Debutants wear WHITE

Gossip Girl, you surprise me once again--So yeah, Jenny is a b.tch, but I really actually felt bad for her... Although she was an idiot to needlessly be so rude to Blair, so she deserved having her escort stolen. As much as she deserved it, it was hard to feel any sense of justice. Who doesn't wanted to be accepted? And then, as I suspected would happen, Nate saved the day. One of the best moments ever on the show. And then Eric gets broken up with... Icing on the cake? And how is he planning to take her down in the future?? The tension between Serena and Trip is killing me...

Let's start with the good:

The nerds are back

+1 for consistency

Serena in an asymmetrical dress again

+1 for consistency

The announcer for the cotillion is the same as season 1

+5 for consistency

FINALLY the Dan Humphfrey-Vanessa hookup we've been waiting for

+100

The terrible:

Why is Jenny having her debut as a Junior at Constance??? Yeah, I know that Serena and Blair debuted as Juniors but really, most people don't have their debuts until freshman year of college

(neutral for consistency with previous seasons)

OMFG! Debutants do not wear anything but white

-1,000

The order of announcements would never change at the last second

-50

The "I'm a Bitch" song at the Deb ball (great song and perfect for Blair and Jenny, but absolutely would not happen)

-10

Why wasn't Dan at his sister's Deb ball???

-1

Was that another keg in NYU dorms?? A great fantasy, sorry but no! Never gonna happen. (at least it wasn't a rooftop party)

-20

How many Vanderbilt/Whitney's can the writers fit on this show? Nate and his family, Jonathan (who has never interacted with Nate).... Isn't there another well known rich family they can make people fictionally part of?

-2

Milly

Sometimes I think that Blair's outfits on Gossip Girl are ridiculous but I love her recent outfit from Milly...

Too bad the Chain Link cardigan is $400... Santa baby!

(no compensation or free merchandise was received for this post)

Gossip Girl: As Fake as That Escort's Breasts?

Gossip Girl shocked this week-- Brandeis was an escort? (in retrospect the hair and boobs should have been a dead give away) Nate falsely confesses? Trip's wife set up Grandfather? I never saw that one coming... The writers gain points once again for topical references to political events and pop culture, but I found several of the plot lines completely incredible.

The Good

Serena calls out Blair on her fake friends

Plus 1

The NY 1 news clip was so real that I fast forwarded through it on Tivo

Plus 2

Jenny finally gives up her raccoon makeup and looks quite ill (but why didn't they make it swine flu??)

Plus 1 million

Blair gloats over Patrick being a drunk and fixing the situation, implying that Serena, once again, is a total screw-up. This felt so real... who doesn't love to gloat when someone you're feuding with has a legit mess up?

Plus 1

As Blair notes, Paula Abdul is such a lush!!

Plus 5

"Nobody goes to the Mercer for the maid service they go to hear Russel Crowe throw a hissy"

Plus 1

"Throw a hissy"? And I thought Chuck couldn't get any closer to coming out

Plus 1

"Security just escorted her out"-- zing

Plus 1

Blair calling Serena a prostitute-- YES! (and surprisingly convincing logic) Serena pushes Blair's face in the cake! YES!! Drama finally returns-- Almost as good as the Yale explosion last year

Plus 5

The sexual tension between Trip and Serena was ridiculously uncomfortable to watch

Plus 2

The Bad

The reason that Serena has to bring her drunk fake-boyfriend actor to the election party is completely lame. And then he pees in the plants?? And isn't slurring his words at any point?

Minus 10

Why are Nate and Serena meeting down in the Financial District by Battery Park???

Minus 1

Really, you don't just call up New York 1 and get put through... and its unlikely Nate would have the number in his phone

Minus 3

They have sample sales at outlet malls??? Since when? I've only been to sample sales in the city, but none have ever been in an outlet mall (do they exist in New York??)

Also, like Chuck Bass even knows what an outlet mall is?? Please

Minus 15

Why is Blair just standing at the party cleaning out her hair when she could go up to the penthouse to change and shower? Girls like us like privacy and would never suffer the indignity of public grooming. Especially after we've been humiliated.

Minus 5

Why the heck would Trip's wife EVER admit that she just succeeded at framing Grandfather?? That's just arrogant and stupid. Especially when Grandfather hardly seems to know she exists and would have never suspected her.

