Friday, December 11, 2009

Gossip Girl exteriors today!

Question: Why am I working on Gossip Girl, despite the fact that I already made enough for SAG pension & health this year?

Answer: Because I love dressing up in my best (OK, not really... but close enough) clothes, shoes and accessories, taking a brisk walk to the Upper East Side (where the show is shooting most of the time, at least when I'm on it), getting a black cup of coffee from some breakfast truck and sipping it on the way, and checking out the principals' wardrobe all day long while I'm working. That's why - call me crazy! It's a nice change from squeezing into sample sizes at castings, rocking leotards and pink tights in dance class, wearing drab lawyer outfits for my part-time job as a very un-fabulous office drone on Damages... you get the idea.

As I got dressed for work this morning, it struck me that almost every piece I selected has some sort of back story to it. My call time is not until a little later, so let's see what I have time to share. :)

Black bouclé skirt - Kookai. This skirt comes with a matching, fur-trimmed jacket and I bought them many years ago in Paris. I had agreed to accompany my then-boyfriend on a trip to the French capital, where he was going to participate in a mini-course on business cycles in economic modeling and to present a research paper at Sorbonne. Feeling painstakingly inferior and out of place among his colleagues and classmates, I opted for strolling around the city on my own, day in and day out until our week was up.

I had crêpes aux fraises on various street corners, I was reading Gelsey Kirkland's autobiography in coffee shops all over the 5th arrondissement, I was daydreaming in the Tuileries.... and I was studying my map carefully in the solitude of my hotel room (so as to not have to pull it out of my bag in public... I would never embarrass myself like that) to figure out how to get to the nearest Kookai boutique. When I finally managed to locate it - on Rue des Canettes - and walked in, I found myself being surrounded by a myriad of Parisian salesgirls who were all dying to give me a makeover. I was tall, thin and depressed, with no direction in life - hence being a perfect candidate for their efforts.

These days, I usually tend to wear the bouclé skirt suit ensemble they picked out for me as separates (today, I am pairing the skirt with a white/black beaded 3/4 bell-sleeved cardigan, that I just picked up at a Nanette Lepore sample sale). But whenever I opt for a head-to-toe bouclé look and put on the skirt, the fitted jacket and those old Mary Janes that I was wearing at the time, I feel just like I did that afternoon when I walked out of the store, with the rest of my purchases (and the jeans I had arrived in!) stuffed in a neat shopping bag dangling on my arm... cigarette between my fingertips, people suddenly speaking to me in French, the stride of my step suddenly being so different.

Earrings - LuShae Trillion Cut Hoops. When I was 16, my father returned from a business trip to Venice, Italy, with a pair of earrings he had bought for me - a pair of simple princess cut studs, almost shaped like little snowflakes. Appreciating his thoughtfulness, but not so much the gift in itself, I immediately tucked them away in a jewelry box, thinking to myself I would probably want to wear them when I became "older". And I most certainly did... aside from the sentimental value that I could not help attaching to them, they had a crisp style that went perfectly with the fashions I had developed a taste for later in life. It was inevitable that I would, at some point, lose one of them.

The snowflake was nowhere to be found. During the course of one day only, I had been on the Queens-bound N, at the offices of a LIC production company as well as their neighboring PR firm that owed me some money... I had walked over the Queensborough bridge and visited an Upper West Side photo studio, a SoHo modeling agency and last, but not least, a wardrobe stylist's Hello Kitty-esque East Village apartment to try on some outfits. I did not even try to locate the missing earring - any effort spent would have been less fruitful than trying to find a needle in a haystack. Instead, I desperately raided vintage jewelry shops, contemporary bling boutiques and online stores to find a replacement, or at least something similar... and finally stumbled upon these hoops, that look nothing like my snowflakes, but have yet replaced them very successfully as my most-loved go-to earrings!

