The Grandfather - Part 1 of 3 - Off the Rails

Blair's been rejected by both Yale and Chuck, and so, dives into a big pool of Carter Baizen, mid-day scotch, and shoplifting. Serena is concerned, as there needs to be at least one in their fabulous twosome with some form of self-control. She and Chuck chase off Baizen with a few hints of Santorini, and hie off to rescue their friend, only to see Blair begging embarassed Sarah Lawrence deans for college admission. The trio then descends on the Van der Bilt compound so Blair can further set her pristine reputation on fire.  Nate forgives the Grandfather for previous trespasses, after he sends him a particlarly natty looking blazer complete with family crest.  Meanwhile, Lily insists that she and Rufus share their "lists."  Even Serena thinks it's a bad idea, but Lily pushes on.  Apparently Van der Woodsen genes come with a profusion of blond hair and a serious lack of common sense.

Bex, Lily's art dealer, is a beautiful woman.  So beautiful that even she has been on a date or two.

Even one with Rufus Humphrey.

Hey, I never said she had standards.



After all, she's been digging into Vanessa's costume jewelry stash--never a good thing.  However, I do like the red silk blouse on her, and her sleek side-swipe bangs are flattering.

On the other hand, Lily looks lovely (albeit a bit paranoid) in her sequinned eggshell tank.  The earrings especially are gorgeous and add just the right bit of UES Trophy Wife sparkle to her ensemble.

It's genuinely hard to believe that this ethereal top was worn underneath a coat fashioned from repurposed burlap sacks, complete with clashing gray scarf.

If her outerwear is to be believed, Lily rushed over so quickly to Rufus' gallery that she didn't even have time to pick out an appropriately matching ensemble.  It really must be love.

Who knows why.  It certainly isn't Rufus' style.



When you can't tell if he's wearing this henley inside-out or not. . . that's a problem.

A little improved is this rock star denim shirt.



It's got some nice detailing and you have to realize that it's legitimately retro because Rufus has probably owned it since the early '90s.

The Grandfather - Part 2 of 3 - Like a Train Wreck

We definitely know it's love between Nate and Vanessa--he's even willing to go on an unplanned, unorganized jaunt around the Eastern bloc.

I like a Vanessa Abrams who's dating Nate.  She has definitely tamed her wilder instincts and laid off the overdone costume jewelry.



Very cute navy and green plaid coat.  That looks like something even Blair might be caught dead in.

Embellishment comes to Vanessa as natural as breathing, so it's hard for her to turn it off completely, but she has learned to tone it down and keep it in a similar palette.


Pre-Nate, she would have worn this super cute blue color-blocked cardigan with some hideous neon screenprinted affair.  Here she pairs it with a charming cream blouse, with just the slightest hint of embellishment on the embroidered neckline.  The necklaces are even simple, and her plain silver earrings the perfect accompaniment.  

Vanessa's cocktail attire is even more accomplished.  She's soignee '60s elegance with her tousled curls and vampy patterned dress hid demurely under a simple cream cardigan.



The gold necklace is the perfect final touch--I love the way it gathers at the side.  Elegant with just a touch of what makes Vanessa, Vanessa.  If she kept dressing this way, we'd have to stop making fun of her.

As for Nate himself, he's his usual Brooks Brothers, blue-wearing self.



There is something to said for consistency and whoever buys his clothes (his mother), knows what suits his personal style.  Also, what looks best after a night--or two--of lying on the floor.

Nate's older cousin Tripp has come to herd the naughty sleep back to the Van der Bilt flock.  Tripp once imagined himself a heroic Indiana Jones-esque archaelogist, but saw the light when the Grandfather's political ambitions called.



It's a choice he's clearly embraced, as he looks even more Brooks Brothers than Nate.  I have to appreciate the pop of yellow in his otherwise completely blue attire.

Could this differentiation be because of his sweetheart, Maureen?



She clearly appreciates a good citrus shade as much as the next girl.  The fabric of her coat is just retro enough to bring to mind a young Jackie Kennedy, but the orange detailing proves her to be thoroughly modern.

The Grandfather is just as you would picture him:  powerful and traditional.



