Every girl that has seen Gossip Girl wishes she could be Blair Waldorf. I wish that I could be Blair Waldorf, at least for a day. She has a take-no-prisoners attitude and it shows; she gets what she wants and is both feared and respected for that. Her softer side shows through the life advice she gives to best friend Serena Van der Woodsen and in her on-again, off-again romance with Chuck Bass (who I want to hate but secretly adored by the end of the show).

While I might be a tad envious of her boyfriend, I’m most envious of her kick-ass closet and her cute, preppy style. After all, who doesn’t wish they could fly to Paris and go on a shopping spree at designer boutiques?

I love Blair’s style because she doesn’t have to dress to impress; she already knows that she’s going to. She wears what she wants, but everything she chooses works for her because she oozes confidence with every step (and because her fashion sense is amazing, due in part to her clothing-designer mother). Her outfits are always put together from her adorable headbands to her various coats, handbags, and shoes. She always looks cute, classy, and intimidating—a hard trio to pull off.

If you don’t have the ability to casually drop thousands of dollars on designer shoes and handbags, don’t fret; there are a lot of ways to emulate Blair Waldorf’s style in your daily wardrobe without breaking your wallet. All you need are a few classic pieces that make good closet staples no matter your preferred style.

PENCIL PERFECT

Most of Blair’s signature looks feature a pencil skirt or shift dress. Both of these items are great staples to add to your wardrobe since they are very versatile. You can dress a shift dress up or down depending on your accessories, and pencil skirts work with a variety of tops. I like to pair mine with sleeveless button-up blouses since they work in colder and warmer weather.

COATS AND JACKETS

Blair can be seen in a different pea coat or trench coat in almost every episode of the show. While that’s not quite realistic for real life people with a clothing budget, having one or two different styled jackets are a great way to finish off your outfit in varying seasons and still look cute. Blair’s looks often feature brightly colored jackets, but neutral tones are great starting points as well. I have an orange trench coat that I love to throw on in the fall. Old Navy is a good place to try for affordable colored coats. Try shopping in off-season months to find the best deals.

HANDBAGS

Blair also rocks a lot of handbags. Sometimes several different bags per episode, and almost all of them are designer. That’s also not realistic for real people in real life. Luckily, there are a lot of handbag options and styles out there that are very affordable and still good quality. Most of Blair’s bags are large shoulder bags or cross-body bags, which are my favorite to carry as well.

Your best bet is to find a style and size that fits your needs, and then focus on finding one at the right price. Purses are a good place to splurge since they are often worth the investment in terms of quality, and you can often find great deals on expensive brands at stores like Marshalls or TJ Maxx to make them more affordable, too.

ACCESSORIES

Blair Waldorf’s token accessory is a headband, often featuring a bow. My favorite place to find them is Forever 21 since they’re usually less than $5 and they generally have a wide range of options. If hard plastic headbands are a headache for you (literally, in my case), there are a lot of other options. Many stores have elastic headbands around right now, or you can try tying a thin scarf behind your head for a similar effect. She also wears a lot of simple jewelry like dainty bracelets or simple necklaces, both of which are another favorite of mine.

You don’t have to be a millionaire to dress like Blair Waldorf. Build a closet of basic business causal items and go from there. Make her fashion your own by finding accessories in your favorite colors and styles. Emulate her preppy style on a budget by knowing when to splurge and when to save, and copying expensive styles at less expensive stores that still have nice quality pieces. And always remember my favorite piece of advice that Blair offers: “Have a little faith, and if that doesn’t work, have a lot of mimosas.”

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