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What I Learned Rewatching Gossip Girl in My 20s: A Fresh Perspective on Drama, Fashion and Life Lessons

The Rakstar — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 19:49:25 +0000

Okay Rakstars, Gossip Girl (the original) seasons 1 – 6 is on Netflix and I know that your teenage self is dying… a whiff of nostalgia is floating down through your veins. How you wanted to be like the characters, dress in haute couture and just immerse yourself in the Upper East side living with the privileged upper class.

Rewatching Gossip Girl as an adult or adult-ish is like reliving all your teenage dreams – something so familiar yet completely different since well, maybe dreams don’t come true. If you are anything like me, you were obsessed with the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite, but your 20-something self? She sees things a little differently. From life lessons wrapped in designer clothing to the importance of personal growth, here’s what I learnt from rewatching Gossip Girl in my 20s.

1. Fashion or Personal Style?

Remember when headbands were the accessory? Buying every single colour and design to match with any outfit. Well, we can certainly thank Blair Waldorf for that. This was her signature look which made us all want to add a little preppy accessory to our wardrobes. Rewatching the show, I realized that while fashion trends come and go (remember silly bandz – omg!), your personal style is there forever. Blair was never afraid to be who she was even when she was figuring it all out. Her dedication to her polished aesthetic, made me realize that true style isn’t about following trends, but about choosing your fashion pieces based on what makes you feel confident. Whether it’s a long beautiful golden dress (like Serena’s cotillion dress) or a gothic look (like Jenny) or a classic Chanel bag or a pair of Louboutin heels, investing in timeless pieces is always a good idea when it resonates with you.

Blair’s Headbands

Serena’s Cotillion Dress

2. Friendship or Frenemies? (Serena vs Blair)

Frenemies became a known concept thanks to Gossip Girl. Friendships are complicated and sometimes even more than a romantic relationship. The most famous relationship throughout the 6 seasons was the bond between Blair and Serena. The on-again, off-again friendship between Blair and Serena showed how people grow, outgrow and repair their relationship. Through thick and thin – challenges arise no matter what. Blair and Serena are a reminder that even sister relationships can change but only true friends learn to forgive through the storm. Rewatching the series in my 20s, I learnt that friendships can evolve and that’s okay.

Blair vs Serena

Blair and Serena's Showdown at Yale

3. Love is not a Fairytale

Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass

Blair Waldorf and Dan Humphrey

Serena van der Woodsen and Dan Humphrey

Nate Archibald and Jenny Humphrey

Nate Archibald and Serena van der Woodsen

Dan Humphrey and Vanessa Abrams

Blair Waldorf and Louis Grimaldi

Lily van der Woodsen and Rufus Humphrey

Lily van der Woodsen and Bart Bass

Eleanor Waldorf and Cyrus Rose

Jack Bass and Blair Waldorf (??)

Ivy Dickens and Rufus Humphrey

Ivy Dickens and William van der Woodsen

Lola Rhodes and Nate Archibald

Where there any more relationships? Probably so. But lost count.

Watching all these relationships unfold as a teenager, it was easy to be drawn in towards the drama, love and the romanticized mystery. The intensity and passion of young love. But now, re-watching it all, we see the red flags!!. Serena and Nate’s cousin (we could see it coming a mile away). Gossip Girl shows us that love is not a fairytale—it’s messy, complicated and often, it’s about finding yourself before you can truly be with someone else. Enter Chuck and Blair’s relationship, growth is key and that love should lift you up, not tear you down. Rewatching Gossip Girl, I learnt what to look for and what NOT to look for in a relationship. Maybe steer away from complicated rich guys??

