Gossip Girl

WHAT: Yoana Baraschi Pop-up Shop

WHY: Shop the latest collection at the Yoana Baraschi Pop-up Shop

The collection is a go-to for women who love a playfully luxe aesthetic and vintage-inspired prints, always in this season’s must-have shades and styles. It has become a favorite of some of Hollywood’s most dynamic women: from burlesque artist Dita Von Teese; to supermodel Heidi Klum, host of Project Runway and modern female icon; to Gossip Girl herself Blake Lively.

WHEN: 2/19 – 2/25

WHERE: Henri Bendel
712 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10019

Almost a year ago, we wrote an article asking ourselves: “Is the Upper East Side finally cool?”

Yes, the UES had scenes from Gossip Girl and several from Sex and the City filmed here. Movie trucks are parked on the street both day and night and celebrity sightings aren’t anything out of the ordinary, either.

For example, two nights ago my dog met — and sniffed — Geraldo Rivera’s own canines (Rivera didn’t seem willing to enter into a conversation) and I am pretty sure it was Candice Bergen who stopped last year to pat the same furry companion. I should have gotten him an agent; he’s really a looker.

Still, despite our affluent, sometimes celebrity-status neighbors, we often find ourselves traveling to far away places like Soho for a good bowl of pasta. This might soon change with the opening of revered chef Michael White’s Ristorante Morini. However, considering the fact that I love Marea Ristorante and hate Osteria Morini, that is left to be seen.

Having said that, I must confess that I love my Upper East Side and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.  That’s when I got the idea: Wouldn’t be nice if we had scouts on the ground in each neighborhood? Scouts who kept everyone informed about what is happening in terms of shopping? And then I thought to myself, why can’t I be that scout?

That’s precisely why I took on the role as the Upper East Side’s Stylish City Ambassador. Take that, Ms. Wintour. This is one ambassadorship you are not going to get.

So, that covers one New York neighborhood.  What about the rest of them?  Well, I need your help.  If you want to be a Stylish City Ambassador, contact me at [email protected].

Here are the “districts” — Stylish Games anyone? — we have to cover. And yes, you will receive compensation for articles written.

Downtown      
East Village, Alphabet City, Chinatown, Little Italy,  Greenwich Village, Soho, Meatpacking, Noho, Nolita, Tribeca, West Village, Huson Square

Financial District      
Battery Park City, City Hall, South Street Seaport, Wall Street

Midtown East
Midtown East, Beekman Place, Flatiron, Gramercy Park & Union Square, Kips Bay, Murray Hill, Stuyvesant Town / Peter Cooper Village, Sutton Place, Tudor City, Turtle Bay / United Nations

Midtown West
Central Park, SouthChelsea, Clinton / Hells Kitchen, Garment District & Herald Square,  Koreatown, Midtown West,  Theater District

Upper East Side
Carnegie Hill, Gracie Point, Yorkville, Lenox Hill, Roosevelt Island

UWS
Lincoln Square, Manhattan Valley, Upper West Side

Last night, we ushered in the end of an era. One of luxe opulence, high drama and, of course, really great styling. Gossip Girl was meant to fill the empty Louboutin’s Sex and the City left behind when the HBO show went off the air, but this teen/20-something centered prime time soap opera was in a whole league of its own.

Naturally, the finale was a highly anticipated one. It goes without saying that all finales are, but long-time fans of the show had even more invested in this particular series closer.

From the very beginning, the TV show’s audience had no clue who the main character of the show even was — “she” was an anonymous blogger who somehow knew every juicy detail of gossip on the Upper East Side. Since the show’s inception, we all wanted to know who was responsible for torturing these poor little rich kids. Really — finding out who posted under the moniker of Gossip Girl ranks right up there with finding out who Ted Mosby’s wife is on How I Met Your Mother.

SPOILERS AHEAD

I’m just going to go ahead and say it: Gossip Girl was none other than Lonely Boy Dan Humphrey. In a twist of irony, the outsider — who’d seen his fair share of upturned noses, rolled eyes and plenty of insults — was the one pulling the strings all along. In short, he decided that if he couldn’t get inside the Upper East Side’s world, he’d write himself in. And he did.

Dan put it perfectly as he explained to the audience why he became Gossip Girl:

“The Upper East Side was like something from Fitzgerald or Thackeray – teenagers acting like adults, adults acting like teenagers, guarding secrets, spreading gossip all with the trappings of truly opulent wealth. And membership into this community was so elite you couldn’t even buy your way in. It was a birthright – a birthright that I didn’t have. And my greatest achievements would never earn it.

All I had to compare it to was what I read in books. But that gave me the idea: I wasn’t born into this world … maybe I could write myself into it. I overheard enough conversations to mimic the voice of the Constance girls, but every writer needs his muse and it wasn’t until that photo of Serena in the white dress that I knew I had something strong enough to actually create a legend and launch a website.

Within weeks I was getting dozens of emails with stories about Upper East Siders, so I posted them anonymously. And then I got more. Before long it was a monster. Everyone was sending tips … When Serena came back from boarding school, I wrote my first post about me, Lonely Boy, the outsider, the underdog. I might have been a joke but at least people were talking about me.”

The end was admittedly a little corny, but Gossip Girl is endearing in that way. And to be honest, sometimes those warm and fuzzy endings are nice to have. The show concluded with Gossip Girl (aka Dan Humphrey) marrying his Serena while an already married (with adorable child) Chuck and Blair looked on with other friends and family. We also saw that Nate was thriving at The Spectator and contemplating a role as Mayor and that Lily and William (Serena’s father) were back together while Rufus was with a brunette.

In celebration of Gossip Girl’s long run (and what a fun run it was), I suggest gifting yourself a little something from Natori. After all, the show’s stylists seemed to have quite the obsession with the brand. Try a luxe robe or chemise and saunter around your house a la Blair Waldorf, or perhaps spritz a little of Natori’s soft and sexy signature EDP anytime you’re feeling nostalgic for S and B’s shenanigans.

Gossip Girl lovers can only hope that another NYC-centered TV show comes onto the air. The only catch is finding people as absolutely breathtaking to look at GG’s main characters — and creating the kind of juicy drama and mystery to keep people hooked. New York City certainly serves as a great backdrop for a fashion-forward drama.

Blair Waldorf Wears a Josie Natori Robe
Season 3, Episode 15: “The Sixteen Year Old Virgin”

Blair Waldorf Wears the Josie Natori Glamour Lace Chemise
Season 4, Episode 9: “Witches of Bushwick”

Blair Waldorf Wears the Josie Natori Dyansty Pajama Set
Season 4, Episode 18: “The Kids Stay in The Picture”

Blair Waldorf Wears the Josie Natori Nanami Dress
Season 5, Episode 7: “The Big Sleep No More”

Blair Waldorf Wears the Josie Natori Beguile Chemise
Season 5, Episode 15: “Crazy, Cupid, Love”

Blair Waldorf Wears the Josie Natori Silk Empress Robe
Season 5, Episode 19: “It Girl, Interrupted”

Blair Waldorf Wears the Josie Natori Beguile Tunic
Season 5, Episode 20: “Salon of the Dead”

Blair Waldorf Wears a Vintage Josie Natori Robe
Season 5, Episode 21: “Despicable B”

By Wendy Rose Gould