9 Ways I’m Channeling Blair and Serena for the Ultimate Gossip Girl Fall

Now that brat summer is officially over, my vodka Diet Cokes have been replaced with piping hot sleepy-time tea, and my sheer white tank tops with chunky turtlenecks. While the fall aesthetic is cute and cozy in its own right, the inherent feeling of being that carefree it-girl isn’t quite as present as it is in the summertime—fall is just not the season that screams “I’m feeling hot AF,” if you will. But there is one way I’m keeping this hot girl energy rolling this time of year: by channeling the chic, diva-esque auras of two of the original brats themselves, Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen.

Any true Gossip Girl fan knows that fall time in the show was truly an unmatched vibe: extravagant outfits, timeless accessories, dinner parties that were the perfect balance of elegant and unhinged, and the list goes on. Blair and Serena were living proof that the colder months didn’t have to be quaint, bland, or boring—true icon behavior reigns through the changing of the leaves. So, if you’re longing to hold on to that confident, cool-girl demeanor brat summer brought so many of us (which we deserve to feel all year round!), here are seven ways to live your very own Gossip Girl fall, from fur coats to snail mail and everything in between.

1. Host a fall soirée

First and foremost, Gossip Girl fall would be nothing without at least one dramatic Thanksgiving event—who could forget Serena getting day drunk in cheetah print on her way to the Waldorf’s? Sure, maybe you don’t have access to a family mansion or a NYC penthouse finished with cherry wood accents and a study with a leather chaise lounge—but don’t let that stop you. Think red wine, canapés, tasteful fall decor, charcuterie boards with seasonal fruit, or even a full-blown masquerade if you’re the friend that lives for a themed party. Whether you keep it to a smaller dinner or go for an all-out function, there are a ton of little ways to bring that moody charm to life.

2. Find a go-to meetup spot

Having a cute go-to spot for you and your friends to catch up is big it-girl behavior, so finding your area’s equivalent of the historic Met Steps lunch spot is a must. Have a coffee date with a friend on the steps of your local library or, if you don’t have any prestigious buildings near you, walk around your local park (they can’t all be Central Park) and feed the ducks Dorinda and Blair style.

Despite the colder weather, fall is such a gorgeous time of the year in which being outside and soaking it all in should not be taken for granted. So get to your makeshift Met steps with your friends, take some pictures for a fall photo dump, and get to chatting.

3. Send snail mail

Sending a “miss you!” text to your friends: fine, nice, gets the job done. Sending cards back and forth in the mail to spill devastating secrets and salacious gossip? Well, someone get Kristen Bell over here for a sassy voiceover!

I’m using the card service Moonpig to deliver Gossip Girl-levels of drama to my friends this fall. Moonpig checks every single box you can think of: thousands of card options at an affordable price delivered straight to your loved one’s door in just a few days. You quite literally don’t have to get up from your laptop from start to finish. All you do is pick a card, write your note, and give the address, and Moonpig does all the heavy lifting for you. Kinda like your own personal Dorota…if you know, you know. Plus, right now you can use code EVERYGIRLFREE to get your first card completely free.

4. Make plans with your mom

Gossip Girl was one show that definitely didn’t shy away from complicated family dynamics (looking at you, Lola Rhodes). And some of the most poignant and relatable moments on the show take place between mothers and daughters. Whether you have more of a Lily, an Eleanor, or an Alison in your life, now’s the perfect time to be intentional about spending some quality time with your mother figure. Channel your refined side, pick out elegant outfits and visit a ballet, opera, or art gallery together. Or, take advantage of a crisp afternoon and do some window shopping at your local boutiques or a high-end department store—it doesn’t have to be Fifth Avenue to be a solid shopping spree.

5. Wear statement coats

Nobody does outerwear quite like Serena and Blair. Life is simply too short to rely on nothing more than a black puffer jacket and a beige cardigan to get you through the colder months of the year. Hit up your local thrift or vintage stores and grab those furs, trenches, leathers, or anything funky that screams true opulence. It’s an effortless way to spice up your outfit (and stay warm, of course, but it’s mostly to spice up your outfit) and effortlessly give fall it-girl. Some people think big or bright coats “aren’t practical” or are “too gaudy,” and to that, we say: the girls that get it, get it, and the girls that don’t, don’t!

6. Get overdressed for a girls night out

It’s time we stop waiting for a special occasion to wear those pointed toe kitten heels or that sequin skirt. Find a swanky cocktail bar or restaurant, grab your girls, and get dressed up! Whether you want to experiment with dark makeup and a moody look ala Little J, go preppy in plaid, or rock a tie like Serena (I heard they’re making a comeback), let Gossip Girl Fall be your excuse to break your own fashion rules and sip gin martinis all night.

7. Read the classics

Doom-scrolling is out, mysteriously reading classic literature in a little cafe as the leaves fall perfectly in the window beside you is in. In the midst of all of their back-stabbing sagas that 16-year-olds somehow managed to get into, those in the Gossip Girl universe still found time to stay up to speed on their studies and be scholars at the top of their class. If they could do it, so can you. This Gossip Girl Required Reading List has books referenced throughout the show, giving you the perfect starting point for your reading girl fall.

8. Become the life of the party

Bring out your inner-Serena this fall by getting out of your comfort zone and working on your people skills. While it looks effortless when Serena is charming her way through every fashion week event and holiday gathering in the Upper East Side, it doesn’t always come so naturally for the rest of us. I’m relying on these tricks and cosplaying as Miss van der Woodsen this fall to spice things up. Have a few good conversation starters up your sleeve and try to go beyond the small talk.

9. Accessorize with berets and headbands

Blair Waldorf’s official title is Queen B of Berets and Headbands (not you, Emily in Paris), or at least it should be. Yet another way to not let your personal style fall to the back burner and maintain that signature Gossip Girl feminine flare is by leaning on berets and headbands to amp up your looks. They’re both insanely cool, fun pieces when styled the right way, and they give that kind of preppy vibe only an autumn on the East Coast can properly achieve.

This post is sponsored by Moonpig, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.