Who is your favourite Power Couple? Blair Edition

Blair and Chuck

Blair and Dan

Who is your favourite Power Couple? Serena Edition

Serena and Dan

Serena and Nate

4. Gossip Girl is not a fable

We all believe that we are good people who do not spread rumours or engage in gossip but I mean Susanna in Cubicle C had the inside scoop on Amy’s bridal shower and let’s just say Amy is not a boring accountant. The real world – the rumour mill in offices, school and social life is just as active. See all the celebrity gossip websites – we love to hear the tea. Whether it’s good or bad – we live for the spills. What I learnt is that we must protect our peace – we can get caught up in what other people think which can ruin our mental health but at the end of the day – happiness should be based on your opinion of yourself and not what other people think. When you are true to yourself and don’t compare yourself to others – you can live more zen. Hate comments and other people’s opinions do not really matter so long as you are happy with yourself. Rakstars, don’t let anyone dim your light. Shine bright and be kind always.

Gossip Girl Pilot Voiceovers

5. Upper East Side Riches Doesn’t Equal Happiness

Watching the lives of Manhattan’s elite, we all wanted to be rich like them. Living in penthouses and suites and being chauffeured in black car service. Who can say no to that? I certainly won’t. But what we don’t realize is that none of their lives are hunky-dory. For you see, it’s clear that money can’t buy happiness or in this case love between any of the main characters or that their careers are just as panicky as the rest of us. Sure, they are 10 steps ahead of the ladder – but for them to prove themselves is just as difficult as the rest of us. Serena is on a constant search for self-worth. She is branded as the It Girl where things just come to her which makes her less respectable. On the other hand, Chuck has constant battles with his inner demons – wanting to make a name on his own turf while battling what’s right and wrong. Blair and Nate – well – they are figuring out that true happiness comes from within and not what society’s expectations are or dare I say, trust fund. Dan and Jenny – in order to be like the rich – they had to lose much more of themselves than they wanted.

Chuck Bass and his Inner Demons

Serena’s Grandmother CeCe's Will

6. Finding Yourself is an Ongoing Journey

Rewatching Gossip Girl (okay so maybe like binge watching Gossip Girl seasons 1-6 non-stop) showed me significant character growth. In the past, we had to wait for each episode once a week and when the season ended we waited months and months for the new season. Binge watching is a whole new learning experience. Every character was on a path of finding out who they are. Blair was on a quest to figure out herself away from her relationship with Chuck. Dan had a constant battle with himself as an outsider trying to assimilate himself into the wealth culture hence his book name Inside. I never really understood this watching it the first time around cause I never really experienced it myself. But now that I’m older and certainly hopefully wiser I can see that even in your 20s you are still figuring yourself out and you don’t know the answer right away. It’s okay. The path is never straight and it should be something that we should embrace, not fast forward.

Dan's Tell-All Book - Inside

7. Success and Ambition is a Double-Edged Sword

We want to be successful. Yes we do. But it’s not always positive feedback we get. Blair has a constant drive to succeed, be the best and her ambition is out of this world. She always fights to get what she wants but sometimes it leads her to make choices that are questionable where she would rather sacrifice her relationships with others and create more drama. Her desire to get into Yale, led her down the wrong path with one of her teachers, moreover, the amount of times she and Serena fought. Lesson learned here – have ambition but make sure to strike a balance between what is acceptable and not lose yourself in the process.

Blair Gets Waitlisted at Yale

Growing Up with Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl was definitely a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Flip phones, anyone! Ah, technology! But reminiscing the simple times, the messages it shared offered a new perspective of life, love and personal growth. It was a great series.

So the next time you binge-watch Gossip Girl, remember: you’re no longer just an outsider looking in—you’re someone who’s lived a little, loved a little and learned a lot.

XOXO

Gossip Girl

(Always wanted to do that!)

Love, The Rakstar

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How to Elevate Your Style

The Rakstar — Sat, 25 May 2024 20:55:16 +0000

Rakstars, have you ever felt that you don’t have anything to wear but you can hardly step into your closet? We get it! It’s not your fault! Your closet is just small.

