The September Issue

For those people working in the fashion industry, the month of September is the January  of fashion. I recently watched this indie film out of curiosity and being egged on by a friend who worked in  for Metro Magazine. 

The September Issue is actually a documentary film that showed the busy life of American Vogue Magazine's EIC, Ms. Anna Wintour. The film depicts her life and work and exhibits the production of Vogue's September 2007 issue (I know- this movie is 3 years late). The movie was released in American theaters on August 28, 2009. It was released in Australia on 20 August, 2009 after being screened at numerous film festivals including Sundance, Zurich, Silverdocs and Sheffield Doc/Fest.

The September Issue

The film depicts the effort that goes into making the magazine, and the passion that Grace Coddington, a former model turned creative director and the only person who dares to stand up to Anna Wintour, has for the highly-regarded fashion magazine. In the film, Coddington is often portrayed as the leading victim to Wintour's aggressive personality. The director (RJ Cutler) emphasized Wintour being meticulous as she sacrifices the efforts of Vogue’s creative director Grace Goddington because she rejects most of Grace’s works as the days count down to the “close” of the issue. However, the relationship between Wintour and Coddington reveals itself to be symbiotic as Wintour recognizes Coddington's expertise and keen eye for design. In the end, Wintour approves most of Coddington's ideas and they appear in the final version of the September issue. Very notable in the film is Wintour's character as she was portrayed to be very aggressive and has top influence among the designers regarding which trends should be in or out. This documentary is like a déjà vu of The Devil Wears Prada and Anna Wintour is the real-life Miranda Priestly.

Sienna Miller & Anna Wintour

 I fell inlove with Wintoour's character ( just the way I did with Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada). She exudes character amidst the fabulous life she led as an EIC for Vogue. This is quite an eye opener for me- since I never knew how much work, planning, strategy, and creativity that goes into a magazine; even if it's just a fashion magazine. Most people don't realize that fashion is an important factor that greatly affects our lives. To some, fashion is just glitz and glamor. This film shows that not all that glitters is gold and not every person who is interested in fashion is a total airhead. Though the story doesn’t really revolve around clothing and style, you’ll understand how serious the fashion industry is after watching this film.

One quote in the film caught my attention, and I believe this is the main message of The September Issue. According to Anna Wintour: "I think what I often see is that people are frightened about fashion. Because it scares them or make them feel insecure they just put it down. On the whole people that may say, the mean-y things about our world I think that's usually because they feel, in some ways, excluded or not part of the 'cool group' so as a result they just mock it."

If you haven't seen this film yet, I highly recommend that you watch it. Specially if you're not interested in fashion- not a fashionista or a socialite. This film is bound to open your eyes and make you see things differently about the world of fashion and glamor. Who knows, you just might learn a thing or two and maybe even stop judging us who live and breathe the world of fashion.

S Says Yes To Rehab

After the crazy night that was the Saints and Sinners party, our very own Serena van der Woodsen has landed herself in rehab.  Oh, S.  You really went off the rails this time.  From kissing 2 guys to doing lines of cocaine, Lohan and Winehouse had nothing on you that evening.  But in all seriousness, I’m glad you decided to seek help.  I, personally, wish you the best on your road to recovery.  And once you’re out, S, we’ll all be waiting for your next step.  But don’t worry.  I have a feeling this little scandal won’t ruin your reputation.  What’s a socialite without a stint in rehab?

Serena van der Woodsen On Rehab?

 On another note- I'd love to see Juliet Sharpe go down. They say a bitch has her limits. I wouldn't mind testing that right now. Juliet may have won this round but Blair isn't going to let S go down without a fight. What's in store for Juliet this season? Dair has all the answers.

XoXo

What's With Louis Vuitton?

I'm sure many of you by now have been asking this question- what's the deal with Louis Vuitton? I kinda mentioned LV for almost a couple of times here in my blog and some of you may even think I'm a big supporter of LV. Well, in a way I'd say yes- but not for the reasons that you may think. 

Let's get one thing straight- Louis Vuitton (pronounced as Lu-wi-Vi-ton) is not a person I know very well. He's not part of my A-List clique either. For the benefit of those who don't know, Louis Vuitton is a well known designer. His products are very popular in the A-Listers world and normally he sells at a very high price.

