GOSSIP GIRL STYLE: Vanessa, Jenny, and Lily

Vanessa may not be everyone's favourite character but we love her! She is a sassy Brooklyn girl with a penchant for social climbing. We don't fault her for that, it's hard keeping up with all those ritzy Upper East Siders! Vanessa has a style of her own. She is an urban bohemian at her best. While we are not quite sure how she manages to afford designers like Catherine Malandrino and Matthew Williamson, we certainly approve of her chic choices.

Vanessa is a master of layering. She often wears beautifully draped tunics and jackets coupled with multiple layers of jewelry. She is almost always seen with a pair of dangly earrings (a must-have for a boho girl). We think she would love Bounkit's red Carnelian earrings.


TRY: Bounkit Huge Opulent Carnelian Earrings

Being more earthy, Vanessa loves colourful turquoise and coral stones. Those colours compliment her beautiful complexion so well. Turquoise must be her favourite colour, because episode after episode she is seen wearing stunning turquoise pieces. For example, she paired a gorgeous Diane Von Furstenberg sweater coat with turquoise earrings that look a lot like Siman Tu's from Sophie's Closet. How cool is Vanessa?


SIMILAR MATCH: Siman Tu Turquoise Cabochon Chandelier Earrings

One of our favourite looks from Season 3 is Vanessa's Catherine Malandrino maxi dress combined with Siman Tu's aqua glass necklace. This stunning piece brought out her blue eyes and helped her win a little academic war she fought with Blair. We do love our Blair, but Vanessa had an advantage this time: again it was Siman Tu.


EXACT MATCH: Siman Tu Aqua Glass Necklace (AED 2995)
Sorry, Blair (we do love you), but even in your "All About Eve" dream sequence, we preferred Vanessa's young ingénue ensemble made of a Reem Acra white gown and some flashy diamond earrings that looked a lot like our Jacques Fath pearl earrings with Swarovski crystals. Vanessa is not afraid to glam it up!

TRY: Jacques Fath Large Pearl Swarovski Crystals Earings




Then there is our other favourite Brooklyn girl, Jenny Humphrey or "Little J." Of course, now that she is a legitimate member of the Upper East Side crowd, she is no longer stealing vintage Valentino's. She has a closet full of Blumarine, Andrew Gn and Preen to chose from (it certainly pays to have Lily as your stepmother). Deep down at heart, though, Jenny is still a rebellious Brooklyn girl and we love every second of it! She is a punk princess reminiscent of Debbie Harry. Not surprisingly, her favourite colour is black and she is always adorned with a plethora of black leather accessories (just in case we didn't already know how tough she is). While we can't forgive her for the Chuck incident, we still love her style.

Plus, how many girls her age can pull this amazingly cool Andrew Gn spiderweb gown? We love how she paired it with multiple Vita Fede's "Como" wrap bracelets.


EXACT MATCH: Vita Fede "Como" Wrap Circle Double (AED 360)

When she is not dressing up for scandalous high society parties, Jenny prefers micro mini-skirts, leather moto jackets and vests, and, of course, lace and fishnet tights. Because she wore Vita Fede's "Como" bracelet, we also think she would love our Vita Fede's "Dolce" braided bracelet. It's rock chic at its finest.


TRY: Vita Fede "Dolce" Braided Triple Wrap Bracelet (AED 350)

Punk girls sometimes need a little bit of girlieness too. Jenny often wears rhinestones, sequins, and pearls. That is why we would suggest CC Skye's "Ashley" bracelet and Joomi Lim's spiked pearl necklace. They are perfect for her.


TRY: CC Skye "Ashley" Bracelet


TRY: Joomi Lim Spiked Pearl Necklace

It's always black for Jenny, even when it comes to earrings. We think these Siman Tu's black chandelier earrings should be a permanent item in Jenny's all-black closet (although something tells us that when she returns back from her vacation, she will be a little softer, a little more colourful). One thing we know for sure is that Jenny is "Little J" no more.


TRY: Siman Tu Smoky Quartz Chandelier




There is no doubt in our mind that the best dressed woman on the Upper East Side is Lily Rhodes Van Der Woodsen Bass Humphrey (we lost count of her surnames...). We are not sure whether she has more marriages under her belt or more Birkin bags. But whether getting married or divorced, Lily always looks gorgeous and elegant. We love her and we think she would love us too because we carry many of her favourite accessories.

On her wedding day to Rufus, Lily paired her burgundy (designed by Jenny) dress with these stunning aqua glass Siman Tu earrings. May we point that no one wears a chignon quite like Lily?


EXACT MATCH: Siman Tu Aqua Glass Chandelier Earrings

Another chignon, another gorgeous pair of Siman Tu earrings. This time she paired them with a Black Halo blue dress. We love the blue on blue!


EXACT MATCH: Turquoise Chandelier Earrings

Lily might be Siman Tu's biggest fan because she wore his earrings yet again! We just love how these pearl flower earrings look on her. Her style is always clean and elegant. She is a modern day Grace Kelly.


