Gossip Girl Fashion: 'Raiders of the Lost Art'
JustJared, Style.com

I haven't done a Gossip Girl Fashion post in ages. The show's fashion has been quite bland ever since it came back from its last break so I have just been watching. But since next week's episode is the penultimate of the season I thought I would at least choose the bits and bobs I liked because, let's face it, I am probably going to miss it over the summer.

I would like to thank the GG stylist team for finally injecting the show with some new designers. It was all about the Dries van Noten (FW11) blue tweed coat Blair wore this week. I loved how it looked paired with the patterned tights. I was not as big a fun of the citrus Brian Atwood pumps as part of this look – as much as it's about a POC this season. But I appreciate the fact that B recycled her shoes from earlier in the season.
I was also a fan of her other look – a classic camel coat covering up the (ironic) Hervé Léger dress and nude Sergio Rossi heels she has worn before in hot pink. The POC here was the Louis Vuitton  Monogram Fascination Lockit Bag in mustard.

JustJared

Serena kept things quite simple this week. She spent most of the episode in a simple look – the good part came with her outdoor ensemble. She wore a black coat with a chic pair of Repetto lace-up shoes, a funky Theodora & Callum scarf (worn before by quite a few celebrities) and, my favourite, a Jimmy Choo Lara Woven shoulder bag holding a Marc by Marc Jacobs laptop cover.

Plot-wise things have picked up quite a bit lately – we have found out who Chuck's real mum and dad are (or have we?) and the Gossip Girl username and password has got around. But the biggest shock yet came at the end of this weeks episode, which I won't spoil to anyone who hasn't seen it yet. As the cast of Laguna Beach would say – So. Much. Drama.

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Last week I eventually decided against posting about Gossip Girl because I didn't have time to do it for Wednesday/Thursday and, to be honest, the fashion wasn't that notable anyway. This week's 'The Big Sleep No More' episode isn't particularly exciting fashion-wise but at least there's a couple of changes of clothes for every character. Even Serena!
Blair had a big big miss and quite a hit in this episode. The miss was her day look. I don't know if they're getting too much inspiration from the Duchess of Cambridge but it's not working. The headpiece is completely out of place and even though I love the Dolce & Gabbana dress the thick black tights really spoil the vibe. I did appreciate the details, though. I love the Roger Vivier 'Diligence' bag and the cuff and the Phillip Lim shoes are super chic. The hit was her evening look –an embellished cocktail number by Oscar de la Renta that needed no extra accessorising. Alas, this better look is only in the episode for a short time.
My only question is, why isn't anyone wearing a coat? This is supposed to be New York in November.

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Once again Serena (and when I say Serena I really mean the show's stylist, but you get the idea) was the best dressed this week. Not because she's trying particularly hard but because everyone else is looking so rubbish. Especially Charlie/Ivy. I have no words for her day look. It's like she's trying to be Serena on a budget and with a flat annoying face. I am only hoping that the cute M Missoni cardigan she wore this week is the beginning of slightly better fashion choices. Her evening dress I could have not minded were it not for the tacky flower details at the bottom of the skirt. Could someone put in a request for a wonder bra for her?
Serena's day look was very her. I am starting to get a bit tired of these boho city looks, though. Start wearing winter wear, it's bloody November! Serena is a huge Mulberry fan, I gather, and this week she's trying out the 'Harriet' bag, which she paired with a stunning statement necklace and a pair of studded burgundy Brian Atwoods that I loved. Her Moschino evening moment was so sexy. Not many people could pull off that many details on a dress but she looks very elegant and young. I simply love it!

1. Furla python satchel, 2. Prada python and suede ankle-strap platform pumps, 3. Miu Miu suede chunky ankle boots, 4. Gucci python platform pumps,
5. Chloé crossbody bag, 6. Jimmy Choo suede and snake platform sandals, 7. Gucci small top handle bag

Giulia and I were talking the other day about how we had left accessories on the side lately, which is true. So I endeavoured her to find her favourite bags and shoes from the fall/winter 2011 collections from the Saks.com website. We decided to group them in three of the biggest accessory trends this season –70's, colour blocking and sparkle.