Love his dark overcoat with the light colored sweater underneath.  A stylish and expensive looking ensemble that he's about as likely to have put together as Nate is.  

Upon further viewing, it's confirmed that Grandfather never would have selected this gorgeous lilac shawl-collar sweater.



Despite that, it's a gorgeous speciman, and I love especially love the subtle cabling on the sleeves.  With just a look, it's obvious from its luxurious weft that it is definitely cashmere.

On the opposite end of the social spectrum, Dan is busy being awkward.

When he's not dating Serena, his whole character takes on a very unnecessary vibe, which leads to all kinds of uncomfortable shenanigans, like he and Miss Carr in the costume closet.

In this episode, he tags along with Nate and Vanessa to the Van der Bilt compound, and he's, well, he's a little superfluous.  Basically he's there to make uncomfortable cracks about his poor Brooklyn background (come on, his dad is an ex-famous rocker who owns a fairly successful art gallery).  Oh, and someone has to represent the plaid side of things.



It's not even that this coat is ugly.  It is.  It's both ugly and old and just plain worn down.  I don't watch TV to be transported into a reality more realistic than my own.  Eric Daman, please, for the love of God, get Dan a new coat.

The charcoal sweater he's wearing isn't really all that bad--if only he wasn't sporting plaid underneath it.

Does the boy own something that isn't plaid?



I guess not, since he's forced to wear plaid under his sport coat to a cocktail party.  Dan, just a hint, when the invite says "cocktail" that means that plaid is not allowed, no matter how friendly you are with the heir of the house.  Especially when the owner of said house tends to arrive via helicopter.

The Grandfather - Part 3 of 3 - Bad with a Capital B

Blair has lost everything she's spent her entire life working for, and that means it's time to be Bad. Apparently being Bad means lounging around in lingerie, hanging out with Carter and drinking scotch in the middle of the day.



She looks gorgeous, if a trifle pathetic.  The black silk cami with cream panels is both classy and sexy, and of course she dons a pair of black peep-toes while wearing it.  The whole ensemble is kind of lost on Carter, who probably only appreciates a pair of lucite stripper heels.

I do love this gorgeous blue and white patterned trench.  If this is the way Bad Blair dresses, she can go ahead and be bad in my book any day of the week.  Even those stolen sunglasses suit her down to the ground.

Of course, Blair's Badness is more than a little pathetic when it comes down to it.  It's only when she comes out fighting, claws extended, at the Van der Bilt party, that she becomes both Bad and Empowered.



Oh, and Gorgeous.

Her navy and white bandage dress is deliciously tight, and the simple sequinned cardigan makes it appropriate for the environment.  The perfect touch is her pearls entertwined with the gold necklace draped with nautical charms.  This Blair has a sarcastic fire that I'd love to see her embrace a lot more often--not only when she is ostenibly "Bad."

As for Chuck, he doesn't take his beloved's fall from grace very well.  First, he goes off in a jealous snit over Carter.  Second, he wears plaid.

Now, I know I raked Dan Humphrey over the coals for his plaid obsession.  Let me be clear.  On Chuck, plaid is a sartorial choice.  For Dan, plaid is a lifestyle.

With that out of the way, I feel empowered enough to assert that on Chuck, this plaid shirt is astonishingly dashing.



In addition, he pairs it with that gorgeous navy overcoat and brown pointy-toed shoes that only a Bass could love.  Ergo, he accessorizes well.  Dan wouldn't know an accessory if it came up and bit him in the ass.

There is nothing technically wrong with the gray suit Chuck dons for the Van der Bilt party, but for an event where there is still snow outside, it seems a bit. . .spring-like.



Save the pink bowties for Easter.

In this episode, Serena employs her usual coping mechanism: sequins.



However, she uses them surprisingly well.  This gold sequinned tank is gorgeous on her, and I love the buff tuxedo jacket she pairs with it.  Is the whole outfit a little overdone?  Yes, but so is Serena, so it works.

At the cocktail party, Serena goes the simplistic route with a beautiful royal blue gown. If the neckline were a few inches higher, it would be almost demure. 



Plus, she brushed and straightened her hair! Perhaps Serena's gone Good?