SEATTLETIMES.COM: The Seattle Times ran a story recently on how much influence the show Gossip Girl has had on the retail market. It’s pretty incredible; it’s not everyday that a T.V. show (from the CW mind you) is the theme of a Henri Bendel window display.

Anyway, buried deep in the article, Eric Daman, the show’s costume designer, reveals where he draws his inspiration from when coming up with each of the character’s styles.

He said:

“Blair is moving in a very art-deco feel, mirroring the paintings of Tamara de Lempicka. And Serena feels like a [Austrian painter Gustav] Klimt to me; Chuck Bass [played by Ed Westwick] as a young Sean Connery circa Hitchcock’s ‘Marnie.’ “

I don’t know about you, but the only name I recognize is Hitchcock. I thought it might be fun to explore some of the artists.

Daman said Blair’s outfits were inspired by paintings done by Tamara de Lempicka. This is Lempicka’s self-portrait; I can see a bit of Blair Warldorf coming through.

Lempicka was a Polish Art Deco painter, who lived through the Great Depression, although it didn’t affect her much because she came from a very wealthy family.

She had a very bold distinctive style that art historians say epitomized the cool yet sensual side of the Art Deco movement. Her technique was novel, clean, precise, and elegant. Me likey!

Serena’s style, Daman says, “feels” like a Gustav Klimt painting. Who? According to Wikipedia, Gustav Klimt was an Austrian Symbolist painter, who’s “works are marked by a frank eroticism.”

I’m not exactly sure how this one translates into wardrobe, at least not prime time t.v.?

Chuck’s wardrobe inspiration, the legendary Sean Connery, (Sigh) circa the Marnie-era. Nicely Done Daman!

Enjoy the eye candy.

Until next time,

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