How high you say? Try 1 Million just for an original Louis Vuitton bag!

Original Louis Vuitton Bag

So what is the mystery behind Louis Vuitton and why does it cost so much? I would say that the name Louis Vuitton is an icon of luxury and high-class fashion. It is not a fictional brand that I just made up okay. I prepared a little analogy to make it simpler and easier for me to explain what's the hype with an LV product.

Buying a Louis Vuitton is similar to the concept of buying Havaianas. When you think about it, Havaianas is just a simple pair of sandals- except for the price. There is actually no difference between buying an original Havaianas to buying an original LV. The principle here is the brand and not just the quality. In layman's term-  when you buy an original Louis Vuitton bag or wallet, you are buying the name of the product; not just the item itself. Buying an original LV is just like investing in their corporation. Whether you like the design or not, an LV is an LV and it can stand by it's own name. No need to wonder why the price is like gold.

My Own Original Louis Vuitton Wallet

 Buying a Louis Vuitton is like buying a sports car. A sports car can go anywhere. Wherever you wanna go, you can take your car with you (of course, how else will you get there- by mule train?) With a good sports car, or any car for that matter, you can make others go green with envy specially if the set up is real nice and unique (think Fast & The Furious). There are two purposes of owning an LV which is similar to buying a Sports Car- you can take it anywhere and you can show it off to everybody else.Hitting two birds with one stone? With a price like that I'll say- you bet!

So if you're still wondering why some people would waste so much money to spend on a original Louis Vuitton product when they can easily feed thousands of people at the same price, stop tying to look for a n answer. Stop questioning them. The answer is all right there. It' all comes down to status- making it known to the rest of the world that you can afford to buy an original! Nobody is forcing you to buy one just like them so quit complaining. Because by the end of the day, everything still stays the same. There are people on top who can afford to buy a 1M bag/luggage and there are those who can't scrape up enough money for a decent meal in a day. Who's fault is it? No one.

Will You Take That Peace Sign Out Of My Face

Everybody loves to have their pictures taken. If there is one thing that Pinoys are quite common for- is that wherever there is a camera, they will just smile and pose! To hell with everyone else watching, a typical Pinoy loves the camera and will do everything to get their faces on every shot they can get. There's nothing really wrong with this- in fact, I have lots of friends who do this (I know, it's embarrassing). They'd even run all the way from one corner of the room to the other side where the pictures are being taken just to join the picture taking.

This entry is not about the flusters Pinoys commit when taking pictures. God knows I've tolerated enough discountenance when it comes to my friends who loves to pose where a camera is present. Today, I'm ranting about that annoying pose people make whenever they pose for their pictures- seriously WHAT'S WITH THE PEACE SIGN???

I'm A Freak- Peace!

It's like everywhere I go and almost every picture I see- on Facebook (yeah you guys know who you are I'm talking about), on the Internet, even at church where I go and people get their pictures taken with celebrities who goes to the same church, they all have that annoying peace pose sign! Again, my question is- what's with the sign?

Do people actually think this is cool? Does this somehow make their pictures better? What are they all thinking???

According to Wikipedia the peace sign (or the V sign) is a hand gesture used to represent victory during the Second World War. In protests in the USA against the Vietnam War in the 1960s and in subsequent anti-war protests it was adopted by the counterculture as a sign of peace.

If that's the case, then why are people still making that ridiculous peace sign? Are we still at war? Are we living during the World War II era? Frankly, I don't understand the fascination...

I'm Cute- Yeah Right; Like Cute As A Mouse!

The worst part of this is that this "disease" has already spread like wildfire all over the world. People left and right are quickly adapting to this moronic behavior. I mean, come on people- give me a break. There's absolutely no need to make this hand gesture when taking your pictures- it's senseless!

I know some of you may hate me for this and some may even ask What is it to you anyways? Well, let me tell you this- it makes me sick having to look at pictures where people do this all the time and when I'm in the shot- some people in the picture with me does this and it ruins the whole shot!

It's a free country- I know. And people can normally do whatever they want. But seriously, doesn't it make you feel like a freak having to do this every time your picture is taken?