5 Ways to Choose the Right Outfits

Personality: Your clothes have to work for you. You have to let it shine on you and make heads turn. Unless you don’t like attention, that’s totally fine. A soft look will do you just fine. In order to understand yourself, go to the mall or your favourite clothing store. Take a bunch of items off the rack to the change rooms and voila! See what you like? See what you don’t like? Play with different styles, colours and of course textures. See what makes you feel authentic and confident. There is nothing like walking down the street, feeling awkward. You can mix and match different styles – there are no rules.
Quality: Clothing is fun when it doesn’t rip, unless that’s the style you like. Invest in timeless pieces that can be used again and again with different outfits such as a tailored blazer, the black dress and a good pair of jeans. You will often wear them, so price per wear does come down. In the long run, it’s worth it. Take the stress off of finding a good impromptu outfit minutes before you leave the house because you have timeless pieces that look good with anything. A win-win.
Your Fit: Not everyone is going to look good in a type of clothing style. What may suit your friend, may not suit you. Have you ever had those moments where you think that you look bad in clothes? Honey, it’s not you – it’s them! Clothing is based on your body shape. Some people are tall and some are short. Having long wear or petite wear can help benefit your look making you slimmer or less baggy. Remember, when you dress, you are dressing for yourself and your body – nobody else.
Accessorize and Glamorize: In order to elevate your outfit, it is important to add a touch of sparkle with pieces including jewelry, headphones, watches, blazers, scarves, handbags, sunglasses and hats to put it all together. Don’t be afraid. Do what feels right. Wearing an all white outfit with a pop of an orange handbag, can be just the right touch to transform your outfit from okay to Fab!
Groom: Not the groom at the wedding, unless you want to attract him. You do you boo. No judgment here! What we mean is personal hygiene. Make sure to take care of your skin, hair and nails. Look like a person and not a zombie. Keep your hair groomed, styled in a way that you love and feel confident in. No one likes a bad hair day. Find a skin care routine that makes you want to dance and make sure your nails are clean and well-trimmed. This will tie in the whole look.

TIPS

2 Types of Colours in this World

Neutrals: Easy to work with and can create many many outfits. You can pair each item easily. Black top with white pants or white top with black pants. What about a beige sweater and a white top? With neutrals, it’s easy to pair and it looks like you just walked out of a magazine.
Colours: Colours are good. Don’t be afraid. Look at a colour wheel. Any colours that are directly opposite of each other are complementary colours. They give off a bold statement. Colours that are next to each other are analogous colours. They blend together and give off a cohesive look. Colours are fun to play with.

Proportions

If you think your outfit looks off – it may be the proportions. Break the outfit into threes. Are they all looking good? For example, are you wearing a long t-shirt covering your thighs? Don’t like it? Tuck the top in. You have now created a proportion. Does it look better? Maybe? Play with the proportions of your outfits. If you are wearing a sweater, you can fold it up to a quarter away from your wrist or, if you are feeling fancy, pull it to the elbow. See how you can make your outfit feel like yourself.

You can create an illusion to look taller and leaner by wearing high fitted waist pants. You can wear a belt to separate your top from your pants to look proportionate. The options are endless.

Match your shoes with your pants, it gives off the illusion that they are one, thus making a flow of one colour and making you look taller.

Baggy clothes are comfortable but can make you look like grass. No offense! Tight clothes – can you even move? Try splitting up the bagginess and tightness. Wear a baggy top but tight pants or a regular fitting tight top with baggy pants.

Rakstars, remember that elevating your style takes time. There is no one size fits all solution. Combine your fashion, confidence and your authenticness. There are going to be days where your style changes. That’s fine. What you liked before may not necessarily be what you like now? It’s all part of the growing process. Grow and live your life, the way you want it. If you’re happy, then no matter what you wear, your happiness will outshine everything.

So Rakstars, are you ready to shine?

: Photo by Godisable Jacob

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Selecting the Right Piece: Picking out Jewelry is like an Authentic Expression

The Rakstar — Sun, 12 May 2024 17:26:13 +0000

Shiny. Glittery. Elegant. Peaceful. Classy. Smooth. Colourful. Metal. A Memory.

What jewelry should I wear? Does jewelry represent symbols?

