Gossip Girl: The Modern Day Fairy Tale!

I became enchanted by Gossip Girl when I first started to watch it last May. I finally finished the series a few days ago. So now I can finally do justice to dedicating a blog entry to this beloved show!

Gossip Girl ended up being very different from what I thought it would be about. I thought that it would be the usual trendy, cool, modern teen show. However, Gossip Girl turned out to be a preppy, old-fashioned, yet modern, complicated fairy tale! I love all of the latter so it goes without saying that I ended up loving Gossip Girl! In addition, Gossip Girl  had another dimension that I embrace within myself: school-girl culture! Gossip Girl is far from being clichéd and contrived. Gossip Girl is a masterpiece of the screen!

I will first discuss the characters and then proceed to the multi-dimensional themes:
Blair Waldorf:

Blair is a very complicated character that cannot be described in one word. My friend told me that she is the ingénue. However, I really do not think that her character fits that description. Blair is good at roleplaying the ingénue as an outer façade to hide her true manipulative, calculating nature. She credited herself as originating the doe-eyed look to hide the true cunningness within. That is why the Wikipedia article on Blair Waldorf compares her to characters like Becky Sharp from Vanity Fair. William Makepeace Thackeray related that Becky Sharp has been considered to play the ingénue for school plays, although he portrayed her as conniving and cutthroat. Blair is much like that. She is quite self-serving, selfish, and spoiled and really makes her enemies suffer.

I am torn between liking and disliking Blair's character. I admire that she has high standards and strives for nothing short of the best. Sometimes I admire the way that she really puts her enemies in their place! However, I really hated her when she victimized her pure English teacher, Rachael Carr, when she did not get her way with her. Blair really showed herself to be arrogant and spoiled there. Some say that Blair would do anything for her friends. However, I do not see it that way. I think that she is nice to her friends, as long as it does not interfere with what she wants, and she tends to forgo friendship for her selfish needs and use friends at times. One thing is for sure, though! I love Blair's fashion sense! I am all for preppy, girly, and schoolgirl! I have emulated Blair's style.

Chuck Bass:

Chuck is another such complicated character. He would fit into the dark hero category, the homme fatale, of the romance.

It is interesting to note that in the beginning, Chuck is shown as a forceful attempted date rapist. I was shocked that such a character would turn into the hero of the show, when rape is condemned the most out of all crimes in society. However, he grows into a kind, decent human being as the show progresses. I forgive him for that lapse at the beginning of the series. :)

Dan Humphrey:

I think that Dan is the protagonist of the series, the outsider from Brooklyn looking inside the elite Upper East Side life. Dan has the typical writerly nature: lonesome, romantic, etc. It is revealed in the end that Dan Humphrey is the anonymous Gossip Girl! That says a lot about his character--that he is a writer whose writing the show revolves around and that he is very much in touch with his feminine side. Dan is just the kind of guy that I am looking for--a feminine, artsy guy. I love that he has a Cabbage Patch doll named Cedric! It would be my wildest dream to be romantically involved with a guy that liked to play with dolls. ;) Dan's kindness makes him appear attractive and good-looking. Dan is rightly called, "Lonely Boy from Brooklyn."

Serena Van Der Woodsen:

Serena has been textualized by Dan as the princess that is beautiful and unattainable. That would make her fall into the princesse lointaine category! It is true that Serena is perceived that way by Dan since she is his lifelong crush that he puts on a pedestal, as she herself notes. However, I do not think that she is really that unattainable since she has dated so many guys in the show. On the other hand, even though she is shown as a party girl out of control, she appears so serene (like her name) and at ease. I like kindness most out of all Serena's qualities.

Nate Archibald:

Nate is termed, the "Golden Boy of the Upper East Side." The name speaks for itself. Therefore, in some ways, Nate is also the type of pretty, preppy boy that is perfect for me on paper. It is interesting to note that although Nate is portrayed as the gentleman, he has engaged in a lot of reckless behavior. For example, he cheated on his virgin girlfriend by sleeping with her best friend. In addition, he had a monetary affair with a grown-up married noble heiress when he was in high school. Dan and Vanessa were shocked at the way that "Nate Archibald is a gigolo." In spite of all his flaws, however, I love Nate! I have a weak spot for preppy guys and pretty boys! ;)
Vanessa Abrams:

Vanessa is portrayed as the artsy girl of the show. I really liked how Vanessa was genuine and honest in the beginning. I felt sad when the writers turned her character into deceitful, scheming, and manipulative. I never felt any deep feelings for her, however.

