“Gossip Girl here, your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite.”
Please tell me I’m not the only one who let out a depressed sigh upon hearing Kristen Bell utter those words for the last time during the “Gossip Girl” series finale.
No more Chuck and Blair relationship-quarreling, no more Lonely Boy whining and no more laughing at how the show attempts (and fails) to cover up Jenny’s leave of absence. But, above all, no more Monday nights spent marveling at the amazing costumes designed by Eric Daman.
Daman, as head costume designer for “Gossip Girl,” provided me, as well as thousands of fans, with six seasons of what was possibly the best clothing television has seen since “Sex and the City” (which, of course, Daman also worked on).
Just by watching a quick hour of “Gossip Girl,” one is bombarded with intricate, bold and beautiful clothing for any style or age. If your wardrobe leans more toward the preppy, high society look of the Upper East Side, there is no better inspiration than Blair Waldorf. Blair’s headbands and exquisite dresses are the place to look if you’re wondering how to pull off an old Hollywood glamour vibe in a modern time.
On the other hand, if you’re more of a colorful, bohemian goddess, then Serena van der Woodsen is your girl. Serena’s embellished clothing and killer confidence is the perfect place to look if you’re curious on how to put a little oomph in your outfit.
And for all you males out there, Daman has set the gold standard for how guys everywhere should dress. Whether you’d like to channel Nate Archibald’s polo-wearing, East Hampton style or are more into the classic suit and ascot ensemble that has become synonymous with Chuck Bass, the “Gossip Girl” boys will leave you with the sense that clean and crisp really is the way to go. Even Dan Humphrey’s Brooklyn-based uniform of T-shirts and blazers had him looking sharp and put together. To put it simply, if any guy out there is ever in need of a little fashion guidance, “Gossip Girl” is a great place to turn — even if you have to lie and tell your friends the only reason you’re watching is to gaze at Blake Lively for an hour.
Basically, Daman did an exceptional job in giving the “Gossip Girl” cast an exterior look that spoke volumes about their personality. And, in turn, Daman has reminded us clothing can really be a character in itself. Just by slipping on the right heels, suit jacket or well-positioned hat, anyone can take on an entirely new persona if they so choose.
Simply put, you don’t have to be a New York socialite to have the poise and confidence of one. Clothing can help you channel your most awesome and fabulous you, or it can provide you with a fun character for a day. Fashion should be an engaging, exciting adventure, and with each week that “Gossip Girl” appeared, Daman allowed audiences the chance to truly embrace this adventure in all its glory.
If for some reason you happened to miss these past six seasons of salacious television, you can still get your daily dose of Eric Daman through his book, “You Know You Want It.” This book, which also includes a forward by Leighton Meester (who plays Blair), is a one-stop guide to building your wardrobe and your own signature style. And for those of you who are also obsessed with Daman’s work, it’s another place to drool over his creativity and styling.
But if reading isn’t your thing, don’t get too worried. We haven’t lost Daman just yet. He’s currently lending his talents to CW’s new series “The Carrie Diaries.” So, all is not lost in the world of television fashion inspiration, and even if we truly get desperate, there are always re-runs.