Gossip Girl: The Ex Files

Finally.

Back at school.  

Not that I don't have a bone to pick with their attempt at reality, but more on that later.

First, I had a specific request for Blair's rhinestone headband.  

It's Jennifer Behr, but the real mystery is the cape.  No one on the internets can find it!

Apparently, the uniforms are coming from French Toast, which is actually a uniform store.  Who knew?  The real covetable item?  Her shoes, which are Nine West!  I'll race you there....

The parents in TV shows are typically a snoozefest (see 90120, My So-Called Life) but I perked up when I saw Lily in this Stella McCartney floral top.  

But I came crashing down to reality when I found that it was sold out everywhere.  

And now!  Field hockey!!  

As a chick who knew how to handle a stick in high school, I am well versed in the art of traipsing around the halls in a game outfit and hiking up that skirt.  (Actually, I knew a girl who had hers professionally altered to be shorter and poufier.)

Although...I accessorized with a mouthguard, not gumball sized pearls.  Maybe that's why we smoked the all girls schools when we played them.

Also, holy Herve Leger Batman!

No mortal should attempt to wear this dress.  Ever.

And now for my reality check.  

No way that girls from Constance Billard (aka Nightingale Bamford) would hang out with Dalton guys.  They would go for Collegiate or Trinity for sure.

Gossip Girl: The Dark Night

This episode just proves the theory that satin equals evil.  Witness Catherine's omnipresent Diane von Furstenburg wrap tops.

This episode revealed little that was covetable for me.  it was more about the one liners and teenagers not knowing who's tongue was in their mouth.

I did like Blair's 3.1 Phillip Lim pleated silk grecian dress....

but it seems to be out of stock everywhere!

Also interesting in this episode...Jenny seems to be wearing maternity tops as dresses!

Oh, those wacky high schoolers.

This one is Rebecca Taylor and you can find a similar dress/top from her here.

So, the plot in this ep?  Good.  The clothes?  Meh.

Next up?  Back to school!  Field hockey skirts!

On the Move

I'm headed to Chicago this weekend!  So, I'm looking for recommendations of places to shop, cool, neighborhoods to hang in and cafes for a caffeine fix!  Help me out!

photo courtesy of chicagophotos.blogspot.com

Gossip Girl: Never Been Marcused

Honestly, I thought this episode was a little filler-ish and I had a devil of a time tracking down most of the good outfits from this one.  Especially Blair's toile dress from the party at the Hudson.  

I've also noticed that as Serena's plot line gets lamer, so do her clothes.  The stylist seems to rely heavily on shiny silk.  A sure sign of poor plot twists to come.

Blair's headband here is Forever 21!  While most of the headbands (and there are many) come from Jennifer Behr and are beautiful, I have to say that the selection at Forever 21 is pretty great and a much easier price point.

Her necklace, however, will set you back a cool $1200 at the Garland Collection.  So, yeah.  I'd probably go for the headband.

Serena's only decent outfit (because I was NOT a fan of her boho maxi dress with the boobs hanging out) was courtesy of Wayne.  See...with the shiny silk.  Portent of dull conversations with Dan to come.

Blair's dress is Marc by Marc Jacobs and was on sale at Cusp sometime in mid-July.  I believe it is officially sold out and this one is definitely tailored on her.  I tried it on.  I know.

Ugh, enough with summer!  I want blazers and tie blouses and tights!

photos courtesy of gossipgirlinsider.com

Third Time's the Charm: Part Two

In which I try desperately to fulfill my need for thick glorious lashes at the drugstore.

My new office building has a CVS in it.

I'll let that soak in for a second.

Yup, so that means that on my way into the office, out of the office, to grab lunch, to go to a meeting, coming back from a meeting (you get the point) I can stop into the drugstore and browse the new mascaras, eyeliners, shampoos, etc.

It's very dangerous.  Especially since I jones for new mascara like Heidi must jones for synthetic fillers.

So, on one of these trips, I noticed that Maybelline mascaras were two for one!  I picked up a tube of my current love of the moment, the XXL and was struck by a fat yellow tube labeled COLOSSAL.