I have this friend (yes, she's my friend but I'm seriously thinking of disowning her after this) who does the peace sign like in every picture she's in. Not to be such a bad ass, but she doesn't even look that pretty- so I really don't know what the whole peace sign is for. It sure doesn't make her look any better. Probably she doesn't know where to put her hands while the picture is being taken- well, let me give you a peace of advice K, if you don't know where to put your hands- try cutting it off so it wouldn't bother anybody else!

Starstruck- Pick Me- I Have The Peace Sign!

I know- Chuck Bass is being mean again. So what? Don't tell me it doesn't bother you half as much as it does me. And judging from the looks of it- even celebrities are doing it. It's simply repulsive! 

OMFG- Even Celebrities Are Doing It!

There are more than 1 way to actually have a good pose in your pictures. You can either slant one way just like Serena does, or you can pout the way Dan, Vanessa and Jenny does. You can also try smiling (which is normally what NORMAL people do in pictures anyway) the way Blair does it. It's cool and totally way better than displaying that V sign on everyone's faces.

The girl-power era is long gone. I worshiped the Spice Girls before and back then, this V sign is cool. It's year 2000- get with the program folks! That V sign is no longer cool and people who does that are seriously getting killed!

So the next time you're in front of the camera and ready to take your shot, do us all a favor and dump the V sign. Be natural- be normal. Don't look like an alien by flashing that sign all over the picture. Some of us have class and some of you don't; but that's no reason to ruin everybody's picture just because you're in it!

Say Veeee- "V"!

XoXo
Chuck Bass

Piracy Has A Brand

The holiday season is just around the corner; and while people on the Upper East Side are busy filling their shopping bags with designer originals, we see another side of the pinoy lifestyle that is just truly unavoidable- shopping for 1st class designer copies. Most of these designer copies can be found just about anywhere; but for a true pinoy baratista, there's no place like Quiapo, Binondo, Avenida and the ever sosyal Ruins in BF Parañaque where all good finds (and everything in between) can be found.

Original Louis Vuitton Designer Bag

I'm a shopaholic myself. Though I don't own a closet full of designer originals, I always make sure I stay away from anything that is obviously fake. A trip down Quiapo one day made me realize that as everything was created by God, the rest were made in China. 

Fake Crocs

The first thing that caught my eyes were these fake Crocs I found displayed at the bangketas of Quiapo. I personally find these shoes to be ugly- even the original ones. But the fact that they are "hip" to many people and they're comfortable to wear (according to some of my friends who bought original Crocs), Quiapo just couldn't resist to come up with their own line of fake Crocs. I must admit- it looks almost like the original; except that the rubber isn't quite as soft and as sturdy. The bad side of buying a fake is that you can never tell when the material wears off...

Fake Dolce & Gabbana Belt

Going farther south, I decided to drop by at Robinson's Place in Malate. Can you just imagine my surprise when I found rows and rows of set up table-stalls along the road selling fake belts! From WWE buckles, to D&G- you name it they have it! One sales person I talked to even told me that the bigger the buckle the better. Why won't it? A bigger buckle means that you can get to flaunt your belt has a brand- but its a fake mind you! Original designer belts don't have big buckles. Designer originals are subtle and they normally keep the brands as small as possible. You don't wear a designer original like a cheap bling bling. People can tell if you're wearing a fake or an original That's a relief these days when almost everything is being pirated.

Fake Lacoste Shirt

The ever popular wardrobe from the 90's are being pirated as well. Don't think anything ever escapes the pirates. Lacoste shirts are being sold for 3 for P500! Avenida carries this classic line from Lacoste- without the license to reproduce it that is. It is equally as comfortable to wear because the material they use is soft- but if you're like me who are allergic to anything that's fake, you'll easily get nasty itches with this shirt after wearing it two or three times. The material easily wears off anyways so if you happen to have one of these stashed in your closet somewhere, I'm sure that after wearing more than twice its also twice your size as well.

Fake Gucci Wallet

Another thing that caught my eye are fake designer wallets. These wallets are sold everywhere- from tiangges to ukay-ukays... even some malls carry these fake wallets and pass it on as originals. However, it is quiet easy to spot a fake wallet. The tip? Not all designer brands have a leather wallet collection. Gucci has and LV's are very popular- but when you see a leather wallet that says Christian Lacroix- you can bet 100% that it's a fake. Plus, check the leather. Designer originals uses soft but sturdy leather materials. Fake ones don't. And the stitch lining as well. Fake designer pieces have very bad stitches- you can almost see it when you inspect the item!

