Spotted: S, having a major nostalgia moment. In celebration of Gossip Girl‘s 18th anniversary, Blake Lively, who famously played the Upper East Side’s ‘it-girl’ Serena van der Woodsen, has shared a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes photos that are pure late 2000s gold.
It’s hard to believe it’s been that long since we were first introduced to the “scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite.” For six seasons, the iconic series defined an era of fashion, drama, and pop culture, launching the careers of Lively, Leighton Meester (Blair Waldorf), and Penn Badgley (Dan Humphrey). From Blair’s headbands to Serena’s boho-chic style, the show’s influence is still felt today, and you can’t hear the opening whistle of Peter Bjorn and John’s ‘Young Folks’ without thinking of Kristen Bell’s iconic sign-off: “XOXO, Gossip Girl.”
“The summer Gossip Girl turned 18,” Lively wrote in her throwback post. “This show was my college. It was my education, my social life, my hard work, my late nights and early mornings, my teacher.” She described New York City and its studios as her “campus for SIX years.”
The photo dump is a trip down memory lane, featuring blurry, pre-Instagram-filter snaps of her co-stars, including Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, and Ed Westwick (Chuck Bass). The images perfectly capture the cast’s off-screen chemistry and the distinct aesthetic of the time.
This isn’t the only recent Serena sighting. Lively recently brought her iconic character back to life to promote her cocktail brand, Betty Booze. The ad featured a delightful reunion with Zuzanna Szadkowski, who reprised her role as Blair’s loyal maid, Dorota. The two were seen exchanging “tea” a perfect nod to the show’s all-knowing gossip blogger.
Ironic considering Gossip Girl is now at drinking age in Australian, you’ll have to wait 3 more years in the states though Blair, so see you again then.
