Television: Gossip Girl (2007-2012)

One of the most stylish and fashion-forward American television shows, Gossip Girl, has taken American fashion trends by storm. This New York City, Upper East Side prep school drama's influence on American street style and fashions is undeniable. Although the ridiculous love triangles, plot twists, and unrealistic high school events can seem unbearable, if you have a taste for fashion, this show never gets old. There is no denying that Gossip Girl is aesthetically pleasing and viewers can't wait to sit down to see what leading ladies Serena VanderWoodsen and Blair Waldorf are wearing next. Blair's preppy style of headbands and colored tights and Serena's edginess are looks that young girls all over America covet and use as fashion inspiration. Here is a look back at the top 10 fashion moments and signature styles that won the acclaimed praise they deserve and arguably made Gossip Girl the small screen sensation that it was. 

1. Blair's Headbands

Before Blair Waldorf, wearing bowed headbands was something only young children wore, but Blair made it appropriate and trendy for adults. She rocked a different headband with almost every single one of her outfits and became a staple in her wardrobe and complemented her character giving her "mean girl" personality a sweet and innocent touch. 

2. Serena and Blair's Best Looks Together 

Bright and backless sheathe dresses by Abigail Lorick.

Blair's summer prep Alice + Olivia dress, Susan Daniels headband, Lulu Guiness Shoes, and a Kate Spade Bag

Serena's Vena Cava dress, Helen Ficalora necklace, Te Casan shoes, and a bright blue Chanel bag.

3. Grecian Goddess Dress

Dressed up for the White Party in the Hamptons, Serena wears this Oscar de la Renta dress that makes her look like a Greek goddess. 

4. Statement Jackets 

Phillip Lim coat, a Blugirl sweater dress, over-the-knee brown boots, DKNY plaid tights and a Carlos Falchi satchel 

5. Blair's Red Dress

Oscar de la Renta red dress and Christian Louboutin purple pumps.

6. Serena's Gown

Zuhair Murad bold gown.

7. Wedding Style

Blair's stunning Vera Wang wedding gown in Season 5

Serena chooses a gold dress.

8. Serena's First Look

The iconic first Gossip Girl shot of Serena getting off the train at Grand Central Station.

9. Parisian Style 

Serena is in a George Chakra hand beaded cage dress, Repetto flats, and Rag and Bone Blazer and Blair is sporting moschino fruit prints, Chanel cuffs, and a beret in their Paris episode. 

10. Bright Tights

Every character on Gossip Girl knew how to dress up their school uniform with bold tights as an accessory. 

Film: The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

The Devil Wears Prada is a film that people frequently point to for fashion inspiration. This 2006 hit is set in the fashion world, and the wide array of fabulous clothing used made it one of the most expensively costumed films in history. 

The main character, Andrea "Andy" Sachs who is played by Anne Hathaway is a recent Northwestern graduate aspiring to be a journalist. Although she believes the fashion industry is superficial and shallow, during her job search, she lands the job as junior personal assistant to the Editor-In-Chief of Runway fashion magazine in New York City. Although this is a job a million girls would kill for, Andy takes it to make ends meet and finds herself in a difficult situation as she feels constantly critiqued by her boss and co-workers because of her lack of style. 

When Andy interviews for her job at Runway Magazine, she is faced with the challenge of meeting Miranda Priestly for the first time, played by Meryl Streep. Andy sticks out as a pretty and smart girl but a size 6 in a sea of model-thin, and trend obsessed women. Miranda judges her off the bat because of her plain cotton sweater and shapeless skirt. Andy refuses to fail, so Miranda agrees to hire the "smart, fat girl" instead of the stylish, thin types that tend to disappoint her unrealistic expectations. 

Miranda runs the fashion world in New York and is seen as a tastemaker that no one dares to question. She takes on her role as a media giant very seriously and butts heads with Andy when she finds her job to be comical. In this clip here you can find Miranda describing the medias gigantic role in the fashion industry that affects everyone from people who are fashion obsessed down to people like Andy who take themselves too seriously to care what kinds of clothes they are wearing.

Andy also does not find herself on good terms with Miranda's chief assistant Emily, played by Emily Blunt. Emily is a slave to her idea of fashion, and to Miranda as well. She is very disapproving of Andy because she is very self-absorbed around being the very best at her job, which involves dressing impeccably and up-to-date on every trend and impressing Miranda.

As Andy becomes tired of being ridiculed, she decides to partake on a fashionable journey to get a leg up on her colleagues and focus on surviving at Runway. With the help of Nigel who is Miranda's right hand man, she is "transformed" in the Runway closet. He helps her squeeze into a size 4 Chanel, gets her a sleek haircut, Jimmy Choo stilettos and all of the sudden on the outside she looks like everyone else at Runway. This transformation point in the movie completely changes her character. With the help of fashion, she walks with much more confidence and is able to do her job better than ever before. 

