Review: Miss Selfridge Gossip Girl Collection

Please keep in mind that these are my opinions and I'm giving an honest review. I have not been asked to do this nor have I have I been sent any of the merchandise.
 
Loving Gossip Girl blatantly for the fashion and then for everything else I was excited to see what Eric Damon (the show's designer) was going to create for the girl's looks in this line. I saw the dresses this morning (the entire collection is dresses, if I'm not mistaken) and I've got some thoughts.

Overall, I'm honestly not impressed with the collection. For starters, though I am a fan of black myself, I feel there's too much black for this collection that is launching as Summer quickly approaches us and people are looking for more color than anything else. With the exception of one of Blair's dresses all others are either all black or have black detail Secondly, I'm not sold on these really fitting the character's personality that much. Now, I understand that all this has to be toned down for it to reflect a 'wearable' adaptation of the show so I will let that one slide.

Let us begin with Serena:

I think the first dress fits her character to the T. However, I'm not convinced about the second one, at all. The first one is a reincarnation of the ever so popular "bandage" dress by Herve Lager. Though it suits S I honestly feel it now feels dated; this is something I would've been excited about a year ago. Does this make sense? I'm also afraid of the many people who shouldn't wear this dress who will happily stuff themselves into it. I can't say much about the second one, mostly because I've seen similar things in Ross. And I have to say that Serena wears a lot more color than this, even her formal dresses tend to be nude-hues or blues.

The Blair look:

The first dress is very similar to something my Blair would wear, the floral is lovely and very summery. The Blair looks look more like Spring/Summer to me than all the other girls. I think the colors chosen are fun and bright and happy. Let us talk about this second dress. While I admit it's just adorable and dainty I'm pretty sure this is more of a Jenny-style circa Season 1 (before the black eyeliner) and I'm also pretty sure I've seen this exact same dress in Project Runway, I think Season 3.  To me Blair often looks a lot more like a 40's screen siren than anything and though dress #1 is lovely I dont think it's a good representation of her character. Blair is the Queen B and to me these lack the 'presence' her show attire reflect, that Upper East Side bitchy-princess is lacking in the translation.

On to Jenny

I think the looks fit adequately her punk-rock chick look. I actually adore the first dress, it's my favorite of the entire collection. I love the lace and the tier detail and I would totally wear it... IN THE WINTER. Sorry. I would wear it with some tights and booties and hot pink polish but definitely not something I would get during this time of year. I've got no comment on the second dress, it's just not my style at all.

and finally Vannesa

I dont think I mention enough how much I dont like animal print. So that settles my thoughts on the first dress, it is something Vanessa would wear though. The second dress is better but again not something I'm impressed with, I've seen similar ones in Ross or Forever 21. Though these are things she would wear if I'm not mistaken Vanessa wears a lot more color than this; perhaps some purple or yellow in there?

Over all, these are OK dresses, I dont think they're anything particularly special and MUST HAVES. I think that Anne Sui had more interesting designs for the Target line and even fit their characters more. I have to say I'm disappointed, I really love Eric Damon, he seems like a sweetheart and I've loved the designs he's created for the girls on the show. Like the dress he made for Jenny in the season 2 premiere was gorgeous. So a bit of a let down but oh well, what can a girl do?

Your thoughts on the collection?

Trend Love: The Red Purse

At times I sit and wonder: 'what else could my wardrobe possibly need?' Now... I realize this is a fairy narcissitic comment yet I think we're all guilty of staring at our closet and stating 'I have nothing to wear'. Can not the same be applied to the 'I have no purse for this outfit.' mentality? I agree, it can! So I bring you today the purse that you absolutely, under all conditions, even if you have to eat canned soup for five weeks MUST HAVE. A red chain purse.

Now, I'm not as delusional to believe that we can all drop a few thousand dollars on a Chanel; so therefore I bring you the red purse post. Purses you can purchase, without breaking the bank, and still feel like a Waldorf on 82nd and 5th.