Fake Chanel Sunglasses

One of my favorite fake items to spot are sunglasses. Just like the wallets- they are easy to spot and sold almost everywhere. Malls and tiangges normally carry this line of wannabe items. From fake Chanels, to fake Ray-Bans... they even have some that has LV on it! Again, beware! These glasses look almost authentic- at first glance. But when you check the material, you wouldn't say they're all original at all. Fake designer sunglasses are normally made of soft and almost breakable plastic. They bend easily and the paint comes off when you scratch it. Designer originals obviously don't. 

Fake Converse Chucks

From clothes to accessories, almost everything these days are fake. But what would a true baratista would look like if they don't have fake shoes as well? Presenting you this years best fake shoes- fake Converse chucks. Almost every wannabe owns this. The originals are bad enough but the fake one's even worse! Ever heard of the saying "Worse for wear"?. I couldn't help but associate that phrase with these designer wannabe. Emos love it and A-Listers hate it! The downside with this designer wannabes is that the soles come off after 3weeks of use. Try walking on bare foot instead- it comes more fashionable naturally.

Fake Havaianas

And since we are talking about footwear- I wouldn't miss this for the world. A real laugh was the fake Havaianas I saw the other day at a mall called Starmall.  From Havanas to Hawaianas, the ever popular sandals are being sold only at a cheap price of P100. What a great deal right? Yeah right- if you want to get scabs on the soles of your foot! They look almost as good as the original alright but imagine what would people say when they read the label and it says Hawaianas. Did you buy that somewhere in Hawaii? 

I was saving the best for last- and ladies, don't hate me for this. Presenting you... this year's best designer copy ever... fake Louis Vuitton  bags!

Fake Louis Vuitton Bags

 

I agree- anything that's LV is surely on top of the list. For just P350, you can already own a designer copy of an LV bag! But don't get carried away ladies- people who knows original designer bags know that when you carry this one it's a fake. Original LV bags are made of soft leather- in fact they are so soft that if their compartment space aren't maximized, the bag loses it's shape. The fake ones are made of hard leather (if they really use leather that is). It's so hard it can almost stand on its own- with or without stuff in it! Online, you can find lots of fake LVs being sold; just because a designer bag is being sold at 10K doesn't necessarily mean it's an original.

With all that being said, let me leave you with this: A designer original costs a lot of money but the quality is definitely worth every cent you spent. Personally, I have nothing against fake designer copies and wannabes. But when it comes down to the real thing- there's nothing like having the original if you plan to stay on top! So which one are you gonna be- a fake or an original?

What's Your Starbucks Pose?

I find it so amusing how some people would go so far just to have a picture on Facebook that say's they're sosyal. It's like whenever I go to Starbucks, there would always be one or two people taking pictures with their camera phones or with their digital cameras. At first, I thought they were just taking pictures of themselves- but then when I turned around and looked; they're actually taking pictures of themselves WITH  their "very expensive" Starbucks coffee on hand! 

It's really funny- since I also saw some people post these pictures as their profile pic on Facebook. You don't believe me? Try looking at these pictures on for size:

People Caught With Their Starbucks Pose

So what is a typical Starbucks pose?  First, you take your camera and zoom the lens right in your face. You take your Starbucks coffee/frap and put it beside your cheeks (you may also try the pose of sipping your frap while you're doing this- or probably a kinda-stolen shot). Make sure that the Starbucks logo can be seen when the picture is taken otherwise this defeats the purpose of having a Starbucks pose. Then you tilt your head or show your best angle and... voila! You just had a Starbucks pose!

I find this to be very funny since nobody on the Upper East Side ever does this. Have you ever seen Serena or Blair take a picture with their coffee on hand? It's absolutely ridiculous!