Entire outfit designed by Chanel

After her makeover turning point, she begins to have fun with fashion and play with different styles influenced by New York City and her job at Runway. Click here to see some of her street styles on her way to work after she catches the "fashion bug". 

Andy's character in the Devil Wears Prada can teach us a lot about how small fashion changes can transform your wardrobe. Here are a few of her best looks in the movie. 

This classic Ivory Angora coat designed by Yogal Azrouel adds a touch of femininity in the winter months and is definitely a statement piece that resulted in a lot of buzz after the movie was released.

Chanel sunglasses and a Cotton Voile Jersey Dress by Calvin Klein for a more effortless summer look.

Distressed Studded Handbag by La Rue with long layered gold necklaces.

Classic black evening dress by John Galliano with a bold red lip.

Black Knee length coat by Rebecca Taylor and Christian Louboutin brown boots. 

This movie is very entertaining for those interested in fashion and media because it is all about the constant pursuit of self-reinvention through the creative outlet of fashion. The way fashion is portrayed in the media, if successful, must make everyone think what they already own is inadequate and they must buy and wear what is being publicized by these major fashion powerhouses. People who love looking at fashion magazines are the same people that are obsessed with this type of movie because it gives you a look inside the fashion business, the good and the bad. Ultimately, Andy never changes who she is, but as she learns to express herself in a more fashionable way, her life changes. 

Film: Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961)

Seeing as how the basis of this blog is on fashion within films/television, it's inevitable that the first post be about 

none other than the infamous, Breakfast At Tiffany's!

The little black dress by Givenchy was practically embedded into the film's fashion, 

along with numerous other classic, minimalistic looks sported by Audrey Hepburn.

Above is the universally recognized shot of the black Italian sheath evening gown.

Even the jewelry, particularly the string of pearls, has developed a reputation for itself and inspired collections made by designers such as Kenneth Jay Lane.

The men's fashion was also a rather prominent aspect of the film. It not only accentuated the classic, suave nature of Audrey Hepburn's character but accentuated men's appreciation and reflection of blazers, cardigans, button down collar shirts, silk pocket squares and even to the extent of jacket lapels and collar rolls!

Although it's convenient to simply and blatantly appreciate the film's fashion as it is, à la carte,

I find it much more interesting to know a bit about the backdrop, the origin, of some of the fashion pieces.

It's important to note the role that Audrey Hepburn's already established popularity/fame had played in shaping Breakfast At Tiffany's into the iconic fashion film it is today.

Audrey Hepburn was a close friend of French designer, Givenchy. "Hepburn referred to Givenchy as her 'best friend' while he considered her as like a 'sister'."

Thus, it was no surprise that, "Givenchy not only chose the dress for the character in the film, but also added the right accessories to match the long gown in the form of a pearl choker of many strands, a foot long cigarette holder, a large black hat and opera gloves which 

not only 'visually defined the character but indelibly linked Audrey with her'."

Audrey's fame and visual association to her character allowed the media to create almost a relationship between Hepburn and her clothing throughout the film.

Many believe that it was Givenchy's personally-made gown that showered Holly Golightly with elegance when in fact, a large part of it was due to Audrey Hepburn herself; it was her own aura of elegance, which Givenchy had recognized and played-up for the film.

Hepburn was able to make a sweatshirt and jeans look classy!

For those of you who have watched the film,

this was a perfect example of "dressing the part"!

Hepburn's ensemble was so well associated to the scene in which Holly Golightly and Paul Varjak frolick around New York City together.

Holly's looks are particularly more reserved, neutral-toned and classic as is Paul Varjak's, with his casual, tweed blazers.

However, in this particular scene, both are depicted wearing brighter, bolder ensembles that are slightly out of the character's elements!

Holly's vibrant, orange coat and chic, fur hat---Paul's spiffy, sleek, navy blazer. Their clothing perfectly associates them to the spontaneous, carefree, out-of-the-ordinary day that is depicted in this scene.

Women of all types can relate to at least one category of Breakfast At Tiffany's fashion, whether it be the classic or the bold.

Even those who fall into another category are still in a position of admiration for the styles found within the film and designers and fashionistas alike are inspired.

I encourage everyone to learn more about the fashion that inspires you. 

Breakfast At Tiffany's was surely an instance of fashion inspiration for me and learning further about the origins of the film's styles gave me a more profound admiration for not only the designers but the film as a whole!

Thank you for reading!

For an example of Breakfast At Tiffany's inspired fashion, click Here.

-Monica