Jenny Humphrey:

Jenny is, by far, my least favorite character. She is a bad imitation Blair Waldorf. I hate all of the sins she engages in, lying, stealing, dealing drugs, betraying, etc., etc. I was so happy when her annoying character was written out of the show! She really did nothing for the show except be annoying. She does not deserve the sweet Dan as her brother.
Now I will discuss the fairy tale element of the show:

Throughout the show, there are allusions to the fairy tales that the characters are living--particularly Blair. Blair comments often on the complication of the fairy tale. If we were to classify the characters, Blair would be the princess, Chuck would be the villain turned hero, Jenny would be the villain, and Dan would be the writer of the fairy tale! I think that Blair learns that she is living a fairy tale that is three-dimensional, rather than clichéd. It is interesting to note that she thinks that she finally has the fairy tale that she has dreamed of when she marries Prince Louis. However, I think that the writers are trying to portray that characters cannot be externally classified in a real life fairy tale. Chuck who appears as the villain at some points, such as his attempted date rape of Jenny and his violent attack of Blair when she is engaged to Prince Louis, turns out to be the romantic hero of the fairy tale (the metaphoric prince) when he is revealed throughout the show as Blair's true love and his dark nature evolves into maturity and purity. Prince Louis, on the other hand, turns out to be the foil that is the prince on the outside, but dark and false on the inside. The true nature of Louis's character and Louis and Blair's marriage is revealed at their wedding when Louis discreetly tells Blair that their marriage is for show. This scene signifies that Blair's perspective of a fairy tale marriage that she has dreamed of is not real, but rather just a vision, as she cannot have the "happily ever after" that she has dreamed of in a loveless marriage. An intriguing part of the show is when Dan and Blair discuss how both their fairy tales are separate, rather than one and the same. The screen focuses on Serena when Blair mentions Dan's true princess, and the screen focuses on Prince Louis as Blair's prince. Serena does end up being Dan's one and only princess. However, Louis does not end up being Blair's "prince" in actuality.

I will now discuss the schoolgirl dimension of the show:

I love how the characters go to a prep school with school uniforms! I really love wearing school uniforms. I think that the image of Blair in her Constance Billiard school uniform represents that she is an intellectual, schoolgirl at heart! It is quite fascinating that Blair suggests that her mother's fashion line emulate from the school uniform. I really love that!
I will discuss the FASHION of the show:
I LOVE LOVE LOVE BLAIR'S FASHION SENSE!!! I love bows, frills, ruffles, etc. After watching the show, I started buying a lot of headbands to emulate Blair's headband trademark. I love that Blair wears headbands in the beginning, abandons them for an extended period of time, then wears them again by the end of the show. I think that shows that the headband is an indispensable part of Blair's persona! Blair wears the headband as a tiara--to represent her wish to be a princess.

Here are some of my favorites of Blair's outfits:

I actually have a version of the above style! I love Blair's elegant, model pose.

I am so excited to be discussing the romance element of the show:
Dan and Serena: In my opinion, the show revolves around the Dan and Serena relationship. It is quite literary and metafictional. The whole show is founded upon Dan's attempt to win Serena's heart by literalizing her life as the anonymous Gossip Girl! Dan writes a story in which he is the hero to win the hand of the princesse-lointaine, Serena, after many trials and tribulations. Dan often puts his romance for Serena into his fiction writing, such as in the first story that Vanessa publishes of his; the one on his first encounter and later love with Serena. There is also his book with the character, Sabrina. I think that Dan and Serena's romance matures and blossoms as he learns to know and accept Serena for who she is--the good and the bad--rather than just placing her on a pedestal as a flawless princess. He could not have done that without his writing, however. I love how Serena is portrayed as Dan's princess in the above mentioned scene with Blair! Dan and Serena's romance is my favorite in the show! I love how the show ends with Dan and Serena's wedding. I think that proves that the show is not complete without the culmination of Dan and Serena's romance!