Knowing how devastated I was when losing the snowflake, my boyfriend suggested I buy a back-up pair, in case an "accident" would happen again. But while it is not a bad idea, I think I might just have to expand my collection with some alternative styles from the designer instead. Take a look at all the cute pieces here.... the horseshoes will most likely be my next purchase. Thank God my birthday is coming up! ;)

***

I am also wearing a faux fur coat with bell-sleeves, cinched waist and ruffled hem from Laundry, a pair of Rowley black buckled nappa equestrian boots (coat and boots pictured above left) and a Mango pearl bracelet (pictured below left), and carrying a Coach Maggie OP Art Sateen handbag in khaki/gold (pictured right). I could share little snippets about all of them, but there is just no time.... however, as a final funny anecdote, the Coach bag is supposed to be a Christmas gift from my boyfriend, but he could not resist my puppy eyes so it is obviously on my arm already...! My argument for getting it a little earlier was that in addition to matching my outfit perfectly, the bag will easily fit one or two of his favorite goodies from crafty, in case I get the chance to "steal" some and bring home with me today. In other words, my wardrobe might look classy.... but don't let that fool you: I'm clearly not! :)

Hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend! xoxox

68 comments:

  1. Hey, wait. I am confused. What is your part in Gossip Girl? Are you in the costume department? Do you also work in Damages? I saw the first season and I liked it.;)
    xoxo
    B* a la Moda

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  2. No, no... just working background on GG about once a month. I'm on Damages about once a week, but I have to admit I've never seen the show! I should be ashamed of myself. Have to run now, will catch up on everyone's blogs later! XOXOXOX

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  3. I guess you really enjoy your stint with GG that's why you love to do it. It's not work for you at all CC.

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  4. great post , Malin! Your life in NY has such appealing charm to me because it is SO FAR from what my life is like. I always love reading about it and living a bit vicariously through your posts! I love the fur coat outfit...A LOT..and kudos to you girl, for getting your Coach bag early (i ALWAYS get my gifts early...we must just be irresistible!)

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  5. first of all, I think it's very neat you can work on the set of movies and shows like GG!
    and secondly I love the outfit, that jacket with the lace trim is lovely

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  6. What a fantastic post, a joy to read. Gorgeous outfit you bought in France, and I love the real-life pic (please keep them coming!). You look fabulous.

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  7. Ahh, I just love it when items have a story behind it. It's what makes vintage pieces so charming, but it's even better if you have your own story to tell. That first outfit you described seems almost too formal for what Parisians would wear these days, although I guess it depends where in Paris you happen to be. Love those earrings and congrats on getting your Christmas present early ;-)

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  8. O. M. G. You look tres adorable in that picture. Your bangs. Your coat. I die! Love far too much!! I don't blame you for wanting to be on the Gossip Girl set - it sounds a-ma-zing!! :)

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  9. Love the faux fur. Perfect length coat. :O)

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  10. Ah good fun and great Paris story xx

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  11. Yep I don't think I could resist doing that either!!

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  12. Loving your blog! I work with a boot company and would love to see what you think of them - since you're such the fashionista!

    I can't seem to find your email anywhere so if you'd like to see some photos, let me know - brittneyl@r-west.com. Hope to talk with you soon!

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  13. love these items!
    have a lovely weekend, darling
    xoxo

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  14. Sounds great! I also love your boots!! You look adorable :)
    xxx
    Giovanna
    www.bohomarket.blogspot.com

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  15. i have periods where i want to dress up all the time, and other times when i wish i had a uniform. so i think you're normal :)
    and about the earrings...wasn't it a trend to wear mismatched earrings sometime? i remember it was in the 80s, but i thought i saw it again in Lucky in the last year.

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  16. You are so fabulous, it kills me. I love this post!! You have the coolest life ever. :)

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  17. Loved reading the stories behind your fashion. The stories make the style even better.
    -Tawney

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  18. I have seen you in my hood...lol. GG shoots the show at my building (The Milan) all the time. Love the blog.

    www.themishdish.blogspot.com

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  19. wow...i discover something new about you every post. i got really excited thinking you worked costumes on gg. but damages is even better. because even though i watch gg, it is a crap show and blake lively does not equal glenn close. while i do wear sweats everyday i too enjoy dressing up. your items are very classic. loving that very luxe looking faux fur coat.

    www.amoreeggrorr.blogspot.com

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  20. You look. so. cute. You do Miss Cookie, just darling! Your reasons for working G2 make perfect sense to us, totally. We would do the same!

    Hope you have a great week ahead,
    tp

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  21. You are a woman of the greatest taste!

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  22. Hi again! I think you would totally rock the tutu skirt. You already have such exquisite taste ... why not go for it?!

    Nina

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  23. Missing your post again CC. Have a lovely Monday!