People must think that once you hang out at Starbucks that already makes you part of the "in" crowd. Listen up people- hanging out and drinking coffee at Starbucks does not make you SOSYAL! It doesn't matter whether you buy all the coffees on the menu or you take a picture of yourself with every Starbucks flavor you can imagine-  it doesn't make you sosyal! What's irritating about this is that with this kind of behavior, more and more people go to Starbucks just to have that authentic Starbucks pose! Left and right, I can almost see ever flash and click of their cameras go off- it's absolutely pathetic!

People go to Starbucks to drink coffee- not to take pictures. That's the idea. So if you're guilty of this; go take your camera somewhere else where you can't bother people who are genuinely trying to enjoy their coffee in peace!

The next time I go to Starbucks, never let me catch you taking that Starbucks pose. And if at any point of this entry have you ever thought of asking me if I already have a Starbucks pose... No way! Over my dead body!

Lita's RAW Return

I have been waiting and eagerly anticipating the return of WWE's finest and best Women's Champion Lita ever since she retired from the brand 4years ago. Lita was hailed as one of the most successful and popular female wrestlers in the history of world wrestling. She dominated RAW during her time as one of the most active players in the industry and suceeded to win the title four times during her 10 years stay with World Wrestling Entertainment.

I have been (and perhaps would always be) a number 1 Lita fan. She has changed the face of the women's division not just by her pretty face but with awesome moves and ring ability as well. As the case may be, Lita fans all over the world rallied when she resigned 4 years ago after relinquishing the gold to Mickie James (another fabulous wrestler during her time).

Queen Of Extreme Lita

Lita (real life Amy Dumas) was well known for her Luchador moves in the ring. She was the first female in the women's circuit to ever been seen with awesome acrobatic moves that can match Rey Mysterio. She popularized the "Hurricanrana" and the Snap DDT finishing moves that are being copied but never perfected by many female wrestlers to date. Lita achieved her greatest push alongside Matt and Jeff Hardy as Team Xtreme. Throughout her career, she won the WWE Women's Championship four times. During her tenure with the company she became arguably the most popular Diva in the company's history

Team Xtreme: Jeff, Lita & Matt

Lita had an on and off-screen relationship with Matt Hardy, which ended in 2005 after her affair with Adam "Edge" Copeland. WWE used the real-life drama between the trio as a storyline throughout 2005 and 2006.  The relationship also led to the firing of Hardy in 2005 although he was rehired later in the year. After her retirement from wrestling in 2006 (where fans all over the world rallied and tried to actually convince her to stay), she and then-boyfriend Shane Morton formed the punk rock band The Luchagors. 

Trish & Lita Reunited at WWE

Not long after her retirement, Lita made a special appearance on December 10, 2007 on Raw's 15th Anniversary Special as a face by teaming up with former long-time rival Trish Stratus to rid the ring of Jillian Hall and afterward celebrating in the ring with Stratus. On the same night, she had a short, backstage reunion with Kane.

This past November 1, 2010 edition of Raw, Lita made another stunning appearance in a segment with Pee Wee Herman. She appeared in a backstage segment with Pee-Wee Herman, Mark Henry, Eve Torres, Melina and The Bella Twins.

According to one backstage source, Lita is a huge Pee-Wee Herman fan and was called over the weekend to see if she would be interested in appearing. As of now, it's a one-time deal but that could change.

Lita With Pee Wee Herman Backstage

Just like her appearance at the 15th anniversary of RAW, Lita was welcomed by screaming fans begging her to make a comeback at WWE. It is quite clear that her absence in the show has affected fans all over the world and to most fans saying that WWE was never the same without her and Trish on the roster of the women's division.

Trish & Lita Ending Their 10 Year Rivalry And celebrating In The Ring

As many have eagerly looked forward to her return, it is still indecisive whether Lita has truly let go of her passion in the ring. Her talent and legacy is sorely missed and many fans were let down by snippets of her return. While we can all agree that WWE could sure use someone like Lita right now to give the women's division (now termed as the diva's division) a push, there really is no way of knowing if she will ever comeback or just resort to occasional appearances at backstage and ring segments.

However, there is still hope for her return. Like they say in the Upper East Side the battle was never really won until the war is over. Battle on fans, looks like this story has not reached it's ending yet.

The Joke's On Glee

Manny PaEverybody has been talking about Glee. Since it's 2nd season started and Charice Pempengco made it to the cast, everybody in the english and tagalog speaking world buzzes about it non-stop.