Chuck and Blair: Chuck and Blair's romance is described by Wikipedia as "the heart of the show." I am really glad that Chuck and Blair end up with one another as they are perfect for each other! Both are dark, scheming, manipulative, selfish, and spoiled, yet confident and strong. I also love the beginning of their romance. It is quite appropriate that their chemistry starts when Blair copulates with Chuck when she is afraid that Nate no longer loves her. Their affair brings out Blair's sexuality--an important element of the show--Blair and Chuck's duplicitous natures, and Chuck's hypersexual, seductive nature. Blair answers Muffy later that her first time was with someone she loved. I also like how Chuck, for the first time, develops butterflies in his stomach after sleeping with Blair to which Blair replies, "You know I love all God's creatures and the metaphors they inspire." Isn't that just so cute? You can read my above thoughts on the fairy tale of their affair. I think that it is really sweet that it is revealed that Chuck is the one that pays Blair's dowry to free her from the bounds of her marriage to Louis. I really love that Chuck and Blair end up marrying--in such an unconventional fashion--and raising a sweet son!

Nate and Vanessa: I really wish that Nate and Vanessa ended up together. They were sweet and brought out the best in each other. It is cute the way that Nate gets jealous when he thinks that Vanessa is flirting with the director of the Age of Innocence production.
I will now discuss the metafiction of the show:

Here is an article on the metafiction of the show: http://www.kylegarret.com/2013/01/the-metafictional-genius-of-gossip-girl.html
There are countless metafictional episodes of the show. There is the episode where Dan's story on his love for Serena is published: Season 1, Episode 11: Roman Holiday.
I like Season 2, Episode 18: Age of Dissonance. In that episode, Constance Billiard and St. Jude's put on a theatrical production of Age of Innocence, which ends up being a deconstruction of the literary work based on their real emotions!

I also like Season 5, Episode 11: The Big Sleep No More, which features Punchdrunk's performance of Big Sleep No More--evoking real life subconscious romantic and intimate feelings. 

I think that the moral of metafictional portrayal in the show is that fiction and reality depend on one other to grow and develop--that without one, you cannot have the other.

Video Logging (Vlogging)

For the past few days, I have been fascinated by a number of different YouTube vlogs. It is magnificent the way that technology is expanding day-by-day and catering to art and self-expression!

Technology is providing closer access and connection to knowledge and a person's inner being. We are able to get to know and interact with a person more and more through YouTube channels. 

There are several YouTube vloggers that I have been exploring:

1. Tess Christine: https://www.youtube.com/tesschristine

I came across Tess Christine when searching for dressing like Blair Waldorf. Tess Christine has an amazing video on getting the Blair Waldorf look for less!

I really love the help that she provides on getting such amazing clothing for reasonable fashion! I also really like her makeup tutorial on replicating Blair's "dewy, glowy skin." I really hope that I can attain such skin. 

I also like Tess's video on achieving the Blake Lively/Serena from Gossip Girl look:

Before watching this video, I did not know that people apply different colors from the eyeshadow pallet on their eyes at the same time. I think that is really neat and would like to try the exact Blake Lively makeup look that Tess guides us through at some point! I also love the name of the lipstick, Airy Fairy by Rimmel London. So I think that I will be buying it at some point. 

I also think that Tess looks like a cross between Blake Lively and Leighton Meester. I even thought it was the actress that played Blair in the Blair video. She is that professional!

I really like all of Tess's beauty routines. I will take the input from them for my own beauty regimen. 

Another video that I like on Tess Christine's channel is on how to dress like Ariana Grande: 

I can never get enough of this video! I love how Tess emulates Ariana's quirky, girly, glamorous style. I especially like the parts about adding in false eyelashes and wearing oversized sweaters as dresses and wearing shorts underneath. 

I would love to meet Tess in person and befriend her, and she coincidentally lives in New York. So that might actually be possible.

2. Maria's Makeup Xo: 

Maria is a high school teenager, but I have found that I can learn a lot from her. She is really wise beyond her years and sophisticated! If only I could have been quite as mature and wise as she was as a teenager. 

I also found Maria when searching for how to dress like Blair Waldorf: 

I love all of the makeup that Maria applies and the way that she applies it. I also love her replication of Blair's schoolwear and floral skirt in the second outfit. I really appreciate the song playing during the display of the second outfit. 

I also like Maria's "What's in My Purse" video:

I am really struck in this video by how poised, charismatic, entertaining, fun, and sophisticated Maria came across! I really like the red purse, especially the handle at the top, and wish that I could find it for myself. From this video, I learned that I should always keep a keychain and chewing gum in my purse. Maria inspired me to make my own "What's in My Purse?" video. 

I also appreciate Maria's "High School Advice" video: 

The video portrays that Maria is really very wise for a high schooler and has a good head on her shoulders. I especially appreciate her advice on taking off a mental health day, which is as important as taking off a medically unfit day. That is a progressive way of looking at life. 