The Red Bag by isabellecs featuring Fiorelli bags

Wondering how to do the outfit up? Technically this purse goes with anything. It's perfect for this season when one tends to wear dark tones and one needs a pop of color to bring the look together. I got mine at TopShop, will post pics when it arrives and I plan to wear it with anything from skinny jeans and a white tank to the LBD as Queen B did hers. Looking for a look-alike of the outfit above? Worry not, I know we can't all drop $530 on a Marc Jacobs dress. Simple; grab you LBD, add a snazzy gold belt, wear your black patent shoes, black stockings, dark maroon polish and some minimalist jewelry. The two things you may not have is the purse & a girly-navy coat. Blow-dry your hair and then section into rollers while you do your make-up and VOILA! Soft bouncy curls. Who said it was hard to be a Waldorf?

The Red Purse Outfit by isabellecs featuring Miss Selfridge

Waldorf: The Riddle of the Houdstooth and the Buttons

It's no secret that Blair Waldorf is a fashion icon and as fashion icons go it's only natural that I wait anxiously for new stills to see what Blair is wearing because quite honestly if I could just own her closet I wouldn't want anything else for the rest of my life. Agreed? Agreed!

So when I saw her in this Alexander McQueen hounds tooth blouse I about passed out because this outfit is so decidedly her and so instantly classic that I lusted after it for a few minutes before decided that this can be replicated.

The blouse she's wearing goes for about $939 :( totally can't afford it.

But diligently searching online I found some options.

The top-tie blouses

Black Blouse, Spiegel $49, Beige Blouse, Twelfth St. By Cynthia Vincent $99, Pink Blouse, Thomas Pink $115, Checkered Blouse, Thomas Pink $79, White Blouse with Black Bow, Dolce & Gabbana $295, Black & White Print Blouse, Dolce & Gabbana $595, Orange Print Blouse, Elizabeth & James $354

The Button-front Skirts

Black Skirt w/ Gold Button, TopShop $58, Black Skirt with Side Buttons, BB Dakota $65, Black Skirt high waist, Rodebjer $130, Black Tuxedo Skirt, Karen Millen $163, Black Bubble Skirt, Forever 21 $13, Gray skirt with Belt, TopShop $63, Navy Pleated Skirt, Burberry $484, Navy Winged Skirt, Miriam Ocariz $626, Blue Side Buttons Skirt, Derek Lam $650, Beige Jacquard Skirt, Paul & Joe $266

What do we think? Would Queen B approve? This would make such an awesome outfit for work I can't stand it. I want to wear it next week I just need the blouse because I have a similar skirt I got some years back and have not worn in a long time.

Of rocker girls and manhattan queens

Guess who was channeling their inner rock-goddess last night? Moi! And may I mention that my bag was large enough to fit an extra pair of slick black heels but my shoes didn't hurt AT ALL so I never took them out. (I think it's cause I was severely intoxicated by the end of the night and I'm pretty sure I yelled at one point 'I have no legs!!' to a random college guy.)

Black jeans, TopShop $80, Shirt, Arden B. $38, Jacket, MinkPink $124, Shoes, Bebe $129, Bag, Marciano $195, Earrings, TopShop $18, Ring, New York & Co $19, Eyeshadow, MAC 'carbon' $14.50, Nailpolish, ULTA 'twilight' $7.50

For my hair I was feeling Sienna Miller in Alfie so much that I styled it like hers.

Since my hair is now officially in the super long range (I swear to cut it before it hits my ass) I was able to do it.


Speaking of outfits that are love incarnate. I think this one is just... well, you judge.

Dearest Blair Waldorf. You rock my fucking life. The coat, the lace stockings, the shoes (!!!!!!!), the necklace, the peek of the lace underneath, the over-sized satin clutch, the hair....