But I'm Chuck Bass and I'm not part of the distasteful bandwagon. To me Glee and Glee lovers are just part of the Hoi Polloi- and what do we do with the common people? We keep them out from exclusive invites!

Glee is nothing but a granola enjoying it's spur of the moment success. While many of you might disagree, let me remind you that nothing beats the original. Imitation is the highest form of flattery but in this case I wouldn't go too far as to say that the fruit hasn't fallen far from the tree. For obvious reasons, Glee is nothing more than a copycat of the once-successful and has-been Disney High School Musical. What fazes me though is that people buy into this stuff when it's all old news. New characters, same plot. How lame can you get?

Glee Is For Losers- Obviously

I must agree however, that Glee has chosen the right poster for it's pathetic attempt to popularity. The L-word has long been branded as a sign for LOSERS. In fact, what better way to describe the cast and characters in the series? Hardly anyone who's ever been in that show is hot.

Charice Pempengco

And while we're on the subject of being hot- the idea of Charice Pempengco being well talked about these days just simply frazzles me. While it's true that she has an amazing voice, it's too bad I couldn't say the same thing about her looks. Image goes a long long way in the entertainment industry. How she can continue to shine with a face like that for a long time simply baffles me. With looks like that and a name like Pempengco to boot- I wouldn't be surprised if people don't remember her 2 years from now. I'd say, she's another Manny Pacquiao trying to make a name for herself. Manny maybe successful but that sure didn't improve his looks and appearance- but then that's a different story and one I'll be coming up really soon.

The idea is, I could not see what all the fuss is about concerning Glee. I've watched a couple of it's episodes just to give a fair judgment and all I can see is a bunch of high school wannabes trying desperately hard to make a name in their school using their talent. If hierarchy has it, not a single one of them is worth the title for. Being queens and kings in high school is more than just a pretty face and a show of talents- there's money, social status and an attitude that goes along with it (I should know after dating Blair Waldorf and having Serena van der Woodsen as a step-sister). There's just no getting around that bend.

A lot of you may hate me for this but a good friend of mine did tell me once that this is my blog- and so I get write and post whatever I want. Now before you anticipate what's going to happen on the next episode of Glee, try asking yourself this first:  Are you going to continuously be part of a loser clique or are you willing to be one of us on top of the A-list?

Looks like the joke's on Glee...

Suicide Commitment

When we say "romantic relationship" we can expect a thing or two about two people in love. In a country dominated by corny telenovelas and unrealistic fairy tale happy endings, romantic relationships can be simply defined as a union of two people hopelessly and mutually in love (with a hope of a happy ending).

I am not new to the scene. Having fallen in and out of love several times in my life- I can pretty much say that being involved means having to enter a commitment. Commitment is a responsibility (and a responsibility that most people don't understand in a deeper sense). This means that when you enter a relationship, you get into exclusivity. There's a responsibility for both of you to belong and stay faithful to each other (not to fool around with someone's wife or husband or somebody else's boyfriend or girlfriend). There is security involved in the equation. Trust and adjustments. Sacrifice is also antiquated in to the equation which means freedom is a bit scarce and fulfilling each one's happiness is the end goal of your relationship.

Not until you know that you are ready to commit to someone can you truly achieve all this. In today's generation- love is a fairy tale and everybody else just dances with every single (and not so single) human being they come across with. The word commitment no longer has a strong meaning- and usually it is associated with the word suicide. 

you might be thinking: Oh my that is such a horrible thing to say! Well, if you've been where I've been you wouldn't think it's so horrible at all. I was in a relationship once with this girl who views the word commitment in extreme measures- thus the word suicide came into mind. No, she's no Blair Waldorf (not as pretty or as classy) but she sure knows how to cling to her man. With great irritation, she never leaves my side! She clings on to me like I'm some prized trophy or something and she wouldn't let me spend some time alone with my friends. She plans all the activities we do (which usually involves her in the process) and the worst of it- she was already planning our wedding when we're only two months in the relationship! Scary? You got that right!  I wouldn't mind being in an exclusive relationship- but this is perverse. As a socialite and a regular friend to everyone, I am entitled to some free pass; which includes having to spend time alone with my buddies and not having to see you everyday and call you every evening when we have already spent the last 16hours of the day together!


