Sex and the City

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

“Ladies, seamen! 12 o’clock!” shouts Samantha to her girlfriends Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda. “I pray when I turn around there are sailors, because with her, you never know,” Miranda replies with snark. Relive the classic Sex and the City episode “Anchors Away” with your girlfriends this Memorial Day Weekend and stick around town in order to catch a glimpse (or perhaps a little more) of some hunky Fleet Week sailors.

We don’t want to make it obvious that we want in on some sailor attention, so the best bet is to make sure you’re in the right place at the right time. Get wardrobe approval from your gals and head down to Pier 90 & 92 on 51^st Street and the West Side Highway on Saturday with your besties where, from 8am-5pm, Free Ship Tours will be taking place. Snoop around your future fling’s bunk as he hangs on the dock nearby and smiles at you as you pass.

Invite the cutie in uniform to bring some friends along as he joins you and your girlfriends for a group movie date. What’s more romantic than a good flick outdoors, under the stars? Rooftop Film Summer Series presents Kumaré Saturday evening @ 8PM on the Open Road Rooftop on the Lower East Side. You’ll splurge for the movie tickets as long as he opts to take you all out for drinks after.

Now that you have a new (and hot!) gang to hang with for the weekend, gather your girlfriends and call up your sailors. Treat them first to a morning of country pride in Times Square (I know, who goes to Times Square? Just remember, these guys are from our of town – they’ll love the tourist trap!) where Military Bands march and play while vets and service members alike crowd around to cheer for America from 2PM-5PM.

Now that the torment is over, on to the fun! Since these guys are stuck on a boat all day, I’m sure they are well attuned to all things video games. Therefor, they will love you for the next event you’re taking them to – the New York City Zombie Bar Crawl! Grab some cheap red face paint (or lipstick) and add a dash of blood to fit in with the undead impersonators as you participate in the 6^th Annual Zombie Crawl starting at 3:30, hoping from bar to bar and ending at an after-party at the Public Assembly with Rigor Mortis Revue’s horror burlesque.

Phew! It’s not easy keeping up with those guys. Time to recover on Monday, the final day of your long weekend of fleeting bliss. Soak up the last day with your sailors as your head for a late picnic in the East River Park (you’re going to need to sleep in after the bar crawl!). Celebrate Memorial Day traditionally and claim one of the park’s six public grills as you watch your man grill up some burgers and corn on the cob. The views of the water, sweet smell of barbecue, and hunky seamen will make for one unforgettable Memorial Day.

With New Yorkers out of town for Memorial Day weekend, they courteously allowed you and your girlfriends first dibs on the sea’s hottest sailors during Fleet Week. Unfortunately, everything good must come to an end but it was fun while it lasted and hey, there’s always next year! In the words of Carrie Bradshaw, “That’s why I love New York. Just like that, it can go from bad to cute.”

By Caitlin Colford

One of our many pet theories is this: despite living in the busiest, most exciting city on earth, New Yorkers are constantly trying to figure out how to spend time at home. Alone. Witness the casual interaction between two friends, both of whom want to bail on drinks that night to stay in and catch up on old episodes of Parenthood.

“It’s so rainy, I don’t even know if the subways are running, but I can come out.”
“Oh no, I wouldn’t want you to go to the trouble. We can just do it next week.”

This urge for solitude violates all New York’s societal expectations. We’ve all watched Sex and the City (and hell, even Seinfeld): New York is supposed to be about socializing! Hanging out with friends! Going on dates! It’s enough to make you deny those nights when you do give in to your desire to spend a Friday on the couch with your dates of Mssrs. Ben and Jerry.

To make matters worse, this loner-guilt is exacerbated by a very practical difficulty: how can you deny your Friday plans in the world of constant social network monitoring. Going off the grid used to be as simple as letting your phone go to voicemail. Now, the dedicated loner must remember to keep off Foursquare and resist the urge to tweet, tumblr, or Facebook their feelings on the reruns on their television. It’s all so exhausting that you might as well just go out.

While Sex and The City 2 is getting mixed reviews and sparking varying opinions about the plot, character development and storyline, the clothes are to die for. The Middle East-inspired colors, draping chiffon and statement jewelry were so ubiquitous we might have to watch it again because a wardrobe budget rumored to be around $10 million, we without a doubt missed something.

Various retailers are taking the show’s influence to their own storefront windows with ensembles both exotic and Boho chic. Maxi dresses got a makeover this season from cotton throw-ons to luxury. The girls doned 70’s-inspired dresses that, when properly chosen, can flatter most body types. Unlike the 80’s-inspired rocker chic dresses where the them was to add, add, add, to pull of Carrie, et. al.’s look balance opulence with simplicity. A simple dress gets an over the top necklace while a long patterned dress requires less jewelry. Trade in your aged flip-flops for jewel-adorned sandals or earthy wedges.

Keep chic top of mind. This time around, the Boho look isn’t comprised of your mucky Frye’s and cut off jeans. It’s more like Boho bombshell.
Emma Dinzebach