"Gossip Girl defined the pop culture of the 2010s, and its influence on fashion still feels relevant today. Every Halloween, you can wager that someone will dress up as Blair Waldorf or Serena van der Woodsen, but one character’s style goes completely underrated: Lily van der Woodsen. Lily’s character, played by Kelly Rutherford, epitomized the quiet-luxury style that we all know today. Her wardrobe rotated between gala-worthy dresses, structured totes (usually a Birkin), and cozy wool coats. In short, Lily was the poster girl for quiet-luxury dressing before Sofia Richie was. Pared-back silhouettes and high-quality clothing are at the top of my priorities when it comes to my 2024 style, and Lily van der Woodsen’s wardrobe provides the perfect inspiration.
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Like most, building a capsule wardrobe full of investment pieces is my main goal in 2024. Lily van der Woodsen’s style is the perfect inspiration for a thoughtfully curated closet that has occasion wear, casual pieces, and investment items alike. Her character has equally as many polished Upper East Sider-inspired looks as she does casual ones. Her style radiates that of a put-together woman who relies on practical and timeless pieces like a great pair of denim or a staple LBD. Enough said: Below are five looks from Lily van der Woodsen that have held up throughout time and are worthy of recreating in 2024.
An Elevated Take on Jeans and Booties
Here, we can only guess Lily is scolding Serena on the phone for being out too late, but nonetheless, she’s doing so in style. This look of hers is ideal for casual wear sans the Birkin. Her Ostrich leather Birkin is nothing short of iconic, and while that’s out of my tax bracket, the Demellier London New York is not. It’s similarly structured and comes in a handful of colorways, making it a great everyday bag that I would consider van der Woodsen-worthy. Black pointed-toe boots, either high-knee or ankle, are a wardrobe must-have, and so is a great pair of straight-leg jeans.
A Quintessential LBD
Everyone needs a reliable black dress. It can be dressed up or down, styled for the office, and is perfect for first dates. Truly, the LBD can be whatever you need it to be, and it acts as a perfect canvas to accessorize and layer. Lily tends to rely on staples like these that have withstood the test of time and are still popular today. What’s more to say? You need an LBD.
The Classic Trench Coat Duo
How simple is a trench coat and scarf duo? Lily loves a structured coat, and a trench is as timeless as they come. Here, she’s styled it with a long scarf and, of course, her Birkin. We’re officially in the throes of winter, and leaning on a warm coat can be a no-fuss option when you need to look put-together. This will be the year I officially invest in a trench coat, and take this as your sign to do the same.
The Date Night T-Shirt Ensemble
There’s no doubt that strategic minimalism and quiet-luxury dressing will continue to be popular in 2024. This Lily look comes from a dinner date night with Rufus, and it’s simple in all the right ways. She’s paired a simple T-shirt and tucked it into a pair of blue jeans with a Hermès belt as an added touch. A great belt and accompanying accessories can take jeans and a tee from boring to date night-worthy, and Lily proves it.
A Classic Take on Monochrome
Throughout Gossip Girl, Lily’s style balanced color and fun textures with pared-back silhouettes. This outfit is a perfect example. Lily is dressed in a large statement coat that takes up most of her outfit, with the only pop of color being her mini shoulder bag. Monochrome dressing is something I want to try more of in 2024. An all-black or all-white look can feel intimidating to style, but I’ll be channeling Lily van der Woodsen while doing so. I love how her bag adds a playfulness to the look, which is perfect for a night out.
Kaitlin Clapinski, Contributing Fashion Writer
Kaitlin is a Los Angeles-based writer who covers celebrity style, current trends, and everything else fashion-related. You can find more of her work in Marie Claire, Editorialist, The Zoe Report, and i-D Magazine, among others.