Going through the accessory section of the Saks' website is quite an experience. They have over two thousand shoes and over a thousand bags in stock! You can imagine how long it took us to go through both sections to pick our favourites. But it was sort of fun to see all the range that brands have for this season.
I wanted to start with the 70's because it's my personal favourite. I love the rich colour palette combined with the snakeskin and the suede. I love the colour block items to add a pop of colour during the winter when we all tend to wear so many dark colours. It just looks perfect to put a bright purple shoe with a black trouser! The spark is Giulia's favourite, she really likes her glitter! Miu Miu is obviously the master in that department and I must admit I am really into all these dark glitter that seems a perfectly glamourous choice for an evening look.

Pop of Colour

1. Rochas 'Borsa Rosa', 2. Elizabeth and James strappy leather sandals, 3. Boutique 9 wedge platform pumps, 4. Gucci Huston suede platform pumps,
5. Brian Atwood suede and metal platform pumps, 6. Fendi Silvana top handle bag, 7. Vionnet leather pochette, 8. Bottega Veneta messenger bag

Evening Sparkle

1. Miu Miu crisscross glitter ankle boots, 2. Proenza Schouler glitter pumps, 3. Miu Miu glitter pumps, 4. Anya Hindmarch glitter clutch,
5. Dior glitter and suede t-strap sandals, 6. Halston Heritage Sabrina mesh pouch

* This post is sponsored by Saks Fifth Avenue

I should know by now that the first episode of each Gossip Girl season is always really good fun but the episode that follows usually disappoints... 'Beauty and the Feast' is not a very eventful episode. We do get to see the last of the cast in LA, which I already said last week I enjoyed, but everything else is otherwise very blah.
What's not blah at all is the Serena's only outfit in this episode. If a van der Woodsen is not going to change three or four times she might as well make an impression with just the one outfit.
Coral and turquoise look so great on her so I'm glad she keeps wearing both. The jacket, which I first thought was this Vanessa Bruno one Rachel Bilson wore months ago, it actually Top Shop. I loved the fact that it was cropped so they paired it up with a high-waisted super short skirt and a striped tank top. And I loved the accessories even more –muted suede Prada sandals, an aquamarine Mulberry 'Taylor' bag, and (my favourite) a pair of Oscar de la Renta earrings with coral, green and turquoise stones. The only thing I wasn't too keen on were the two big flower rings, one also by Oscar, that were just a tad too much!

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Blair's looks weren't as good as in the last episode but I stand by what I said about her grown-up style being a lot more chic than before. For the first part of the episode she wears one of Stella McCartney's famous citrus skirts from SS12. And I loved that she went over the top and kept the citrus vibe alive with a yellow ruffled silk top, an orange handbag and orange Brian Atwood pumps.
I realised I failed to comment on Blair's new hair colour this season. It's so chocolate! But it doesn't always look great. It depends so much on the colours she's wearing, which is a bit of a shame... But it looks amazing throughout this whole episode.
My favourite look this time was this very subtle golden brocade dress by Prada. It fit her like a glove and she kept it very simple but chic with aquamarine earrings and and a pearl colour tube clutch.
The third look was supposed to be some sort of laid-back pyjama ensemble but, of course, it's Blair so there's only so relaxed you can go. No trackie bottoms. Instead, Blair wears a sleeveless silk printed shirt that I really wish they made with a long sleeve for men. I would wear it with a blazer.
It looks like now that she's expecting and marrying a prince she's really stepping the fashion up. It was about time!

We all knew Rachel would get pregnant after the last episode of the Rachel Zoe Project. And she had advised us on her not giving up on fashion despite getting heavier. She has totally lived up to her word so far. Endless websites report, half in awe and half in bewilderment, of her choice of 6-inch Brian Atwood platform shoes at 28 weeks pregnant. Personally, I think that Rachel has never looked better, especially after putting on a few pounds. And I love how she has already trademarked a pregnant look: black leggings, black loose top, sun hat, and Givenchy's Antigona bag. It seems like her threat of giving birth in a vintage Chanel kaftan were very much a declaration of intentions. I just hope we get some snaps of the moment.

I'm off.

[Pictures: Zimbio, brianatwood.com, cache.pixazza.com]