Picking out jewelry is nonetheless a Picasso of a world of wonder. Dancing with the stars, one may say. But each dance flees with a moment that is so personal, that it’s within our narrative, like a tale of the waltz, floating between our hands – people sway to the beat of the sound, but people are different and so is the dance along with the story it tells.

Jewelry is immortal but the precious moments that lay through the timeless elegance is carried within our hearts. Whether it’s through joyous memories or celebrations of happiness, choosing a piece of jewelry is not a task. It’s an art. As it will be forever cherished and forever speak the moment of your story.

Every time I glance at my jewelry at hand, I reminisce about the times invoking an abundance of emotions; happiness, joy, calm, serenity and even sadness. For the history of the pieces are just as valuable as the gems it surrounds. Rings are a moment of reflection of you, through different chapters in your life.

Necklaces gaze at a milestone of reaching the next stage and bracelets are rigid, never letting go, never forgetting, the carriers before. Each piece of jewelry deserves to be celebrated. Deserves to be loved and shown.

When given the chance to select jewelry for yourself, you often graze such excitement, endless emotions of thrill and adventure. Tracing your fingers on a delicate pendant, one that dances in the air suspended from a rose gold chain.

Maybe you are giving it as a gift to someone or a gift for yourself. Maybe it’s for a loved one to be exchanged on a starry summer night. This is no longer just a pendant but a stamp of a constellation. A constant reminder of that magical evening when everything just stood still.

Rings encapsulated with circles, never breaking, no latch, never broken. Just one continuous loop embodies a tale of promises and commitment. A commitment to always love yourself, someone, or a joyous occasion, that you never want to forget. I, for one, was given a little teal box, one that sparked joy for my eighteenth birthday. A new chapter was opened – a symbol of adulthood, a milestone from my Uncle who always wanted a daughter.

Let’s not forget earrings. Dangling from your earlobes. Studs or loops, echoes personality whether it’s through shared laughter with friends or the shimmering diamonds in the dark blue evening. The earrings move together in pairs – holding the secrets you share.

Through the walks of the crowd, one thing remains in everyone’s ears and no it’s not the earrings, but the rhythmic chime that encompasses from the wrist. Bracelets hit the forefront jingling with memories of dreams, seaside walks, parties and a glass of one too many. Some bracelets allow for charms, to capture more than one episodic memory.

Another piece of jewelry that is sometimes lost but never forgotten, the elegant brooches. Sometimes, we don’t remember because it is often not too common, but with the iconic pieces it is sometimes hard to miss. Old money one may say, these pieces are fastened to lapels, scarves and even jackets.

Maybe it was a family heirloom passed on from generations to generations carrying a plethora of pieces of weighted history and legacies. Or maybe it was found in a thrift store, carrying someone else’s treasure but wearing it with pride. Or yet simply, you selected a piece that aligns with your personality like an owl of wisdom or designer initials.

Picking out jewelry is like an authentic expression. Who we discover to be today and who we were when we received the item, it’s not old and new, it’s a myriad of triumphs and losses, overcome to see where we are now. Losing the battles but winning the war. Becoming a year older, or celebrating a holiday. You discover your story with memories, remarkable journeys and the best bit, each time you place your earrings on you can hear it.

The secrets you once told it, whispering and laughing in your ears. The rings of armor, remembering those endless stories. Or what about your necklace – the pendant etched on your chest beats near your heart. Your bracelets chime, invoking the emotion you once felt. The brooch that lays on your side, protecting your inner layer.

For it is you that tells the story and the jewelry pieces it together. No matter what you like to feel – there are endless combinations to mix and match. Not one choice is right and not one choice is wrong.

Each piece is just a chapter, but the beauty lies not just in the precious metal or the gems but in the person that is wearing it. When selecting jewelry to add to your collection or choosing for someone else, remember it’s not just an accessory – it is an immortal token one that would live long carrying your memory.

In time, Rakstars

: Photo by solod_sha

: Photo by Eren Kapusuz:

: Photo by Arsham Haghani

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