When Gossip Girl premiered in 2007, the rich-kids-gone-wild drama used its hallway as a runway, making private-school plaid and applique headbands instantly cove table (even designer Anna Sui is hooked: she based her entire Target collection on the nighttime soap). But in the show's third season, now airing on Monday nights, Blair, Serena, and Vanessa are headed to college (while Jenny rules the school as a junior), which means bye-bye jumpers and hello, well, what? "There will definitely be more of an adult allure to the wardrobe," says costume designer Eric Damian, a former model who once worked as an assistant to Patricia Field on Sex and The City. Damian talks to ELLE.com about the ladies of Gossip Girl and the inspiration behind their ever-evolving wardrobes. Plus, ELLE shops the look so you can crib their style.
ON BLAIR'S GRADUATION FROM THE PREP SCHOOL UNIFORM:
"Our little uptown Blair will go downtown to NYU, but her wardrobe won't. Instead of trying to fit in with Lower East Side hipsters, she will retain her glamour with more severe lines and constructed garments. It's all very architectural. [There's] chic gray flannels, tweeds, and rich gem tones. Gone are the little girl plaids."
ON DRESSING SERENA'S NEW STARDOM:
"After a wild summer in Europe, Serena is in need of attention. She amps up her wardrobe (and hemlines!) with Ibiza-inspired beaded vests paired with denim hot shorts, [which] have the paparazzi watching her parade back to her bad-girl ways. But Serena gets ready to go to Brown in constructed boyfriend blazers paired with silky short rompers."
Serena’s Style
Serena’s sense of style on the show is said to be “inspired by Kate Moss.” That means that she mixes lots of fashion-forward and vintage pieces together for a look that is “Boho chic” with a rocker-chick edge.
Like her style icon Ms. Moss, Serena is not afraid to wear something crazy if she’s in love with it, can throw anything on and make it look effortlessly fabulous, and she will never leave the house without putting a unique spin on her outfit!
Of course, Serena’s style is also inspired by the upper east side, so there is always an element of classic chic that gets thrown into the mix. Serena’s clothes may not always look it, but most are very expensive designer pieces, made in luxurious fabrics and costing hundreds of dollars.Don’t worry, though. It’s easy to emulate Serena’s style and look just as fabulous for much less money! Once you have the basics down, it’s very simple to make that “I just threw this on” look yours.
Blair Waldorf Style
Blair’s style is very classic, preppy, and polished. She always looks as if she stepped out of a department store window; her outfit is flawless, and she never has a hair out of place. Blair’s fashion sense is definitely the quintessential upper-east-side stereotype, and she’s not ashamed of it!
Blair would never step outside with unwashed hair, wear an outfit that didn’t match, or buy anything “distressed” or “boho chic.” That said, here are some of Blair’s signature looks, pieces you can almost always catch Ms. Waldorf wearing around the streets of Manhattan.
Blair would never step outside with unwashed hair, wear an outfit that didn’t match, or buy anything “distressed” or “boho chic.” That said, here are some of Blair’s signature looks, pieces you can almost always catch Ms. Waldorf wearing around the streets of Manhattan.