Minus 10

Brandeis nonchalantly says -- "This is how I pay for college and couture" to Blair, admitting she is an escort--it just seems insane to openly admit to someone that you just met that you are a high-end escort who is sleeping with senators... Spitzer scandal anyone? And this girl is picking up guys at the party where there would be cameras and tons of media? What Senator thinks that would be a good idea? (although i guess people really are that stupid)

--- No points, just disgust with politicians and their hypocrisy along with mild jealousy over the girl's purses

Olivia was on Jimmy Falon twice within a week?

Minus 10

Jenny finally ditching her makeup puts us way into the positive (plus a million will do that) but I still find the episode fairly flawed. Although, I almost cried when Nate confessed and was appalled by Serena who ends up at the bar with a Vanderbilt. The last time we saw that it was her mounted on Nate... Are we supposed to think that she seduces Trip and crosses that line? I have to say I genuinely hate Serena. All of the dialog then was incredibly painful... I really hope that Serena doesn't prove her self to be the ...... we know she is.

Elizabeth McKay Fall

I recently begged my mother order these for me...

The one above in Tangerine, the one below in Brown and Orange. Perfect for Fall!

Disclosure: I received no compensation or free merchandise from Elizabeth McKay for this post

Gossip Girl: As Real as Bachelor Party Bongs

This week Gossip Girl played with our hearts. First-- Where the heck was Scott!?? Really writers? Really? Him not being there was almost as bad as the constant references to "Welcome Back Kotter" Mugs. What is "Welcome Back Kotter"? Chuck basically came out as bi to Blair. Then I was almost certain he was holding the door of his apartment mostly closed to her because he'd hooked up with the NYU alumnus, but he was all alone. I thought Nate was helping Serena and he turned out to be using her. Then I thought Carter would come back to Serena and he dumped her. I thought Blair was victorious over Vanessa, who I hate so much... everyone thinks she's so innocent-- finally they see her as the manipulative, lying bitch she really is. Then Blair blew it. Of course the stupid Humphrey-Bass family ends up happy in the end.

As real as the Chuck Bass Gay Kiss:

"You think I've never kissed a guy before?" No, no I didn't. Actually, I knew it all along, unlike Blair who it looks like the writers are setting up to be scorned by Chuck and another man.... Only someone at least half-gay could dress like Chuck, especially at his age (the writers also gain points here for syncing back up with the books)

+5

The Buckley Boy has his collar popped as he really would... Oil moneyed Texans are uber Preppy cliches

+2

The photoshopped picture of the bong and Trip

+1 (Because it is totally plausible that a picture like that could be betting material between Nate and the Buckleys and fooled me as much as Serena)

All of Vanessa's Mom's Lines- My god, she would be organizing a cheese workers union in Burlington, and "I don't use sugar; I only use agave"... I had been wondering forever who in the world buys that stuff from Whole Foods

+10

Serena's Mom's lines and expressions were perfect once again- her honest advice to Blair, fake responses to Olivia and awkward reactions towards Vanessa's mom were amazing

+10

Faker than Texans playing poker in their half-empty random giant warehouse (in New York)...

Where is Scott and why is there absolutely no mention of him??

-50

There is no freshman toast given by a freshman at NYU or any college for that matter (please correct me if I'm wrong)... What imaginary tradition is this, seriously? And why would a 25 year old looking alumnus get to choose the speaker? Nobody is that distinguished relative to other alumni at that age.

-15 since the episode centers on this plot

Why is Serena wearing that evening dress to visit Nate? As if she knows what the night will behold... Not a chance. No real version of Serena would be clueless enough to wear that dress during the day with no expectation of wearing it at night. Whatever Serena was wearing to the office, she should have gone home and changed. Ugh, maybe she does belong at Brown. Her lack of showering (apparent in that hair) suggests so

-2

I'm not sure if how Blair refers to her new NYU minions is awesome or reviling-ly fake... nuetral

Comes out well in the negative. Sorry writers.

XOXO

Return of Gossip Girl Reviews...

It's crazy how school has completely consumed every free moment that I once spent shopping and blogging... I've been meaning to post my critiques of Gossip Girl (since the Daily Intel never seems to choose my posts for the recap of the recap) If you've missed out on this amazing read--

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/10/gossip_girl_isnt_in_love_with.html

The past few weeks there have been some egregious flaws-- let's see, Scott turning down the opportunity to be a billionaire's son... until G cajoled him back last episode. Hilary Duff's character dating Dan Humpfrey? Is anyone else wondering what board lets a 18 year old without a college education or MBA help run a company?? And Chuck is cashing out ALL?? of his shares to by the Empire? (as if the Empire is worth billions, come on) And wears a bizarre kimono thing while massaging Blair? And Georgina, the master of deception is beat at her own game and swept away by a fake prince? Poppy Lifton not going to jail and nobody getting their money back?? The writers could have eliminated her from the plot line in a better way than that... really very lazy and hard to believe. I was also angry at the cheap shot the writer's took at investment banking families going broke since a know a few girls whose fathers have lost their jobs.

