Luna de la Cruz, is a pivotal character of Gossip Girl (2021 who emodies style with beauty and brains to match. With an eye for design and a passion for fashion, she dreams of making it big in the industry, but as of her school days she builds her styling portfolio by curating looks for Upper East Side friends. Luna doesn’t just keep up with the trends, she sets them. and her storyline follows her going from the underappriciated friend who chooses to stand in the shadows helping others shine to stepping into the spotlight for herself. She is conscious and observant, but not a wallflower in the slightest.
Her fashion sense is very ethereal and feminine with boho chic aesthetic conjured up in luxury pieces that transforms with her. She is not abundant, but rather goes for understated fresh looks much like her personality and always sports looks that allow her creativity to flow. She was pushed to establish a new name for herself so that she wouldn’t be identified with either of her parents and is better known as Luna La due to her mother’s envy and abandonment. Because of this, Luna struggled to trust and keeps everyone at arms reach, hence her delicate yet confident aura as she chooses to observe and curate the world the same way she would reach for pieces in her closet. In an interview with writer Tyler McCall, Gossip Girl costume designer Eric Daman states that she is quote “the body AND the brains—skin and sophistication, wise and wondrous, subtle perfection.”
To begin let’s define Luna’s style and get into analyzing it. Luna wears Bohemian luxury, commonly referred to as Boho luxe. This style is a combination of the laid-back, free-spirited bohemian aesthetic with a more formal, deluxe, high-end aesthetic. The stunning fusion of contrasting styles and unparalleled individuality is a flawless contradiction that simply works in unexpected ways that not many can pull off easily, but Luna effortlessly exudes an air of unattainable perfection just as Eric Damon intended. This way of life involves frequent international essences which is perfect for Luna to embrace her heritage and indulge in New York glamour while holding an openness to experience just as Luna does.
Bohemian-luxe design relies on an assortment of various textures to create an appealing and engaging look. In this case, the more exquisite the better as she adorns herself with many bows, ruffles, monograms, patterns, florals, frills, fringe, and free-flowing pieces with intricacies in the details as she is a girl who is very detail oriented in nature we find the most visual interest in not silhouette but rather design elements. We see some plush furs, lace, and silks in terms of textures of choice. Patterns and silhouettes favored carefree, flowing materials from gowns to capes in juxtaposition with a high-end heel or tailoring.
For example, in season 1 episode 4, she is sporting a Burberry Icon Stripe Wool Cape over a Seebychloe Lace Trim Knit Turtleneck adorned at the neck with a bow and paired with a mini skirt with Aquazzura Snake-Skin Effect Block Heel Boots. She carries a Louis Vuitton Crafty OnTheGo GM Monogram Bag and finishes off the look with ottoman hands Fortuna White Topaz Huggie Earrings and Tanrica Gold Bangle Bracelet with Pearl Beads.
It gives her so much dimension which is a nod to her depth, but the complexities make her difficult to read. She is conscious of her looks, but not self-conscious and exudes a delicate yet confident aura hence Brands of Choice for Luna include Cult Gaia, Blumarine, David Koma, Bottega Veneta, Chloe, Jacquemus, Retrofête and real-life icons that she embodies the look of are Valentina Sampaio, EmRata, Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, Quannah Rose Chasinghorse, Tamika Fawcett which served as inspiration. They serve as gorgeous points of reference because the minimal, yet fashion-forward looks allow her to dress in a manner that allows her creativity to flow. It’s all very unrestrained and ready for wherever the day or night takes her. Her favorite eras of fashion to pull from are the 70s and 90s then do a contemporary take, especially when it comes to hairstyles.
For beauty, she loves a fresh-faced, yet flirty look. She’s never one to not have her makeup done up or a hair out of place. She’s very picturesque The ponchos of her everyday mirror the tiers of her dresses such as the Brighton Tiered Patchwork Paisley-print Silk-crepon Midi, Star Light One Shoulder Dress by Rococo Sand, Ruffled Floral-Print Gown by Giambattista Valli, she always sports this silhouette that cascades over the body but never reveals too much. In a sense, she uses fashion as a means to protect herself, to soothe with textures, and to make herself smaller while still enjoying her passions. She hides away in the shadows with her fashion. She makes herself more of behind-the-scenes person and always helps others make their way in the world than storming it herself. Her clothes serve as a means of self-protection the same way she will stand behind JC and find that if JC succeeds so does she.
Luna remains a bit of a mystery to us as viewers she holds the same aura with even her closest friends due to her passive attitude and demure, simple yet lavish style.