I had an 8year relationship before I got involved with her. Wouldn't it made some sense to her that if I wanted to get married I would probably have done so in the last 8years I was involved with someone?

Someone once told me that it isn't true what they say that too much love will kill you- yeah? Then what would you call this? If this isn't too much then I don't know what it is.

Being in a relationship shouldn't be this bad. Believe me- I had some good rounds in my time too. But things should take it's course on it's own. You need not to manipulate someone else's feelings or the situation to make it all happen- it will just happen. Let destiny take it's course. Natural love happens when you least expect it so why exert so much effort on trying to make the inevitable happen?

I don't believe in love the way I used to anymore. To me, love is like a disease that feeds on the hungry and stalks the weak. I am a strong man- I'm Chuck Bass. Chuck Bass does not commit to one same woman- except for Blair. I know that one day I'll find my Blair Waldorf somewhere out there- but until then, if it's not Blair then it's nobody.

Chuck & Blair Forever

Live A Lifestyle In The Upper East Side

Gossip Girl never fails to amaze me. The lifestyle of Blair, Serena, Dan, Chuck, Nate, Vanessa & Jenny are just the kind that I have been longing for all my life! The soirees (my french term for party with style), the clothes, shopping, cars, the accessories... you name it and they have it! And while most of the Upper East Side fancy the drama, the scandal and the controversies that comes with being popular, I for one can simply live with all the spectacle.

As a Chuck Bass, more is expected of me. To live the life of a true Upper East Sider means I must in all my ways reflect the life that Chuck Bass lives in. He may not be the ideal character you can bring home to meet your mom but his way of breezing in to life with all the swagger and the attitude is simply so becoming. After all, Chuck Bass is the guy all girls wanted to go out with and the guy every guy wants to be.

So how does one become a part of the Upper East Side- or atleast live like it? Luckily, you don't necessarily have to be filthy rich to live like them; here's how to live a Gossip Girl life if you weren't born in some wealthy Upper East Side family:

Nate, Serena & Dan At GAP

1. Make sure you are popular and talked about. Gossip Girl is, naturally, all about gossip- while sometimes it may be actually harmful, in small amounts it's innocent, fun and very juicy; not to mention it's one of the main ways to popularity. Make your life worthy to be gossiped about; that includes doing some crazy things once in a while (but not so crazy you're looked down at) and making a reputation as a glamor girl/guy. If your popularity, however, is falling, win back the hearts you were once popular among- by throwing the soiree of the year, getting the hottest girls and guys in the school or getting on the cover of a magazine; anything, as long as it's glamorous and it gains the admiration of people around you.

Gossip Girl On The Upper East Side

2. Look the part. Less than perfect looks are not accepted, as the way you look can make you or break you in a Gossip Girl-like world.

• Take good care of yourself. Brand names accessories and other stuff are very often mentioned in the Gossip Girl books. In matters of products used for grooming, buy the best you can afford (well, actually that applies pretty much to everything...). Have a morning beauty routine: take a shower, wash and style. When you can afford, go to beauty salons and spas and have professionals take care of you; it's very relaxing and you get better results.
• Get the style. Trendy clothes, polished look- that's the predominant look in the books. Read fashion magazines and go on style.com to find out about the latest trends. Don't follow trends like crazy, though; having your own style is very appreciated. Just buying a few items in style at the moment will save you from bankruptcy and losing your fashion identity.
• Buy fine, high quality, well-tailored clothes. They don't have to be designer (although a few designer clothes would be more than welcome), but they must be stylish, well-made and somewhat expensive. In matters of clothes, go for a sleek, high-end style. Buy some awesome shoes too. Own at least a designer it bag, if you afford.

Well Mannered Upper East Siders

3. Be well-mannered. As fellow Upper East Siders, the Gossip Girl characters have impeccable manners; they don't want to risk being seen in public doing something that would go off as rude, gross, offensive, impolite or socially unacceptable in any way.

• Never fart, burp, or cuss in public.
• When arguing to someone, don't shout and be elegant in dealing with that person.
• Don't be annoying, and especially not on purpose.
• Be respectful to everyone.
• Learn to apologize and thank people.
• When going to an event, respect the dress code, if there's one.
• Don't drink too much at a party; drunk people are just lame.