EXACT MATCH: Siman Tu Large Pearl Flower Earrings

It's no wonder men from Lily's past are always popping up out of nowhere. She is absolute perfection. Here she is again with yet another effortless looking chignon wearing a black Marni dress paired with Kenneth Jay Lane green crystal earrings that are almost an exact match to our Bounkit green agate earrings. She certainly brings the term "Park Avenue" to a whole new level. Some people are just born with natural elegance (if only Serena could have inherited this).


TRY: Bounkit Opulent Green Agate Earrings


We can't wait to see what they are going to wear next season. September can't come soon enough! We hope Vanessa enjoys helping people with her internship in Haiti even though she lost a boyfriend in the process (that selfish Dan). We hope Jenny moves beyond her bad-girl drug peddling days and reconnects with her family (although we cannot forgive her for what she did to Blair). And we certainly hope Lily is fully recovered from cancer because the show would not be half as stylish without her.

SOPHIESCLOSET.COM

GOSSIP GIRL STYLE: Blair and Serena

To celebrate (or to mourn) the end of Gossip Girl's third season, Sophie's Closet is doing a spotlight on some of the fabulous jewelry worn by our favourite characters this season. These girls are our favourite trendsetters! In fact, we carry many accessories from the show and many similar ones, because we know what's in.

So let's start with Blair and Serena.

Blair and Serena are currently the most influential television characters when it comes to style, inspiring young women everywhere, as well as stylists and designers. Although very different, they are the ultimate NYC "IT" girls. Blair takes after her idol Audrey Hepburn, opting for very classic and feminine styles, while Serena takes the ultimate blonde bombshell to a whole new level by adding a sweet bohemian touch to her otherwise very sexy looks.

Blair went through a very trying time this season, losing her Queen Bee status by going to NYU and ultimately losing Chuck. Of course, all the heartache didn't stop Blair from dressing like the Queen of the Upper East Side (which she clearly is). For Blair, accessories truly make the outfit. This is the girl that singlehandedly resurrected headbands. While she may have put her headbands behind (although we hear that they may be coming back next season), Blair's accessories have remained very playful and girlie. Blair prefers pearls, pretty coloured jewels, and, of course, bows.

Blair is not afraid of colour when it comes to her statement pieces. At Sophie's Closet, we have two amazing pieces worn by Blair. She wore an amazing green glass and gold necklace to match her Grace Sun deep green dress over some croissants with her frenemy Vanessa. Blair knows that the true way to win any war is to look more stylish than anyone else.


EXACT MATCH: David Aubrey Vintage Glass Cabochon Necklace (AED 480)

Blair also knows the importance of accessorizing to match your other half. Her and Chuck are both avid fans of purple. His tie and her bracelet are an exact match! Blair paired her ElieTahari dress with a Bounkit purple cuff because she knows purple is a sure way to Chuck's heart. We only hope these lovebirds will find a way to get back together next season!


EXACT MATCH: Bounkit Faceted Amethyst Cuff (AED 2200)

Like Audrey Hepburn, Blair loves pearls. Other than diamonds, pearls are a girl's best friend. If Blair was shopping at Sophie's Closet, she would certainly buy both Jacques Fath's "Chez Maxim" and Joomi Lin's "Save the Queen" necklaces.


TRY: Jacques Fath "Chez MAXIM Rose" Necklace (AED 2500)


TRY: Joomi Lim "Save the Queen" Short Layered Necklace with Bijoux (AED 1800)

Of course, Blair has a soft spot for pretty gold bracelets with bows. She has been seen wearing Rachel Leigh's "Audrey" bow bracelet in previous seasons. We think she would also love Rachel Leigh's "Olivia" bow bracelet and Vita Fede's chain bracelet. They are exactly her style.


TRY: Rachel Leigh "Olivia" Snakeskin Bracelet (AED 350)


TRY: Vita Fede Large Original Chain Bracelet (AED 595)

She would also adore Rachel Leigh's crystal layer bracelet to go with her feminine a-line skirts and cardigans. Blair is a classic beauty.


TRY: Rachel Leigh Crystal Layer Bracelet (AED 520)


Blair's BFF Serena prefers darker colours to go with her femme fatale look. She loves body conscious dresses, skinny jeans and shy high heels - whatever drives the boys crazy (and she changes boys as often as she changes outfits)! When it comes to jewelry, Serena often wears a combination of gold and black, whether it's rings, bracelets or earrings.

Earlier in the season, Serena wore a large gold and black cocktail ring very similar to CC Skye's "Blossom" ring we have at Sophie's Closet.


TRY: CC Skye "Blossom" Ring, Blossom Ring (AED 925)

Serena is all about layering multiple pieces of jewelry. She often wears classic cocktail dresses paired with edgy jewelry. If she was shopping at Sophie's Closet, she would layer multiple CC Skye bracelets: the more, the merrier.


