Fanatic Feedback with Gossip Girl – Does Nail Color Define Us?
 OK so I’m watching the Gossip Girl premier Monday night (I’m a total teen drama whore) and what is the first thing I notice? A set of vampy nails running down Nate Archibald’s (Chace Crawford) chest. And immediately I think, rut-roh, someone is messing around with a bad girl. I didn’t even need to see Madchen Amick (as Catherine) to know Nate was up to no good. And I was totally right. Here’s this 17 year-old boy (a smoking hot one but still) screwing around with a married older woman. |
 It got me thinking, what was it about just her nail color alone that made me think she was trouble? Do I judge people based on their nail polish of choice? Do other fanatics? I mean, I know we’re not supposed to judge people at all but let’s get just a tiny bit real here and admit that we all do it in small ways. |
Let’s look at Jenny (Taylor Momsen). She’s a girl from a more bohemian background than her Upper East Side classmates. And while her overall style reflects her passion for fashion and utter girly-ness, she lets a little bit of Brooklyn edge peek out in her nail color. Check out the funky, electric blue shade she was sporting on set while filming a future episode. When you see someone wearing an eclectic nail color, what do you think?
 Or what about Serena (Blake Lively)? She rocked the dark nail when it was in vogue but she’s moved on to light metallics. Very on trend for Fall. Combined with her ultra-chic wardrobe, Serena gives off the fashion plate vibe, no? |
 Blair’s need to be the perennial good girl certainly shows in her baby pink tips. No matter how bitchy she is, no matter how vindictive, she always wants to put on that air of perfection, sweetness and class. She actually reminds me a lot of the women I saw while getting my nails done on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. There I am wearing blue polish in a sea of light pink and sheers. Blair would totally hang with them. |
And then there’s Vanessa (Jessica Szohr). She is confident and spunky and I feel that the bold red nails she dons enhance her persona. When I see a woman wearing red nails “confident” is the first word that comes to mind.
Obviously the Gossip Girl makeup, hair and wardrobe team meticulously plan each look to define the character and that certainly includes choosing their nail polish. So what does that say about nail color and how we’re judged? Do you ever consider what outsiders will think when they see your shade of choice? Do you think it affects how people perceive or treat you? Weigh in fanatics!
images: GossipGirlOnline.net, HomeOfTheNutty.com, Celebrity-Gossip.net
Lisa N.
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An interesting theory.. I know for me personally, nail color is so much more than simply color. It adds a certain tone to what I’m wearing, how I’m feeling.. almost as much as my shirt, jeans or purse.
For instance, I’ve been reading a dark romance novel lately, and the deeper colors appeal to me, as do dark bootcut jeans and black shirts. For instance, Eiffel for this Color and the darker shades of the France OPI collection are appealing as well.
I think nail color definitely sends a message (whether you want it to or not). I work in the entertainment industry, albeit on the “techie” side of things, but with a lot of exposure to the C-level exec’s. On more than one occassion I’ve gotten comments on my teal toes (CND Hotski to Tchotchke) or blue tips (OPI Dating a Royal – I was headed out to a Dodger game). So I wear pumps if I know it’s a meeting-heavy day to conceal the toes and tend to go with more conservative color tips for most of the week.
I love the gg pics…that show is an addiction for me.
But I have to agree w/ the theory that nail color is more than just that. I’m certainly guilty of wearing dark reds when I wanna come off sorta sexy, purples when I’m feeling unique/quirky and pinks(whether vibrant or sheer) when I’m feeling girly, demure or more subtle. Np sort of is a way for me to express my personality, or, mood on a daily basis. =]
Just wanted to say that I love your blog! Long time reader, first time poster. I believe that you can be judged by your nail colour, just as you are judged by your hair/makeup/attire. I think the fact that I’m sporting a different colour every day, from soft pink (Chanel Rose Satin) to pale lemon (RBL Square Pants) or a vampy colour (OPI Lincoln Park After Dark), is what most people comment on. Because I have so many colours I can never stay with just one for more than two days! I must admit that nail polish is one of the first things I notice when I’m around new people or even just being served by a sales assistant. I don’t usually judge on colour but as I’m so passionate about my nail polish, I’m always quite shocked when people don’t wear it!
Hello, girls! I think that most women like to wear what’s hot in this particular moment. Fashion rules! But we all have our all time favorites. Right now, I am done with dark blue polishes. Too bored with them. But I try to finish the bottle before I throw it away. Though, I am mostly into metallics and neons. I keep experimenting with inexpencive brands.