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  24. LOVE your outfit! You look fabo. xoxo

    SC

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  25. you look amazing-I love your bangs too! So fun that you get to be part of GG, tell Chuck I say hi xo

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  26. You are beautiful dear !
    Thank you so much for your lovely comment !
    (And fabulous post, as usual !)
    http://mimietnini.canalblog.com/

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  27. perfect outfit perfect accessories

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  28. You look gorgeous, darling M!
    And I looooove those earrings!

    xoxox,
    CC

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  29. How cool!
    Your faux fur is gorgeous!!!! and the accessories are to die for x

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  30. I'm gonna keep an eye for you in the next GG episode:D

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  31. 1. love the outfit!
    2. love the story behind it.
    3. must watch GG to see what all the rage is about. am i behind the times or what??

    happy monday!

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  32. Hi darling!! Thank you so much for visiting my blog & participating on my giveaway!!
    Hope you're having a lovely day!
    xoxo
    Giovanna
    www.bohomarket.blogspot.com

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  33. This is an awesome post, and blog! I love your fur coat, gorgeous! I love dressing up too but being in a small town, there's really no reason to.. but I would do so everyday I were in NYC.

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  34. I enjoyed the Paris anecdote so much! -Sigh- all I want to do is run away to Paris and live there forever!

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  35. I love your coat, wow I do really enjoy reading your blog so much fun!
    XOXOX
    Libby
    http://fashionconfectionairy.weebly.com

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  36. Fantastic outfit! i love how French it looks.

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  37. you are so cute!! love the outfit! Great work on the t.v. shows.

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  38. such a lovely story about the kookai suit. it made me smile.

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  39. You are so cute! Working on GG...how fun, I'd keep doing it too!! I'm moving to NYC in Feb, everyone keeps telling me I need to bundle up!
    You look fabulous.

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  40. You are not crazy at all!! Sounds like a blast to me!

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  41. These outfits are just gorgeous! Love the earings. I will deff be paying another visit :D

    xxx

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  42. Happy Tuesday to you CC! Miss yah!

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  43. Haha, I do have his #. But you are in NY right?

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  44. wow cool, that you are working for GG. the kookai outfit is wunderful. have a great day

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  45. Hope you had a fantastic weekend too!
    Nice blog and great post!

    xx

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  46. i love your story of parading around Paris! i love that city dearly.

    its great when a job doesn't feel like work. being an extra on gossip girl has to be one of the most glamorous extra gigs!

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  47. excellent post dear !
    love your items*

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  48. love the items, esp. the coach bag.

    loves

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  49. love your outfits and pieces! Especially that fur coat!!! You look gorgeous. :)

    xo

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  50. Awesome post!
    Lol I am obsessed with GG, Nate is gorgeous haha
    xx

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  51. You must be having an amazing time working there! Great post. I love the bag!

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  52. you look so cute in the faux fur coat. it is adorable.

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  53. Great faux fur!

    http://fashionroadkill-halifax.blogspot.com

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  54. Wow, it's gotten chilly since you wrote this post. Maybe you should add in a scarf, just as it long as you're careful not to get it caught on any lovely earrings like those Trillion Cut Hoops.

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  55. Hiiio! thanks for your sweet words, your blog is always on top!

    The fashionart blog,
    @ MaisonChaplin.blogspot.com

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  56. Thank you so much for participating on my giveaway, stay tuned because there will be more soon :)
    Have a lovely weekend my dear!
    Giovanna
    www.bohomarket.blogspot.com

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  57. i was reading your comments - you're on damages too?! that is just too awesome..it is honestly one of my FAVORITE shows haha :P i love rose byrne, she is so gorgeous!

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  58. woah you work in GG?? that is soo cool. okay well im not a fan of it (i thought that serena was still with dan until my friends little sister scolded me), but that is pretty sweet. whats your job there??

    http://blair-waldork.blogspot.com

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  59. your life looks so cool, j'adore Gossip Girl and NYC =]

    Darling i'm a bit in love with your blog - would you like to exchange links?

    Hope you had an immense weekend

    Stay safe and chic
    English Rose x
    http://iamanenglishrose.blogspot.com

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  60. First of all, let's trade jobs! And I am loving that Faux Fitted Fur!

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  61. I drink my latte with a straw too! hubby thinks I'm crazy. hope you had a great Xmas...
    xo

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