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Good morning, Upper East Siders! Gossip Girl here with an important update: Serena van der Woodsen is back and better than ever. Oh wait ... is that actually S, or is it her alter ego Blake Lively? Judging from a recent photo, it's hard to tell where Serena ends and Lively begins.
Lively was definitely giving off Golden Girl of the Upper East Side vibes in her latest Instagram pic, which, if her caption is to believed, was actually taken a year ago. First off, let's talk about the hair, which looks as though it walked right off the set of Gossip Girl season one. The long, flowing golden waves worn casually over one shoulder are 100% Serena's signature beachy glamour; from her very first appearance in the series, S's hair is clearly her thing — effortlessly gorgeous and perfectly highlighted, but never too “done." Lively's hair is equally enviable and lush, and the proof is right in this photo!
The rooty blonde, minimal makeup and neutral rose lip aren't just Serena's go-tos; they're also a mainstay in Lively's own beauty routine, further blurring the line between S and B. (Oh, and that teeny Sergio Hudson purple minidress accessorized with sky-high red Christian Louboutin platforms doesn't hurt either; it looks like she ripped it right out of Serena's closet.)
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Fans were quick to point out the resemblance to Ms. van der Woodsen Humphrey (do you think they're still married?) in the comments. "Serving Serena van der Woodsen," wrote one. "OMG SERENA VAN DER WOODSEN ATE," wrote another, all caps necessary. Others couldn't help but notice the striking purple hue of her dress, thinking it could be a hint about her good friend Taylor Swift's Speak Now re-record.
Despite the fact that this IG pic looks exactly like the iconic Gossip Girl character back to wrecking havoc in New York City alongside her bestie Blair Waldorf, there is a difference between Serena and Lively, and it includes her beauty routine. In 2018, Lively's makeup artist Kristofer Buckle shared that post-Gossip Girl Lively prefers a softer touch. "When Blake was new in the business, she was so excited about the exploration of makeup," Buckle explained. "She wanted all the bells and whistles — lashes, contour, an overdrawn lip — so we look back and laugh at those early Gossip Girl posters, because she looked very done." Her eye makeup has also changed. "In the past, we've done that by piling on lots of black mascara. Now, we want to take the same approach to emphasize her eyes, but we do it by contrasting the lashes with an iridescent shadow, because that's more modern," he said of their approach. "We will also use brown mascara as opposed to black. She just prefers a softer lash now."
While Lively may not be slipping back into Serena's stilettos anytime soon, there's no denying the character left a major mark on the beauty world — and on the woman who brought her to life onscreen!
Shop our favorite wave sprays:
More from Gossip Girl, because you know you love her:
- Jordan Alexander Got Neon-Green Braids Her Gossip Girl Character Would Probably Hate
- Kristen Bell Is "Over Being Blonde"
- Gossip Girl 2.0 Beauty Moments to Look Forward To
Now, learn how to DIY Blake's beachy blonde waves:
