tempted to copy Jenny’s hair, make sure you look good with bangs! Some styles can actually make some face shapes appear wider or less attractive.  Jenny wears her hair poker straight a lot now, so you’ll want to invest in a quality ceramic hair straightener like the Sedu. A quality hair straightener can actually do less damage to your hair than a cheaper one can. Blow dry until your hair is completely dry. You don’t want to use any hot irons on wet hair, otherwise you can damage your hair far worse than any deep conditioning can fix. Straighten your hair by working your way up from the bottom layers.  Spritz with hairspray.

For Jenny’s make-up, she concentrates on her eyes. Apply sunscreen, foundation, and concealer as usual. Apply a peachy pink blush and blend it into your cheeks. For her eyes, apply a shimmery grey shadow to your eyelids and you’ll want to line the top and bottom of your eyelids with a liquid eyeliner. Use a steady hand to create a straight line. If you’re more experienced, you can continue and create a cat eye for a more dramatic look. If you’re not as experienced, just use a steady hand to create a straight line before using a Q-Tip to smudge it which will create a smokey look. Blend this with the grey shadow. Apply about two coats of mascara and finish with a nude gloss on your lips.  Keep the rest of your face minimal.

You don’t necessarily have to dress like Jenny either, because spending money on all of those trends and accessories do add up. If you don’t want to dress like Jenny, but still want to stand out from the crowd, it’s time to develop your own personal style. That’s right. Do as Jenny did on the show and branch off in your peers and create your own look. Regardless, if you have to design it yourself.

5 Tips to Developing Your Own Personal Style…

1. Create an inspiration wall.

Clip out ads, photos, and quotes from magazines that just. hit. home. to you. Chances are, these will inspire you and your new look the most.

2. Be your own Sartorialist.

Instead of waiting around for Scott Schuman to stop you on the sidewalk, start taking pictures of some of your favorite daily outfits worn together. It’s easy to visualize how perfect something would look, but once worn, you can get a better sense of your coloring, shape, and the proportions. Does it work? What would you change about it?

3. Host a clothing swap!

Junk in one hand can be a treasure in another hand. You’ll never know what some of your stylish friends might have on hand and what they’ll want to trade off of you.

4. Get thrifty.

Honestly, I turned my nose up a few times at my local TJ Maxx and Ross too. Hey, I’m a small town girl, and some of us just aren’t lucky enough to find a pair of $15 Citizens hiding between the racks!  But, we’re also the same people who can’t necessarily easily offer $200 for a pair of jeans everytime either.

What to do, what to do. My advice is to keep checking back periodically and be more open-minded about it. You may also want to try another store closer to a bigger city which may have what you’re looking for. You can also bump into great outlet stores like the Neiman’s and Nordstrom outlet too.

5. Time is what it takes.

Every great piece is acquired with time based on a certain period or trend. Don’t be afraid to make lists and make mistakes in your search. You’re only pushing the envelope further.

 

Gossip Girl Style Series: Serena Van Der Woodsen.

If Serena Van Der Woodsen (played by Blake Lively) wasn’t a work of fiction, you can bet that Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist would stop her on the New York City streets.  She wears all of the labels from Christian Louboutin to Versace. She’s not afraid to experiment with a new trend or she can throw on anything and look effortlessly fabulous.  She’s the epitome of trendy fashionista, with a small touch of uptown girl polish leftover from her roots.

Serena’s Style Tips

Ask any trendy girl.  Everyone has a favorite go-to designer. Serena’s favorite go-to designer is Vena Cava. Although Vena Cava creates denim and leggings, Serena lets her girly side pour out by modeling their dresses as seen in the photo above from Season 2.  You can view the dresses on the website, but some of the dresses can range well into the triple dollar mark range!

Serena’s look for cheap.

To get this look without breaking the bank, scout out dresses that have unexpected details, sequins, and studs on them.  As Serena likes to keep up with the latest trends, you might want to try a maxi dress in a pretty floral pattern.  You can scout out similar dresses to what Serena would wear at Bluefly and  Forever 21. Or you can take a plain cotton dress like the one above and dress it up with a belt. Keep your jewelry and accessories understated, but fresh.

Notte by Marchesa Spring 2009 Dress

If you think you wore something new before, Serena’s probably worn it first. Serena’s always on top of the latest designers from Fashion Week. But, it’s not just about who designed it. Serena also pays attention to the latest trends before carefully incorporating them into her free-spirited, yet polished style.  This Notte by Marchesa is a perfect example as Serena exhibits the ever popular one shoulder trend which is very hot this season and can be worked by everyone. Make it a dress too – or go with a top!

Other trends that you might want to pay attention to are zippers and blazers. Zippers have been showing up everywhere on the runways, such as outside of dresses and running up the edge of boots.  Blazers are perfect for chilly Autumn days when you need a cover-up without having the need to bundle up already. Solids are key, but don’t be afraid to branch out to stripes and patterns.  If you still crave Serena’s prep school look, look into getting your blazer tailored so you can always look just as put-together. It’s also important to remember that you’re not expected to try out every trend out there, but only the ones that pertain to your personal style.

Photo Credit: Google

Serena literally changes cell phones like the weather! Perhaps she has a few phones to match her outfits or she changes her cell phone based on her mood, but it’s not just about function here.

“Strate” Tall Boots from Chinese Laundry, $89

Photo Credit: Google

Accessories certainly aren’t skimped on!  Serena’s signature accessory would be her boots. Although she wore a lot of boots on previous seasons, a good pair of quality boots will help navigate any trendy fashionista throughout her daily rituals on a chilly Autumn day. Invest in a good, quality pair (Try Chinese Laundry, Aldo, or Nine West) and you’ll have a pair for this season and beyond. If you don’t fall in love with another pair, that is.

As far as jewelry goes, Serena’s style is still boho chic so don’t be afraid to layer some of your favorite understated pieces together.

Serena isn’t afraid to let her hair down, but that doesn’t mean she still doesn’t not look cute either. After you wash your hair, work mousse through damp hair (Try Garnier) and blow dry it with a diffuser and scrunch it to give your hair some very natural beach waves. But, hold on. Now we style. Heat up a 1.5 inch barrel curling iron and curl your hair in sections starting with the bottom layers and working your way up. Finish your hair with light hold hairspray, gently toss, and go.

Serena pulls off effortless style with every season. What was your favorite season? What do you think of her style? What’s your favorite trend this season, in general?

Next week…a sneak peek into Jenny’s style!

 

Gossip Girl Style Series – Blair Waldorf.

In honor of the Season 3 premiere tonight, I decided to create a style series of some the most stylish characters on Gossip Girl over the span of the next few weeks. So, I can’t promise you designer labels, but I can promise you a more attainable way to score a fresh and innovative wardrobe based on your favorite character on Gossip Girl.

For my first installment, I’ll be starting with Blair Waldorf who is played by Leighton Meester on the show.

Photo Credit: Google

Blair loves old-fashioned movies and is obsessed with Audrey Hepburn. It’s no surprise that this is reflected in her personal style. It’s always very polished, classic, ladylike, and glamorous – very much like her favorite Breakfast at Tiffany’s actress. Blair always looks like she stepped outside of a department store window; her outfit is flawless; and she never has a hair out of place.

Get Her Style

The occasion could be Sunday Brunch or going out to dinner. But, Blair always dresses up for everything.  She prefers dresses, but you could also choose knee length skirts if you’re more comfortable with that too. She pairs these with patterned tights (Try: Urban Outfitters or Bloomingdale’s) in the Winter and she has bare legs in the warmer months.

Look for structured dresses in high-quality details. Blair’s a total girly girl, and loves lace, a belt, and ruffles for details so you might make want to make note of this. Try shopbop.com or Forever 21 for an array of dresses. She will very often pair her dresses with a patterned peacoat in the Winter and a light sweater in a bold color in the warmer months.

This is Blair’s traveling outfit. Her traveling outfit reflects her classic and ladylike style that is a reminder to how one of the old Hollywood actresses might have worn in one of the many old movies she likes to watch. Her look is polished and ladylike, and she also is big on matching with another feminine touch to her style.

Photo Credit: Google

Contrary to belief, Blair Waldorf isn’t a blackberry girl.  Or an iPhone girl!  On top of a hectic academic schedule, charity events, and her social calendar, she is still a busy girl. But, wherever she is, she doesn’t let her wireless phone consume her when she values the amount of time spent from the person in the room. Well, most of the time.  When gossip rings, her handy LG EnV cell phone comes in handy for sending a quick text.

Photo Credit: Google

A Waldorf doesn’t wear flannel pajamas to bed, as she prefers the comfort and luxury of designer negilee.  And hanging around the house doesn’t mean wearing sweats!  Blair prefers a satin dressing gown instead.  Try Nordstrom for classy negilees.

Hair and Make-Up

Photo Credit: Google

Blair’s medium length brown hair is often styled in loose waves with lots of volume. If your hair is thin, invest in a volumizing shampoo (Try Aveda or Frederic Fekkai) and wash your hair. Now  If your blowdryer doesn’t have a “Cool” setting, use Thermasilk Heat Protecting Spray on your hair before you blowdry your hair smooth. If your hair is naturally very curly, straighten it with a flat iron to get your strands super sleek. If your hair is naturally straight, use a curling product to bring out your natural waves. Separate your hair into section and starting at the bottom layer, curl your hair with a 1″ barrel curling iron. After curling, spritz lightly with some hairspray. After styling, apply some frizz serum through your hair to prevent frizz. (Try John Frieda Frizz-Ease Hair Serum)

For make-up, you’ll want to invest in a good mascara, a pinkish brown blush (if not blush and a bronzer), and if you often have blotchiness, a good foundation (Try HD Makeup Forever at Sephora) . As Blair is not naturally tan, she still likes to give her cheeks a bit of a sun-kissed glow.  Try using a large fluffy brush (Try a Kabuki Makeup Brush) to dust some bronzer before you apply a brush, if you don’t find a good pinkish-brown blush along the apples of your cheeks. Keep your make-up simple and classic, like the rest of your outfit. To finish, dust some shimmer powder along the edges of your face and up to your forehead. This will emphasize how your light reflects light naturally and give you a radiant glow.

Up Next Week:  Serena, Serena.  Get Serena Van Der Woodsen’s style.

What did you think of this post?

Do you love Blair Waldorf’s style? Do you have anymore tips to share? What do you think of the premiere of Season 3, and more importantly, the clothes? Let us know in the comments!

 

Project Runway – Season Six.

Season Six

How long has this show been airing again?  There’s something about it that doesn’t get old, and nobody can replace it.  Issac Mizhari and Kelly Rowland made an attempt at The Fashion Show this summer.

Although a few of the designers had more talent and didn’t send any of their models bare down the runway (which always seems to happen at least once during every season of PR). But, I just lost interest after the third episode.  It was just like Bravo’s renactment with NYC Prep to Gossip Girl.  Since the popularity of the teen soap on the CW, teens everywhere have been obsessed with fashion, prep schools, and parties.  So, Bravo took a chance with NYC Prep. NYC Prep actually documents the real lives of a few exclusive prep schoolers in New York City.  But, NYC Prep still didn’t knock anything out of the park that Gossip Girl didn’t already.  Loyal fans still know where to go for their fix, and they know waiting for something often proves more worthwhile results in the end. And they will wait for Fall.

The same could be said about each upcoming season of Project Runway. It keeps coming back, but it clearly has an established fanbase as well.  Perhaps it’s the judges, from Michael Kors to Nina Garcia’s constructive criticism and wit to one surprise lavish guest judge (Diane Von Furtstenburg has been known to make a few appearances in the past.) to Heidi Klum. Heidi’s more of a supermodel, but she’s also a mother too.  Combine that with the amount of diverse personality from the designer panel every season. There’s always a character every season that stands out (Santino Rice or Christian Siriano, anyone?), even if they aren’t designing clothes. They are making you laugh. Regardless, if it’s a designer doing it, or Tim Gunn with one of his witty catchphrases.

There are a few changes with Season Six. For starters, the models talk about what life is like both on and off the stage, because PR is a competition for them too, don’t forget.  There’s always something changing on PR. Combine that with the personality and everybody’s love for fashion, and you really can’t go wrong.

PR airs on Lifetime at 10pm on Thursday nights.