Luna develops trust issues and yearns for stable ground, we see this need for grounding in the earthy unlike the traditional jewel tone emeralds many would opt for in terms of boho luxe, natural aspects come to be for a more down-to-earth appeal for girl’s nights and even in her school uniform. She actively chooses to be this back seat driver and holds it altogether due to her understanding as someone observant with a keen eye for details. Luna is more focused on the look of others and curating this, so often her outfits are styled to give her the freedom to exercise her creativity, such as mobility to pin, to touch up a look which boho offers effortlessly while the luxe side keeps her polished preferences. From color palettes to textures she has this psychologically soothing effect with her looks that creates a soft ethereal essence. That she plays up with free-flowing fabrics and detailing from constellations and beadwork to intricate patterns and florals. She is also one to accessorize at every chance and pays attention to the beauty of the little things in life which in turns hones her eye for visuals. For instance, when she goes to take photos of Julien for her pursuits or helps Zoya with her look. Safran on Luna stated, “Whatever you’re going to wear, wherever you’re going to eat, whoever you’re going to date, if Luna says not to, or Luna says. As Max Wolfe says she, “secretly be the wisest one among us,”
In my previous video on Audrey Hope, I speak about how Audrey is well beyond her years and takes on the position of child caregiver which muddles her development. Luna is on the other side of the same coin, she goes without a strong mother figure and has her development stifled as she puts her emotional needs before Luna. She treats her more as a rival than a daughter.
Into season 2, it’s evident she has perfected her signature style which allows her to take up more space mentally and physically in comparison to her more minimal outfits at the beginning of the series. We even see her school uniform become more elaborate. However it’s not all-natural to her, she does put in a great effort as well, for example when she has an opportunity to style her mother. We see Luna loves her mother wants to make her proud and even jumped at the chance to style her in spite of her absence. She is beyond flattered and even asks Monet for assistance so that she is assured she can do a good job, but is only met to find that Dolares never was going to allow her to style her in the first place.
Healthy mothers are more than happy to see their children thrive, but a mother with narcissistic tendencies will often be envious of their daughter and almost falls into this framework of you need to do well, but never outshine me.
She always styles herself through and through and actually has a high level of visual dominance unlike many characters who are emotionally stunted may appear. I speak on this in-depth in my video How to Look & Feel Confident in Every Outfit. Luna physically doesn’t make herself smaller or try to be a wallflower, but rather uses her talents mainly for others.
She dresses and has a love for fashion rooted in the art of it, but hardly ever focuses on herself and instead the group or helping others reach their potential. It is much like the quote, “Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being.” – JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE
However, she is not a daydreamer who wastes time. She has high hopes and clear objectives it is just that Luna’s self-esteem is battered by the disregard and criticism of her mother so she makes herself small and analyzes what Dolares is jealous of because her sense of reality is warped by her mother’s envy. It undermines Luna’s strong skills and personality and makes her doubt herself hence she shows up in the world in a way where she is always pushing herself to do her best, but doesn’t want to outshine anyone.
0She doesn’t allow herself to enjoy life fuller or go after what she wants deep down, because she doesn’t has stability and puts the well-being of others before her own. It’s a pattern she often repeats. When Luna comes fully into her own and stands up for her place in the world, she isn’t in a long free flowing dress, but rather the hot pink metallic mini Maia Dress by Fannie Schiavoni with a purse to match and 24-Karat Gold-Plated Crystal Earrings by Elizabeth Cole. It’s a head-turning number that no one can look past.
As she breaks this pattern and comes more into herself, we see her looks hold the same codes of dress, but evolve to be more decadent and eye-catching leaning into the luxe side of her style. We see those free-flowing silhouettes become sleek, natural tones deepen, and metallics and diamonds become more prominent. She becomes far more glamorous and eye-catching, rather than understated. She begins to stand up for herself, we see her in more embracive form-fitting pieces as well that hold equal visual dominance. She no hides away behind layers and large silhouettes, for instance to the Met Gala she is wearing a remarkable mashup of a top from Monse Resort 2023 over the foil jersey slashed dresses finished of with Trillion Earrings by Oscar de la Renta. In this look we see Luna snap, it’s the straw that broke the camel’s back when Julien, has finally had enough after all the times Julien would disregard her work or ignore her suggestions only to be diminished to her stylist.
Luna takes the modeling job, and in the final episode does not make a physical appearance, but rather is on billboards for Oscar de la Renta, which is incredibly suitable for Luna. Oscar de la Renta is famously known as “the sultan of chic.” He is a Dominican fashion designer born in Santo Domingo who in the 1960s reputation spread over the world. His women’s evening wear and suits established standards in the wardrobes of Hollywood’s A-listers and socialites throughout the years. His vision is always reflected in his use of vivid colors, fine silk designs, ruffles, and flowy cuts
This aesthetically fits Luna to a t as she is seen on the billboards she is showcasing the O Handle Raffia Bag by Oscar de la Renta in the Passionflower Print One-Shoulder Dress as well as the O Handle Raffia Bag and Cold Shoulder Pleated Chiffon Gown by Oscar de la Renta. She’s no longer hiding behind layers and flows fabrics, but taking up the space around her.
Overall Luna has been a character who shows that helping others, being there for your loved ones, and using your gifts is a way of life, but also that it’s okay to take up space in this world and go after what you wish for in life. Her looks served her as both a creative outlet and protection, which gave her the strength to step into the spotlight herself with not only confidence on the outside,e but on the inside as well.
Sources: Eric Daman Interview with Tyler McCall- https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmwe9JCOvX4/