Perfection. When I grow up I want to be like her. Here endeth the fawning.

a little bit good

I think my biggest challenge when lusting after outfits is to make them work-appropriate because really, this is where I spend most of my time. Five days a week - sometimes six - and I find that the majority of my closet is office-aimed. Because I have no choice, because even if I were to meet up friends after for drinks or dinner I still need to look presentable in the office. When I spotted this Blair outfit I was like - in love. Seriously. I thought I would not be able to replicate it until I found the skirt. And you know, sometimes all you need is one piece and everything else comes in place from there. So here it is, the work-friendly Waldorf.

I can't wear the strappy blouse to work because quite honestly I'd freeze to death and you'll find me years later (at least I'd look cute) but also because these straps are not appropriate for work. So I found a more conservative blouse that still has the regal feel of this outfit along with its playfulness.

Spotted Skirt, Miss Selfridge $10, Blouse, Modcloth $50, Purse, Marc B $57, Shoes, Aldo $90, Bracelet, Kenneth Jay Lane $163, Polish, Rescue Beauty Lounge $18

I changed the purse because I wouldn't be able to even fit my blackberry into that tiny little thing and quite honestly I carry a lot more shit in my purse. My purse is my life so it needs to be roomy and big. I know the purse looks small here but on the model it looks a descent size (I realize that's an oxymoron as many things can look quite large placed against a model).

a little bit bad

So I've heard nothing but high critique of this outfit spotted on Taylor while filming GG and I have to say that I actually love it. Granted, the skirt is too short but that can easily be fixed. All too easily indeed. So I've re-worked it and I realized, this outfit is so easy to duplicate at home with the right pieces to make it suitable for a great rocker school girl look that a 20-something can rock. Literally. I actually believe I can do this outfit next week, it's that time of year to break out the leather jacket I use when listening to Joan Jett. I just dated myself, didn't I?

Skirt, Stella McCartney $98, Blouse, Armani Exchange $39, Leather Jacket, TopShop $250, Bag, Pink Studio $80, Necklace, Max & Chloe $25, Necklace, Liz Clairborne $29.99, Necklace, Otte $45, Cuff, Forever 21 $6.80, Bow Cuff, In God We Trust $34, Earrings, Forever 21 $3.80, Shoes, Arden B. $58, Stockings, Leggs $5, Polish, OPI 'Russian Navy Matte' $8.50, Lipstick, Nars 'Roman Holiday' $24

Voila! Decent Jenny-Humphrey! I'm actually a bit in love with it. Especially with the shoes & purse. I think this is def. a get in the next paycheck thing.

On other notes, I will be posting my swatches for Matte look over my current nail polish collection. I am not going to buy the matte polishes, I'm just using Essie's Matte About You over the ones I already have and sporting them.

The Serena

Who says I only enjoy Blair Waldorf's look? I saw Blake wearing this and I knew I had to copy it because I actually loved it. Using some things I had in my closet I recreated it - the one thing I did have to buy was the purse but I found a really great one in ebay for $15 so it completed my look. I searched online and found some smiliar ways of recreating it!

Sweater Dress, White House White Market $98, Shoes, Aldo $90, Purse, TopShop $50, Necklace, Asos $9, Ring, Forever21 $5.80, Bump It Hair $10, Polish 'Whisper', China Glaze $5,
Bobby Pins, Any Drugstore $4

What do we think? Something you would wear? Let me tell you that the Bump-Its work. My friend at work does it to her hair and it looks awesome! So this was my outfit today - I'm just excited that I can finally wear my blue shoes! I think I'm channeling blue lately, what do you think?

The Blair Clutch

In my infinite quest to find all things Blair Waldorf/Leighton Meester I came across this precious beauty at Asos. How do I heart thee clutch? Let me count the ways!

Compare and look how this can totally be a nod to Lady Waldorf.

This one sells at Asos for £35.00 which is about $52. 

The one that Blair sports:

 

It's L.A.M.B and it retails for around $192 and is most likely sold out since Leighton was spotted using it. So, you save yourself over 100 dollars and you still look awesome.

We like? For me, I've already placed my order on Asos. What? It's payday!