Take Me Down to Emerald (Paradise) City...

... or jade, forest, hunter ... elegant and pretty.

source: http://www.gossipgirlreport.com/ipgirlreport.com/

Alongside the likes of Victoria Beckham, a friend and fellow English teacher, and one of my super-savvy 13-year-old students, I have become enamored of the CW's hit show Gossip Girl. In this frame, perennially gorgeous, sublimely styled princesses of privilege Blair Waldorf and Serena Van der Woodsen (a.k.a. Leighton Meester and Blake Lively) look lovely in Central Park.

The brilliant concoctions of the show's stylist, Eric Daman, are inumerable and revered by fashionistas. The characters and their influence are ubiquitous, and the show seems to plant subconcious longings in women's minds every time a new episode airs. Weeks later, the sparkling accessory or frock becomes de rigeur on the scene, i.e. Blair's ever-growing headband warddrobe, anything in Jenny's punk-doll aesthetic, and Serena's blinged-out statement necklaces.

What struck me in this scene was the luscious, jewel-toned, eye-catching emerald purses both girls are rocking, each in their own distinctive way. The color is so vibrant, so indicative of life and understated richness.

I'm in love.

This hue pops equally on blondes and brunettes, and I can only imagine how it glows on redheads like my friend Marina. Just a touch elevates a simple outfit to stand-out status, and in leather, it screams chic. Nothing particularly new, but as always, it's the freshness and precision of how it's worn. Like the best star-making colors, it seems to intimate that stashing your goods in a bag like this would instantly brighten (literally) your day.

The first two are Marc Jacobs and the third is Sophia. These are some exemplary ones, but I imagine that a darker hunter shade would look smashing as well.

My hunt for the right emerald purse has been somewhat discouraging. My initial babe-on-a-budget scheme involved painstaking huntress-style tactics at every T.J. Maxx and Marshalls I could hit, but alas, most of my near-misses were slightly muddy hues or overly embellished with ruching and hardware. My feeling is that the young socialites on GG got it right, keeping the styles fairly simple and classic, and letting the hue take center stage. I saw a lovely Marc by Marc Jacobs baby messenger-bag at Nordstrom that just might make the cut if I can concede to the price tag. This might be the right move, though, considering how poor deep hues look in less-than-top-notch quality.

In my pipe dream of emerald glory, I would rock the bag with either a neutral palette or pair it with a pop of primary color, like Blair, and keep the look pretty structured and graphic. And big, chunky heels or boots.


My mother's name is the Mongolian word for green, and I've always associated the color with her and with vivacious energy.

I do believe the Wizard had it right .... What do you think of these beauties?


xo - MSW