Live Like a Gossip Girl

How to Dress, Explore, and Read Like Serena and Blair

Living like my favorite TV shows started as a moment of whimsy and is now a year-long commitment to adding more fun to my life. One of my favorite aspects of this pop culture adventure is finding the cure to decision fatigue.

What’s for dinner? Where do I go? What do I listen to? What do I wear? Every day- so many options. Choices are a good thing, but the number of decisions we have to make every day can sometimes be overwhelming. I’ve found the answer to this issue is not only fun, but is as easy as asking myself, “What would Bair Waldorf do?”

Remember, this isn’t meant to be a full, life transformation! You do not have to buy tons of products to make life look like exactly it does on your screen. Rather, it’s using small ways and small choices to add a little something fun and memorable to everyday life.

Are you ready to discuss books, fashion, and New York City with Gossip Girl and the Upper East Side set? Let’s dive into Gossip Girl month!

Book Club with Blair and Serena

Read Like a Gossip Girl

While Gilmore Girls may hold the title for most literary references in one show, Gossip Girl is the only show I’ve seen yet that comes close to the number of books referenced by its characters! A show famous for gossip and glamorous gowns, shining a light on literature- what’s not to love? Check out the reading lists below!

Shopping trip to New York City:

Dressing Like a Gossip Girl

We all associate New York City fashion with designer names, and Gossip Girl featured a lot of them. So, how does one dress like a Waldorf on a Lorelai Gilmore budget?

I already use Rent the Runway to help method dress for my book signings and other events, so I used that to add some Gossip Girl styles to my outfit rotation. For Blair, think classic put-together looks, pearls, and of course, her iconic headband. As someone who hasn’t worn a headband in years, I instantly felt like a Waldorf when I dug one out. Serena has a more bo-ho style, which isn’t me, so I stuck with Blair’s classic style.

Images and shop-able content coming soon

Get 50% off your first month of Rent the Runway here!

Drinks at The Empire Hotel

Chuck Bass famously buys the Empire Hotel and moves his empire to New York’s Upper West Side. Of course, my friends and I had to visit the iconic venue for after-work drinks and appetizers. I had the lavender lemonade, which was delicious, but the Empire does offer a special drink, see the menu below, and an exclusive Gossip Girl experience, complete with bubbly and Blair’s macaroons.

It was pouring rain the night we went, so I didn’t get a photo of me in front of the Empire sign in my Blair Waldorf attire, but just saying, I’ve been there and having that experience is part of the fun!

I love living in NYC, where so many shows are filmed, and I can visit the places featured in the show. However, I know many of you are not in the city, so if you can’t make it to New York, just go for drinks at a fancy hotel near you. Different city, same Gossip Girl experience!

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Blair’s favorite place to hold court? The steps of the Met. Perfect for eating yogurt, plotting her next take-down, catching up on Gossip Girl, or going inside to admire the art, The Met is one of Blair’s favorite places in the city. A while ago, I made a goal to visit all of the exhibits at The Met; it’s far too much to do in one day, and I’m slowly chipping away at that goal. I visited the latest costume exhibit, you know, Blair and Serena would be all over that, plus a few of the regular exhibits as well. Once again, it was raining, so I didn’t get to have my yogurt on the Met steps, but maybe I’ll go back and do that one day! If you’re in New York, The Met is a must. But there are wonderful museums everywhere, so go and get the Blair experience in your own city.