Chace Crawford/Photo by Bauer Griffin

Spotted. C and P (Chace Crawford and Penn Badgley, that is) brave the wet and chilly weather to film scenes for Gossip Girl. I love how Chace is donning one of spring’s biggest trends for men: plaid. The amazing part is he manages to pull off  this trend-conscious ensemble without looking like he meant to. You can, too. 

To get same look as Chace’s plaid shirt, try these two options by Ralph Lauren and Martin Gordon. Next, throw on this amazing look-a-like brown jacket from French Connection. You definitely need a pair of jeans with a dark wash, like this amazingly affordable pair by Levi’s. And you can’t forget those dapper shoes he’s wearing, they totally make the look. With these Allen Edmonds Oxfords, you’ll be the next big thing on the Upper East Side.

Caitlin and Justin Frech of Gypsy 05 at their L.A. Headquarters

I had the opportunity to go to the Los Angeles headquarters of Gypsy 05 and meet with Marketing Manager, Justin Frech.  He gave me the inside scoop on this hot brand, which is a favorite amongst celebrities like Paris Hilton, Miley Cyrus, Zac Efron, Alessandra Ambrosio, Taylor Momsen, and Olivia Munn.  I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek of the new collection; and while I can’t give anything away about the new designs, here’s what I can tell you about this awesome, eco-friendly label:

How Gypsy 05 got started:

Brother-sister duo Dotan and Osi Shoham are the masterminds behind the label.  Dotan brings his many years of experience in the dye industry, and Osi takes the helm as lead designer.  They launched the brand in 2005 because they saw an opportunity to bring a unique vision to life: SoCal bohemian-inspired clothing with an emphasis on comfort.  What began mainly as a t-shirt company has now evolved into dresses, pants, and accessories.

How they developed a following:

For being relatively new to the scene, Gypsy 05 has an impressive list of celebrity clientele and a loyal following.  Perhaps the one design that put them on the map is their hugely-popular cotton maxi dress.  Today, their continued success can be attributed to the quality and comfort of their designs, and word of mouth is a powerful PR tool (also check them out on their facebook fan page).  Celebrity clientele, who are photographed in the designs on a regular basis, keep coming back for more.  Gypsy 05 has also developed relationships with stylists and wardrobe assistants, who have featured their designs on TV shows like Gossip Girl, The Daily Ten, and American Idol.

Where their inspiration comes from:

Born and raised in Israel and currently living in southern California, Osi draws much of her inspiration from her natural surroundings.  The ocean, nature, and respect for the environment are apparent in the colorful, flowing designs of each piece.  Tie dye and organic shapes are signatures to the collection.

On being eco-friendly:

All of their products are made locally in the Los Angeles area using eco-conscious manufacturing processes.  They use organic fabrics whenever possible, and the color process uses low-impact dyes and water-based printing.  As far as they know, they are the only clothing manufacturer in the United States that have installed solar panels to power their office and factory.  100% of their headquarters’ operations is powered by the solar electricity that these panels generate!

What looks we can expect to see this summer:

We can expect to see a lot of their signature prints in the form of flowing silk mini-dresses and jumpsuits.  Updated versions of their sportswear have already been pre-released with huge success.  And in a new twist, some shredded, rocker-inspired items are also being added to the Gypsy 05 summer collection.

Hints at their fall collection:

Staying true to their origins, Gypsy 05 will be releasing fall pieces featuring more bold colors and tie dye prints but will be branching out into new silhouettes.  Expect to see a combination of silk, jersey, and cotton fabrics, and as always, comfort and eco-friendliness will remain at the center of each design.

Where you can buy:

To purchase these products online, please visit the Gypsy 05 Official Site.  Fine department stores Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus also carry Gypsy 05 clothing.

What is Gypsy 05’s beso?  be so natural.

 

Gypsy 05 Organic Maxi Dress

Gypsy 05’s Organic Maxi Dress in Tie Dye is one of their best-selling looks!

Gypsy 05 Allie Silk Jumper

The Allie Silk Jumper is an example of some of the new styles Gypsy 05 is releasing for spring and summer 2010.

Gypsy 05 Cut-Off Sweatshirt

Gypsy 05’s cut-off sweatshirt is another best-selling item.

Gypsy 05 Jade Silk Peasant Dress

The Jade Silk Peasant Mini-Dress is one of my personal favorites.  The silk fabric makes an easy transition from day to night!

 

- Caitlin for beso

Leighton Meester in Louis Vuitton

Gossip Girl Leighton Meester spotted at Paris Fashion Week with the Sofia Coppola for Louis Vuitton Suede Asphalt Bag  as her arm candy.   The classic day bag shape, reminiscent of  the iconic Louis Vuitton Speedy Tote, combined with ultra-soft, casual suede is a great accessory for the Manhattan Queen Bee’s casual-chic look.  Leighton’s floral print dress and platform sandals pictured here are all LV.  We can’t all strut LV from head to toe, but can come close with this look for less.    

Get This Look (for less!) at beso:

Rebecca Minkoff Black embossed suede 'Morning After' Bag, $357

Tory Burch Lou Lou Dress, $279

Stuart Weitzman Teeny Dress Sandals, $365

Enter To Win: Tory Burch Efram Hobo

Tory Burch burst onto the scene as a designer in 2004.  In just 5 short years, her fashion line has been featured on Oprah, Gossip Girl, socialites, and soccer moms alike.  She was awarded the prestigious Accessories Designer of the Year in 2008 by the Council of Fashion Designers of America — beating out both Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors.

It should come as no surprise, then, that we’ve chosen her Efram Tote as one of the three stunning handbags we’re obsessed with this fall.  With glazed leather and logo-embossed resin studs, this bag is an instant classic.  Fan us on facebook and enter the beso Lucky Sweepstakes for a chance to take home this delicious arm candy.

 

Eve's Addiction, $34

Zales, $69

Inspired by how great the key looks on, I wanted to find some affordable and cute takes on this style.  JCPenney’s offers a wide selection of key pendants in different sizes and Zales offers a heart-shaped key set with diamonds, all for $69 — chain included!  You don’t have to be an Upper East Side socialite to accessorize like one!