Since I didn't have the foresight to have someone lash (no pun intended) to the mast of a ship or something, I could not resist the siren song of the promise of thick glossy lashes.

So imagine the let down when I busted open the tube and discovered a similar wet formula like the Lash Blast.  Seriously....are these the same?  The Colossal was distinguished by an uber funky smell.

That was special.

I tried once or twice to use it again but was put off by the smell.

And into the trash it went.

to be continued....

No joke, as I was writing this post and watching The Hills (that's right, I multitask) the commercial for this mascara came on.  No mention of funk smell.  Call the FTC.

photo courtesy of drugstore.com

Gossip Girl Fashion: Summer, Kind of Wonderful

Welcome to the belated first edition of my Gossip Girl fashion recaps!

The main problem with this episode is the fact that all the summery fashions that they featured are not looking as interesting right now since wools and jewel toned fall clothes are cramming all the stores.

Still, with a DC indian summer almost guaranteed, there were a few google-worthy dresses.

First up, Serena's silky looking tank dress was Vena Cava and is currently on sale at Revolve Clothing.  Although, like many of my friends did with their field hockey skirts, you'll have to hem it about six inches to achieve this look.  

The bag is Chanel, and, as a note to costumers, make it look like she's carrying more than a lipgloss in there.  Real New York private schoolers carry about 8 tons of crap including three half empty cartons of cigarettes, crumpled receipts from your parents' credit card, an oversized Gucci wallet and three electronic devices.  That thing would be bulging at the patent seams.

Blair is sporting the Garden Party dress from Alice + Olivia and good luck if you want one.  It seems like it's sold out across the internets.  However, if you just love the pattern, there is a blouse in the same pattern available.  The purse is Kate Spade.

At the White Party, which is super trashy in real life, Blair's adorable mini dress is Marc by Marc Jacobs, also shortened to crotch baring levels.  However, her shoes like the crappy ones that came with Barbie dolls in the late 1980's.  

Clunky!  And not in a good way.

Serena's fabulous grecian looking dress is Oscar de la Renta from Spring 08. If you can find it or even find a price tag, god bless. I also think this would make a stellar wedding dress if you are so inclined. Maybe with a little less boob, but still. Also, why does Serena kissing look like a bob and weave act?  It's freaky.

Last, my favorite dress for real life is Blair's green Milly dress.  If this episode had aired in June, I would have dropped everything and bought the dress, but alas, with fall looming large, I'll hold out and see what kind of preppy blazers and knee high boots are in store in future episodes...

Until next time...well, you know the line.

(just a caveat about these, I'm only picking the fashions I liked best.  If there is something I can try to track down, let me know in the comments and I'll do my best.)

photos courtesy of gossipgirlinsider.com and teamsugar.com

Third Time's the Charm: Part One

In which our heroine (that's me!) tries out various mascaras to find one that meets all of her needs.  

Ok, we've all seen the ads with Drew Barrymore flaunting her huge fat lashes on tv while hawking Cover Girl Lash Blast.

The tube echoes that fat volumtastic lash appeal.

But in practice?

Not blowing my skirt up, if you know what I mean.

It was not really a thick volume boosting formula, but a thin wet coat that made my lashes stick together and smudge on my lower eyelids.

So, Drew, I think much like Charlie's Angels 2, I'll pass on this offering.

photo courtesy of drugstore.com

A Peace Offering

Some of you may have noticed the lack of Project Runway recapping this season.

Wellllll....

To be perfectly frank, my heart just isn't in it.

I'm not sure when it happened.  Maybe it was the thirtieth bubble skirt walking down the runway.  Maybe it was the faux hawks gone mad.  Maybe it was the perfect storm of the third person narratives, forced catchphrases, and guest star judges.

But somewhere along the line I lost interest and I haven't been able to muster the snark to produce a recap of any decent quality.

For recaps worth your reading time, I direct you to New York Magazine's The Cut and all the good stuff from Blogging Project Runway.

And, as the aforementioned peace offering, I propose doing a weekly recap of the fashions of Gossip Girl.  Since I often find myself googling frantically at lunch on Tuesdays to find Blair's cute dresses or Serena's knee high boots, I thought others might be doing the same.  

Truce?