Another video that I keep on watching over and over is "New Year's Pep Talk/ Tea Time":

Words cannot express how touched I am by this video! I find it amazing the way that Maria knows so much about positivity and loving yourself at such a young age! It is what I have grown up to learn. I also very much like her unique advice to always wear red lipstick. 

I also think that it is sweet that Maria connects with us by drinking tea. 

It is very wise that Maria made a video on all the little things that make her happy: 

We should always list the things that make us happy so that we can have it to back up our spirits at times. I think that it is sweet that Maria is a real hugger! I really feel like I would get along with such a loving girl. 

The last video that I will discuss is Maria's milkmaid tutorial video: 

I would love to learn how to make all sorts of braids, and it would be awesome to look like a French milkmaid!

3. Claudia Norris: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbO2mpZfAPqal4ZmQh7kqlg

Claudia Norris is an awesome young singer. I encountered Claudia when looking for "What's on My Bookshelf?" videos. 

Here is Claudia's "What's on My Bookshelf?" video: 

Claudia has amazing contemporary popular taste in fiction, which inspired me to also get in the loop with contemporary popular fiction! I particularly want to read Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen by Serena Valentino, The Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockhart, A Great & Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray, and Wild Things by Clay Carmichael. 

I also want to get a pink version of The Holy Bible. I found that I already have The War of Art at home so I should start to get to reading it. 

Claudia is a girl after my own heart, in only buying books in the hardcover format!

I also like Claudia's 21 questions video: 

I admire that Claudia would want to be an actress if not a singer and that she would want to play Blair Waldorf! I also like that Claudia states that we should all invest money into buying the right sized bra. I think it is sweet that Claudia has her Mom read out all the questions. It is ingenious that Claudia has a birthday cake with candles at the end. 

4. Anna in Wonderland: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAnnainWonderland

Anna is a PhD student living in the UK. So I find it interesting to get a relatable perspective from a fellow PhD intellectual scholar. I think that is amazing that Anna is doing a dissertation on Diary of Anne Frank. I love Anne Frank and the diary form. I would also say that her YouTube channel on Diary of Anne Frank is a metadiary. 

I appreciate Anna's "What's on My Bookshelf?" videos: 

Here we have a look into the intellectual makeup of a scholar. I find it intriguing that Anne Frank had an original and uncensored edition of her diary. 

I have similar tastes to Anna in classical, imaginative, dreamy literature, such as Alice in Wonderland. 

Alice in Wonderland is obviously the roots of Anna in Wonderland's perspective. 

I appreciate that Anna has an annotated version of The Secret Garden, which I would also like to buy some day. 

Additionally, I admire Anna's video on doing a PhD in the UK:

I really appreciate the PhD career and the UK so this is perfect for my tastes! I admire very much that Anna chose to do a PhD in the UK on Anne Frank, as opposed to the US. 

5. Fleur de Force: https://www.youtube.com/user/FleurDeForce

Fleur de Force is a beauty and fashion vlogger from the UK. I really want to buy her book, The Glam Guide, which I believe is a blog-to-book. 

I appreciate Fleur's "Summer Glow" video:

I also appreciate Fleur's video on fashion from ASOS, Primark, and TopShop:

I love Fleur's hairstyle in this video. I think that it is a milkmaid braid actually.

I need to watch more of Fleur's videos in detail so that I can comment more on her. 

6. Sprinkle of Glitter: https://www.youtube.com/user/Sprinkleofglitter

Louise Pentland is actually a friend of Fleur's living in the UK. I just have to get her book, Life with a Sprinkle of Glitter from the UK!

The book actually has glitter on it, which does not come off! That's the spirit! 

I like Louise's video, "Let's Talk About Sex":

I appreciate that Louise thinks that the right first time is unique for everyone and sees advantages and disadvantages in both saving yourself and having several partners. I agree that your partner should be someone that you like/love and can connect with.

I was very touched by Louise's video on her pink hair story: 

It is sweet that Louise cares so much for her late mother and wants to tribute her with her pink hair. 

I also think it sweet that Fleur, Louise, and this other Internet identity, Zoella are such good friends, meeting through YouTube. Here is a video on their friendship:

7. Dulce Candy: https://www.youtube.com/dulcecandy

Dulce Candy is an Internet beauty and fashion celebrity. She has quite an interesting life story! I love her rise to fame. And I love her sweet name!

