The Story Behind Blair Waldorf’s Headbands
By Alexus Mosley
Before Blair Waldorf ever became a princess, she already had a crown.
Throughout the early seasons of Gossip Girl, Blair’s headbands became nearly as recognizable as the character herself. Whether jeweled, bowed, satin, or perfectly coordinated with her Constance Billard uniform, the accessory helped define Queen B’s polished, old-school Upper East Side style.
And according to costume designer Eric Daman, that was very much intentional.
Blair Was Always Supposed to Wear a Headband
From the beginning, Blair’s wardrobe was designed to tell us exactly who she was.
Nothing about her appearance was supposed to look accidental. Where Serena van der Woodsen’s wardrobe leaned effortless and eclectic, Blair was controlled, classic, and unapologetically ladylike. Pearls, polished dresses, colorful tights and, of course, a perfectly placed headband all helped create the distinction.
The headband fit Blair’s meticulous personality particularly well. Daman has described the accessory as the finishing touch she needed to feel completely put together, almost like a security blanket or protective force field.
In other words, Blair didn’t simply put on an outfit in the morning.
She completed it.
Queen B Needed a Crown
The headbands eventually became something bigger than a styling trick.
At Constance Billard, Blair ruled over her minions and presided over the Met steps with a social hierarchy nearly as carefully constructed as her wardrobe. Perched atop her perfectly styled brunette hair, the headband became visual shorthand for that status.
They weren’t literally crowns, but they might as well have been.
And the connection between headbands and Queen B power became so embedded in Gossip Girl that Daman revisited it years later for the continuation series. When Monet de Haan began gunning for queen-bee status, the headbands returned with her. As Daman explained, Monet wanted the crown, so naturally she needed the accessory associated with it.
And No, Blair Didn’t Repeat Them
Apparently, repeating headbands simply wasn’t done on the Upper East Side.
Daman revealed years after the show ended that Blair never repeated a headband during all six seasons of Gossip Girl. It was part of the costume department’s mission to make the series feel like a constantly changing fashion editorial.
Considering how many headbands we saw over the years, that’s quite a commitment to Queen B’s accessories closet.
Blair wore everything from demure ribbons and simple bands to oversized bows and elaborate jeweled creations. Designer Jennifer Behr became one of the names closely associated with the look. Daman initially bought Behr’s pieces from legendary New York department store Henri Bendel before the designer connected directly with the Gossip Girl team and eventually created custom pieces for the production.
Then the Fans Made Them Even Bigger
It didn’t take long for Blair’s signature to escape the television screen.
Headbands became one of the trends most closely associated with the original Gossip Girl. Behr recalled that when she began her collection in 2005, convincing women to wear anything beyond basic, functional headbands was difficult. After Gossip Girl, the accessory was suddenly a fashion statement.
Daman noticed the reaction too. The audience’s enthusiasm encouraged the costume department to go even bigger with Blair’s collection.
And perhaps that was part of the genius of the look. You didn’t need Blair Waldorf’s bank account to participate. A viewer could add a ribbon or inexpensive headband to her outfit and instantly borrow a little bit of Queen B’s Upper East Side polish.
Blair Grew Up, and So Did Her Wardrobe
Eventually, Blair had to graduate from Constance, and her wardrobe had to graduate with her.
As Gossip Girl moved beyond the high-school years, the headbands became less central while Blair’s closet evolved toward structured dresses, elaborate coats, hats and increasingly sophisticated accessories.
But the headband never stopped belonging to her.
By the time Gossip Girl approached its series finale in 2012, Daman was already teasing its return. He said bringing the accessory back would allow Blair’s style to come “full circle,” describing the headband as both an important part of the series and an iconic piece of Blair’s identity.
Fittingly, Jennifer Behr supplied the headband Blair wore with her Elie Saab gown for her wedding to Chuck Bass in the finale.
From Constance schoolgirl to Mrs. Bass, the crown made it all the way to the end.
Nearly two decades after Gossip Girl first introduced us to Blair Waldorf, place a polished headband atop a brunette blowout, and there’s still only one girl who comes to mind.
Looks like Queen B’s crown is still doing its job. XOXO.