Although, at least Serena's mom is back-- finally. Her first episode back was full of golden lines-- finally telling Serena that college shouldn't be deferred to "find yourself" (as Chuck says "for people like us a degree is an accessory like a poodle or a Malawi child"-- brilliant-- although he really should be in school-- Does anyone think for one minute that Chuck would give up four years full of social superiority being the cool rich kid from New York, casual sex, binge drinking, smoking and cocaine at a school of his choice to be a boring business man?? The writers have seriously not thought about this one at all.) And there have been some great Mean Girls references- "Jambo!", some REAL celebrity appearances-- Tory Burch and witty lines that keep me watching.

Tonight I'll be posting my review of the latest episode and hopefully I'll have some fashion posts from campus soon, once I find a nice afternoon to go around taking pictures...

XOXO

GOSSIP GIRL: As real as happy endings in the back of an upscale restuarant?

For some time I've been wanting to write my own Daily Intel style Gossip Girl review... Here I g go (please add your comments!!):

A somewhat realistic episode?

I found almost nothing too outrageous with last night's episode compared to last season... but there were a few amazing lines and a few glaring errors

As real as Nate masturbating to an L.L. Bean catalog...

Georgina’s wall hanging

+50

Serena would be so stupid that she would think speakeasies existed because of the depression and not prohibition

+40

Dan and Vanessa would think that popularity doesn’t exist in college

+ 300

"There was toro!" at Blair’s party (Blair would think that other people know what toro is and that it’s very expensive)

+15

Marquee IS sooo bridge and tunnel on the weekends

+15

Most of Dan and Serena’s outfits

+10

OMJC shirts, again. Those Jesus freaks would only have those shirts.

+5

"No headbands!"

+5

Serena is finally a bitch again

+50

Dan and Georgina-- Dan being a straight college guy would drunkenly hook up with her +15 (-10 for the couch on the roof. WTF? and another -5 for not sneaking away the next morning. I refuse to think his opinion of her could change that much in one night)

even

About as realistic as a keg party on the roof of an NYU dorm...

Chuck's joke about Liza Millnneli concert at Carnegie Hall and NYU gays.... like he would posess the knowledge to even formulate that joke (although he is bi in the books)

-10

The homogenous outfits and general hipster/granola attitudes of the ENTIRE NYU student body

-10

Carter's Hair-- very (0riginal) 90210.... boys from the UES would never try out that look

-10

How did those Jesus freaks get in from upstate on such short notice? And if it wasn't a last minute call, why would Blair show up to the party hours before their arrival? (and that nobody would have been hitting on her... even hipsters aren't immune to a hot, lonely girl)

-10

Sushi party—AGAIN?? OMFG? What is it with you writers? (points for graduating to Masa… but you still come out negative…)

-30

How does that girl recognize Dan totally randomly?? Even if he was published…

-5

You can not just request a roommate without mutual permission, everyone who has been to college knows this

-150

Chuck Bass is struggling to find a location to open his speak-easy? HELLOOO --- His dad was the Donald Trump of this show! Not to mention he is a billionaire

-500

Nate carrying the boarding pass to? London in his pocket?? Yeah right

-100

Blair constantly in high heels. I’m from the upper east side and girls like Blair are my friends, and we don’t wear high heels constantly especially during the day.

-25

The age inappropriateness of Blair’s red outfit

-25

You would have totally told your doorman to keep his f****ng mouth shut about your guest and then slipped him a couple of $20's or a $100 if finding out about your escapade means tears. Or go to Nate's place. B. Buckley, epic fail. -50 (plus +5 for being stupid about obvious things when filled with lust)

-45

Everything about Blair’s party

-50

The fact that Blair was incapable of finding any other rich and fashionable girls at NYU of all places to be her minions... really??

-50

That nobody left the party to go to Monkey Bar with Blair

-50

Butter and several other Blair hangouts from previous seasons are well below 14th st making her comment on the MET stairs about never going downtown in high school seem ridiculous. After all the only place to get drunk on the UES is Dorrian's or other people's places. And the shopping in the LES/Nolita/SoHo/West Village?? c'mon -25 (+20 Blair would make a ridiculous generalization like that while suffering cognitive dissonance)

-5

We come out well in the negative for the roof party and the Chuck story line... I hope this gets to the writers so that they can watch out in the future

XOXO

EBW