The Cast Of GG At The CTW Awards

4. Go to soirees, events and any kind of social gathering; host one every now and then. Have fun, party 'till you drop, meet new people, flirt and dance. Be the center of attention for at least one night. You will be remembered as the girl who entertained everyone at the party and you'll start being invited to more and more events.

5. Be on good terms with your parents. You don't want to be like little J, getting grounded for everything she does wrong. Earn their trust and get allowance from them for partying, consuming alcoholic beverages (don't overdo it and get drunk though, and do not be underage for drinking alcohol) and shopping for everything you want. You never hear of Blair's or Serena's parents getting them grounded for doing these things. 

Confidence Goes With Style

6. Be confident. A gorgeous, privileged teenage you would have no reasons to be insecure, and since you are aiming for this kind of lifestyle, you'll need loads of confidence to make it. Every time you feel down, do something you enjoy, like shopping or relaxing at a spa, for example. Find things you like about yourself and enhance them.

7. Get a glamorous role model. For Blair, it was Audrey Hepburn; you can choose anyone glamorous, or any other fabulous personality you admire. It has to be someone that lives/has lived the way you want to live, so that it's easier to follow. For example, if your dream job is acting, choose an actress as a role model. It doesn't have to be a real person; it can be a character too, even a character from Gossip Girl (like me- Chuck Bass)

8. Be a good student/employee. In the world of people like Blair and Serena, getting excellent grades and being involved in extracurricular activities and charity is very important, as these are bonus points in getting into the college of your dreams and having a rewarding job and reputation later in life.

The Students Of Constance Billard & St. Jude

Blair & Serena BFF

9. Be charismatic and fun to be around. Nobody wants to hang out with a boring, grouchy person. Entertain people, be talkative (but not the annoying, unstoppable, chatterbox-like type of talkative), make jokes and compliment people. Be energetic and have brilliant initiatives and ideas. You'll attract everyone around you.

10. Be well-informed about all the latest trends, events, and news. People will look up to you for ideas of where to hang out, what to wear and what social events to attend. Know all the latest gossip about everyone around you; the juicier, the better.

Cast Of Gossip Girl Rocks The Vote

11. Enjoy the spotlight. Someone who shies away from attention will never be popular. Don't regard attention as a bad thing; instead, learn to use it to your own advantage. Don't be too much of an attention-seeker, though, as it's purely pathetic.

12. Get a clique you will be the alpha of. Generally, a clique is formed of a leader, her best friend (optional) and a few other weaker, more influenceable, less confident, loyal sidekicks. These insecure, less socially skilled person often need a stronger friend to rely on, as it's difficult for them to stand out and be popular on their own. They still have to be somewhat cool and fashionable (forming a clique of losers is unacceptable), but not too much so they can be seen as potential rivals. However, getting such a clique is often seen as social manipulation, and you may consider the other option: forming a group of strong, confident people you are not bored by. This is a more satisfying option for the less bossy, but be aware that such groups often fall apart because the people fight more than in a hierarchy-based clique, where you can silence other people with a look.

13. Be mysterious. Don't always say what you think; if everybody told the truth right the way it is, our lives would be way more boring. Besides, sometimes a little innocent lie or a "spiced up" story is more interesting than the truth, right?

The Not-So-Goody Georgina Sparks

14. Don't be a goody-two-shoes. Gossip Girl characters have a good public image without being completely innocent and "clean". The secret is keeping your naughty side for an exclusive group of people (only your friends and close ones); if you act in a way that can be considered promiscuous with everybody around, rumors will be spread and your reputation can go down.

15. You must have a stunning figure! No one wants to be around someone who is embarrasing to look at. So tighten up those tummies and hush those thunder-thighs, you want to turn heads with your smoking hot bod. (don't flaunt it too much, you don't want to be perceived as a slut...keep it classy.)

So there you have it- the right kind of look with the right kind of lifestyle. You only have one life to live- so live it well. In the Upper East Side, there is no room for mistakes, no room for regrets and no room for pity. All it takes is a good scandal and with this post, I can almost see a new scandal brewing...

XoXo