Sebastian Stan Says There Were No Belts on ‘Gossip Girl.’ But What Is the Truth? – Fashionista

Now, I knew right away that Stan’s allegation didn’t apply to the female characters on the show. I’ve spent nearly three years carefully documenting Blair Waldorf’s ensembles on my Instagram account for a recurring feature I dubbed #WaldorfWednesday, and I knew I had IDed a belt or two in my time. (Side bar for a fun fact: Blake Lively and Penn Badgley weren’t the only ‘Gossip Girl’ co-stars hooking up on- and off-screen. Stan and Leighton Meester were also an item at the time!) And, because I have nothing else going on, I started doing a #SerenaSaturday series, and right there, in the first outfit in the pilot episode, is a big ol’ belt from Ralph Lauren. So we can safely consider the actor’s claim that, “There’s not a belt on that show,” to be thoroughly debunked on that front.

But the men? That’s a different case altogether. 

It would seem par for the Brooklyn-in-the-late-aughts course that Dan and Rufus Humphrey would probably skip out on belts. They clash with patchwork-elbow cardigans and beat-up Lincoln Hawk band tees. Nate was usually too stoned to consider details like belts. And Stan’s Carter was introduced as a rich kid gone wild when he supposedly rejected his parents’ money and fell off the grid — a belt wouldn’t exactly go with his knit poncho. It seemed improbable to me, though, that Chuck wouldn’t have had a deep collection of belts. The man wore ascots, for crying out loud! 

Short of a thorough rewatch, which would take me several days, I started to do some investigative digging, returning to my go-to sources for HQ stills from the show’s heyday. (Hot tip for Warner Brothers: Make all those available online. Thank you!) Sure enough, in slide after slide, were men in untucked button downs, natty cowl neck sweaters and pinstriped blazers. Not a belt to be seen. 

I found proof Chuck wore a belt at least once while doing Belle Epoque cosplay in Paris during season four’s debut episode, “Belles de Jour.” Suspenders also showed up on more than one occasion.

Beyond that, though, my search came up empty belt-looped. I would agree with Stan’s sentiment that the show set trends: In 2017, Daman told me he was most proud of his work with the character of Chuck because of what it did for menswear at the time.

But did dressing better mean banning belts? I have reached out to Daman for comment — yes, seriously, I had the shame gene removed from my genetic code and I am unafraid to send embarrassing emails! — and I will be sure to keep everyone posted should I hear back.