Everyone knows the dialogue. It comes in episode 6 of season 2 when Serena Van Der Woodsen makes the claim that “not everyone wants to be Blair Waldorf,” and of course the icon herself responds with the line, “Not everyone can be.” Well, she was right. Blair rocked luxury mixed with preppy before it was even a thing. Not everyone can be Blair Waldorf. But we can definitely try. You might not be able to ever replicate the fashion icon that was Blair Waldorf to the tee, but no one ever said we couldn’t bring a little upper-east side charm to our wardrobe.
Unfortunately for all of us who die for Blair’s style, all the outfits worn by Leighton Meester on the set were all strictly designer. This ties in perfectly with the show, as Blair reserved all her shopping and taste for luxury brands such as Diana Von Furstenburg, Chanel, and Valentino. But don’t worry; there are still ways to incorporate some Gossip Girl charm into your wardrobe. Here are some style inspiration tips to help you channel your inner Blair Waldorf in a more realistic and cheaper way. Thank me later.
My favorite part of Blair’s wardrobe was her dress collection. In every episode, she wore a gorgeous new dress or gown for every occasion. One of my favorite dresses of hers was her Thanksgiving ensemble in season 1, episode 9, when she wore a lace Marc by Marc Jacobs dress with a Trina Turk overcoat and her favorite black lace stockings. I think both looks are still in trend today and are perfect for a cute, cozy dinner. If you want to use Blair’s dresses as inspiration in your closet, you should look for classic, expensive-looking pieces that can be either worn alone or layered with other things. She liked more fitting silhouettes and neutral colors for everyday wear and pops of color for special occasions. A lower-priced dress that I can imagine Blair wearing today would be the Beverly & Beck Satin Lace Trim Mini Dress, currently being sold at Pacsun for $29!
As mentioned before, one of Blair’s favorite items were her custom lace stockings from Paris. We can really see how much she loved these stockings when Chuck specifically brought them all the way from Paris just to show her how much he loved her. I mean, we can’t really blame her. Stockings add such a unique look to outfits and can be worn in many ways. They can make people sexy but also classy and expensive. I would highly recommend pairing stockings with mini dresses or skirts this season for a chic look. You can get a cheaper version of Blair’s stockings from Target for only $10!
Although Blair was known for many things, such as her wit, her schemes, and her taste, the only thing that comes to mind when thinking of Blair Waldorf is a headband. Not just any average headbands, but the luxurious headbands she would wear every day. Her headband collection may have been the largest section of her closet, and that’s saying a lot! Headbands will always be in fashion and bring a preppy and posh aesthetic when paired with the right outfit. My favorite headband of Blair’s was her red plaid headband, which she would occasionally wear to school. You can find headbands in many stores, but I would personally recommend the Plaid Puff Headband, currently sold at JCrew for $17!
Dresses, stockings, and headbands were not the only iconic aspects of Blair Waldorf’s closet, but they are a great place to start looking if you want to incorporate some of Blair’s style into your wardrobe. Arguably, fall was the most iconic season for Blair’s outfits, so it’s the perfect time to reinvent yourself. No matter who you are, you can channel your inner upper-east side with the right pieces.