I appreciate Dulce's video on "Draw My Life": 

After watching this video, I learned that drawing one's life is actually pretty common for YouTube vloggers. I think it is pretty neat the way it is outside-the-box. 

I also like the video on Dulce's makeup collection: 

I think that it is AWESOME that Dulce has a room full of makeup. I did not even know that people used drawers to store makeup before watching this video. I would one day like to have as much makeup as Dulce. 

8. Michelle Phan: https://www.youtube.com/michellephan

Michelle Phan is a big Internet celeb, but I have just watched some of her videos so far. 

I like Michelle's video on "Romantic Blush": 

I love the idea of making yourself up in the romantic mood. It is sweet the way that she starts out her video, "Want to show that your eyes are in love?" Eyes are the window to the soul after all. 

9. Bethany Mota: https://www.youtube.com/bethanymota

Bethany is a very young Internet beauty and fashion celebrity that makes a lucrative income through vlogging. When I looked at her channel, I could definitely see why she is so popular. 

I love this video on Bethany's Japan trip: 

It is really very impressive that Bethany was so successful that she was granted a trip to Japan!

I also love The Carrie Diaries fashion video: 

I love young Carrie Bradshaw's style, especially her personalized purse. 

After watching all these vlogs, I have been inspired to start vlogging as a profession myself. I think that vlogging is a great way to open yourself up and communicate with the world. I will be starting a YouTube channel on beauty, fashion, lifestyle, and books. I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!

New Fashion Blog Entry

For the past two days, I have been window shopping for clothes. So I thought that I would write another blog entry on fashion. 

Most recently, I have been awed by Adrianna Tate-Duncan's style from 90210! It is her style that has inspired me to write this blog entry. I love her classy, girly, glamorous, Old Hollywood style! One website stated that Adrianna has the most girly style in 90210! 

Here are some samples of Adrianna's outfits:

I love Adrianna's choice of frills, ruffles, and silhouettes and feminine colors such as pink and purple in those photos!!! Her style reflects that she is an old-fashioned, classic romantic at heart!

I love how at every moment, Adrianna looks so put-together and classy, and her hair is always styled! If only I could also be like that!

I just Adrianna with bang & short hair! Her hair looks so glossy and silky here:

I also love how Adrianna's curls and bangs look here:

Adrianna's also is so beautiful, with a face of universal features! Her outfits flow completely with her! She is the most beautiful girl on 90210!

The beautiful Jessica Lowndes herself said that she shares Adrianna's classic style, that her fashion idols are the classic Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor. 

My friend directed me to Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl as a character to study. I particularly first heard of Blair's style when hearing Charlotte York from Sex & the City referred to as the older sister of Gossip Girl's Blair Waldorf. So I looked into Blair's style.It looks like Blair's style is very preppy and girly, made to present a sweet, innocent appearance. 

I saw that a WikiHow article on how to dress like Blair Waldorf was very similar to the one on Charlotte: all about the bows, ruffles, frills, silhouettes, and headbands! I especially have loved bows and ruffles ever since I was a little girl!

Naomi particularly said in one episode of 90210 that Adrianna is the Charlotte of the clique! I definitely see that, as Adrianna is the one that is most romantic and the most old-fashioned at heart! I could digress on her sweet, old-fashioned romance with Navid. Sigh!

Adrianna, Blair, and Charlotte all take after the classy style of Audrey Hepburn whom I have covered before. 

It was also written in the Wikipedia article on Blair that she took after the style of Marilyn Monroe along with Audrey Hepburn. 

I also really like the trendy style, in addition to the classy/preppy style. I sometimes have trouble distinguishing between preppy and trendy. I believe that preppy is classy, the old-fashioned classics, while trendy is young and what is in fashion at the moment. I really like the preppy brands, Anthropologie and BCBG and the trendy brands, Candie's and Dollhouse! I even like the sound of each of them. 

I also really like how Carrie Bradshaw originated wearing a tutu with a top. I think that the point of that was to honor that Sarah Jessica Parker was a ballerina!

I would also like to wear a fancy top with a tutu, to advertise that I study ballet. I also love the romance of it!

As I wrote before, I also like the ebullient, eccentric circus style. I finally found Carrie's boardwalk print skirt with a Ferris Wheel that she worn on The Carrie Diaries and ordered it! I am so excited!

I also ordered a dress, which combines my two favorite styles: a Fairy Tale Carousel Dress!

I have also ordered a brand new pin-up ice cream dress.