I love that you notice all the same things I do! I also was entranced watching the dark nails in the GG opener. I think it’s interesting how people are judged by nails. There is this woman on my train to work every day and she wears very bland, basic, neutral colors with no pizazz whatsoever (I am thinking she’s in banking or a law firm because of her need for nylons). But her nails are always sporting some bright color with nail art or a fake encrusted diamond, etc. So she’s not as “blah” as one would think from her clothing, that’s for sure!
For the most part, where I live, you can where any color any time, any place, and at any age. Why then, when I planned today’s nail color, did I wear a “mom polish” since I was meeting my daughter’s preschool teacher for the first time? I didn’t want to be pegged as the weird mom!
So yes, although I’d like to say that I freely wear whatever color strikes my mood, I am influenced by what others will think – or at least, by what I *think* others will think! (Maybe the preschool teacher would have envied me for being a free spirit in blue polish…but I will never know!)
I noticed that too!!!! Haha, I felt like such a dork, but I’m glad other people have noticed as well. I feel like I paint my nails usually to my mood…I was having a great time this summer and out came all of the bright colors… and when my boyfriend and I broke up out came the dark colors! haha now I’m onto the muted shades. I would say I am a little more on the rebelious side, so I just looove those dark colors, so with that , the opening scene on gossip girl wasss awesome.
I don’t watch Gossip Girl (yet) but of course can’t avoid reading about the show, and I think you’re right on with the different color nails personifying different personalities.
While it may be very intentional by the wardrobe people on the show, I agree with other posters that for me, a nail color isn’t just a nail color. It’s often a reflection of my mood or state of mind…a little hint of what’s going on inside my head.
I have every kind of colour, except the subtle ones! I think it just reflects that I’m a bit into nail polish, and have therefore become bored with the ones that are easily available in Boots.
I should pay more attention really. I once wore deep red nails to a job interview (they matched my hairstick! I like red!). In retrospect, probably not sending the right message!
i noticed that woman’s nail polish too when she’s making out with nate! and do u happen to know which brands make color like that one??? thanks in advance!!
Its so funny to know I am not the only one addicted to this show and not the only one who noticed the nail polish. Now I just need to find out what color it is. I use nail color as an accessory. Even if I’m just wearing some plain jeans and a tee I have to have some sort of nail color and it most def is dictated by my mood.
I don’t know how I judge other people, but I totally check out the girls nails when I’m watching GG :). But very good analyzing!
Miss Mismas, lacquer guru,
Do you think you can identify Blake Lively (aka Serena’s) polish shade in these shots, for me? It’s totally gorgeous but I can’t pin it. Pretty please and thanks in advance!
This is a great post. I love Gossip Girl and I always try to catch all the fashion (nails, clothes, shoes, etc). I’ve never really thought about nails in relation to each character though.
I wear all of those colors, what does that say about me?? Haha
I’m so with you on the GG love. I consider Blair Waldorf to be the Queen of the Universe.
As for judging people on their nail polish choices, I don’t in real life but I do for TV. People who make up the “bad” characters for TV shows always seem to add in wardrobe and makeup choices to give us clues as to who the character is. Like if a girl is wearing a lot of black eyeliner on TV, you know they’re trying to tell us she’s going to be trouble. Or she’s goth/depressed. Not true in real life, but it’s nearly always true on TV!
Had to comment on this. 1. totally love GG. 2. I definitely think nail polish refelcts your persoanlity or mood. Recently I painted my nails black (OPI for Sephora What’s a Tire Jack?) and I asked my boyfriend what he thought. He said, “It works. Cause you’re wicked.” He didn’t really mean I’m wicked, haha, but it shows that guys think of those things, too.
I spent a lot of my time in high school on the speech team, and our coach drilled in to our heads how important it is to keep your hands presentable. So, yes, I tend to make judgements about the state of someone’s nails
I’m lucky enough to work in an environment where no one cares what color I wear on my tips or toes, but I could have kicked myself the other day when I forgot to change my polish before a meeting with a new boss. Fortunately, she turned out to be quite a posh dresser and was most likely not offended by my CG Wagon Trail…
wow I’ve never thought of nail polish in that way. It’s very interesting though. Sometimes the nail polish can indicate what a person is like, but not always. For me, I like to try all different type of colors. I guess because I like to try different things. I’m more shy, but I love having crazy colors on my nails like blue, purple, and green. Great blog though. ooh and i loove gossip girl. It’s my obsession too.
OMG did u see vanessa’s yellow tips on last night’s episode?! TO DIE FOR!!! she rocked the color so well!
oh my God i love serena her wardrobe that girl is the queen of the world she can never be second. love her and alsi blake lively she just became the most desirable woman, thank God i voted for her