Gossip Girl Fashion

8:36 AM

Jewelled headbands, bow ties, bedhead hair and plaid shirts are all items familiar to the pop landscape these days. They all also have something else in common: their origins on the set of Gossip Girl.

Detailing the lives of Upper East Side rich kids such as Blair Waldorf, Serena van der Woodsen and Chuck Bass (as well as the supposedly poor relations, the Humphreys, hanging out in aircraft hanger lofts in Brooklyn) what this crew wore was of as much interest to viewers as the increasingly silly storylines. With a cast wardrobe that regularly featured Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin and Moschino, there was also space for newer designers such as Mary Katrantzou to be introduced to a global audience.

"Fashion is the most powerful art there is. It's movement, design and architecture all in one. It shows the world who we are and who we'd like to be," Blair told Dan in season four, "just like your scarf suggests that you'd like to sell used cars."

Here are six important fashion lessons I have learned from the series:

1.School uniforms don't have to be, well, uniform. Each of the Gossip Girls, from Blair to Jenny to the extras, customized their Constance Billard uniforms with embellished headbands, statement handbags and colorful or patterned tights. Prep-school blazers are still popular, even for those of us who have long since graduated.

2.Adopt a signature accessory to personalize your look. Chuck's J.Press power scarf. Jenny's eyeliner. Serena's hair. Blair's ruby ring, and of course, her headbands.

3.Pajamas can be stylish, too. From Blair Waldorf's bedroom scenes to a fashion show at Agent Provocateur, Gossip Girl showcased some of the best high-end intimates available. While most people sleep in sweatpants and a t-shirt, Manhattan's elite are not most people.

4. Excess-orize. Pile on oversized necklaces, bangles or a chunky knit scarf to add interest to an outfit.

5. Coats don't have to be basic black. The characters used their coats as statement pieces, from Jenny's innocent pink coat in the pilot to Chuck's red Ralph Lauren coat and Serena's wide array of embellished outerwear.