TRY LAYERING: CC SKYE Pave Stud Bracelet Gold (AED 1100) & CC SKYE Single Wrap Bracelet (AED 870)

Of course, we love Bounkit as much as Serena! We love how she paired this multi-strand cuff with her body con Hereve Leger dress. A statement bracelet is often all Serena needs because we already know her decolletage is her favourite accessory. We can't blame her for that.


EXACT MATCH: Bounkit Bracelet (AED 4200)


TRY: "Fasino" Triple Natural Snakeskin Cuff (AED 495)

During her more demure days (yes, they do happen), Serena often opts for a simple gold cuff. We think she would adore CC Skye's "Dynasty" cuff that we have at Sophie's Closet.


TRY: CC Skye Dynasty Multi Chain Cuff (AED 555)

Nothing accentuates Serena's flawless skin more than a pair of dangling earrings. She prefers dark stones in contrast with her blonde long hair. Serena (and other girls on Gossip Girl) loves designer Siman Tu. We love how she paired Siman Tu's chandelier earrings with her lace Stella McCartney lace dress. It's quintessentially Serena: femme fatale with a romantic twist.


TRY: Bounkit Earrings with Citrine, Smoky Quartz, and Amethyst (AED 1700)


SIMILAR MATCH: Siman Tu Smoky Quartz Chandelier Earrings (AED 1430)


We can't wait to see the fabulous outfits Blair and Serena will sport when the series continues in Paris! And we sincerely hope everything will be okay with Chuck.

Of course, we didn't forget Vanessa, Jenny and Lily. We adore them too! Check back next week to see what they love to wear.

www.shopatsophiescloset.com

RACHEL LEIGH

Rachel Leigh launched in 2004 by former Yves Saint Laurent publicist Rachel Blumenthal. Drawing inspirations from runway trends, Rachel Leigh jewelry is designed for a girl who is chic, modern and versatile, who can transform from a quirky girlie-girl to an urban sophisticate to an edgy, glamourous princess from day to night. The type of girl who is adventurous and loves playing with accessories to achieve different looks.

In just a couple of years, Rachel Leigh had become a favourite among fashion editors, stylists, and young Hollywood celebrities. Her pieces had been prominently featured in Vogue, In Style, and on the very stylish Upper East Sider Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl.

Rachel Leigh jewelry is unique and, most importantly, accessible. Pieces from each season can easily be carried over to the next, mixing and matching bright colours and textures. Whether it’s a brightly coloured “Audrey” bow bracelet or an edgy chain cuff, Rachel Leigh jewelry always evokes a fun and lively attitude.

The “Audrey” enamel bow bracelet is a girlie-girl’s dream; yes, girls love bows. It’s no surprise that Gossip Girl’s Blair Waldorf owns two. She wore the gold “Audrey” with a cute floral summer dress and the blue ice “Audrey” with a sophisticated day dress.


Blair wears "Audrey" in gold


"Audrey" Enamel Bracelet in Gold (AED 320)


Blair wears "Audrey" in ice blue


"Audrey" Enamel Bracelet in Ice Blue (AED 320)


Katie Perry wears "Audrey" in blackberry (Nylon, March 2010)

Equally feminine is the “Olivia” bow bracelet. One can never have enough bows, right? A little bit more classic with the addition of snakeskin, “Olivia” is a perfect little compliment to any chic ensemble.


Rachel Leigh "Olivia" Snakeskin Bracelet (AED 350)


Cocktail rings are a must all year round, and having a brightly coloured ring is sometimes all the colour one needs. Rachel Leigh “Gumball” rings are surely a favourite among stylists because they have been featured in almost every fashion magazine in existence. Pumpkin coloured “Gumball” ring makes a splash in a tropical setting in Vogue magazine, while a turquoise “Gumball” compliments supermodel Karlie Kloss' brightly coloured outfit in the NY Times magazine.


"Gumball" ring in pumpkin orange (Vogue, December 2009)


"Gumball" Ring in Pumpkin (AED 350)


Karlie Kloss wears "Gumball" ring in turquoise
(NY Times magazine, March 2010)


"Gumball" Ring in Turquoise (AED 350)


For those looking for a light and casual bracelet this summer, there is no better option than Rachel Leigh’s “Cabana” wrap bracelet. Made from Japanese satin with a delicate crystal and fringe detail, “Cabana” is a perfect addition to a cute summer dress or a pool-side ensemble.


"Cabana" Wrap Bracelet in Aubergine (AED 320)


Of course, there is something for the edgy glamour girls too. Both the crystal braided bracelet and the chain cuffs are statement making pieces. While the braided bracelet is for a classic and sophisticated girl, the chain cuffs are going to speak to the girl with a little bit of a rock edge.


Crystal Braided Bracelet (AED 580)


Suede Chain Cuff (AED 590, available in silver/black only)

www.shopatsophiescloset.com