Charles Bartholomew aka “Chuck” Bass is one of the leading characters in Gossip Girl known as the Upper East Side’s resident playboy. Chuck’s magnetic presence leaves an indelible mark on the fashion-forward world he inhabits. With his impeccable style and undeniable daring charm, he captivates both friends and foes alike, weaving a web of intrigue that keeps us all on the edge of our seats of what he will do next. It’s this visual tale of his metamorphosis from the mischievous boy you love to hate into a refined gentleman you hate to love.
Today we are going to be doing a menswear style analysis with Chuck Bass as our subject. n this analysis, we will be breaking down the styling techniques that create his signature look, his style evolution throughout the show mirroring his coming of age, and the way that costume designer Eric Daman redefined what it means to “dress like a man.”
We as an audience witness the captivating transformation of his juvenile flamboyance as it gracefully evolves into a more collected and mature demeanor. His looks of later seasons take on a far more elegant and refined tone, while still retaining that unmistakable ‘Chuck Bass’ twist that adds an irresistible allure to his ensembles.
Chuck sports a dapper style but gently and aggressively pushes the envelope with class and modernity. The dapper style belongs to a person, traditionally a gentleman, of superb taste, who is neat and trim in appearance all while being very spruce and stylish. Picture a man, diligently attired in garments that accentuate his well-groomed physique. Every detail, from his perfectly tailored ensemble to his spotless grooming, speaks volumes about his innate sense of style and panache. Particularly dapper clothes typically evoke nostalgic and ’60s vibes with a modern tone. He has an old-world aura to him, yet is ahead. With an intrinsic flair for fashion, he masterfully accessorizes his ensembles with exquisite, one-of-a-kind pieces that leave onlookers in awe. Whether it’s a thoughtfully folded pocket square or an exquisitely designed timepiece, each accessory has been selected with care to reflect his already exemplary taste. With an air of competence, he naturally stands out from the crowd, captivating all with his classy, clever, and undeniably chic aesthetic conjured up in menswear garments that are so unexpected for a bad boy.
Chuck is not one to play by the rules though, so he doesn’t look like the textbook definition of dapper style, he knows how to work the room and command it just by entering. He actually doesn’t look like many men on television who we see depicted as fashionable. He’s in a league of his own taking this dapper concept and meshing it with all-American sensibilities and avant-garde approaches which we see through his brands of choice such as Brooks Brothers and Banana Republic to Maison Margiela and Armani.
Personally what I find so intriguing about Chuck’s style is how he pulls from anything and everything. One day he might look very preppy, the next high fashion. He’s never doing what is expected and do make a point of either he just simply is. He does have this brazen nonchalance to him.
For example, in “It’s a Wonderful Lie,” Season 2, he has his boyish devil may care charm still, he is wearing this gorgeous black and clear crystal beaded smoking jacket with a crisp classic button down and silver shadow striped bow tie rather than the classic black tuxedo. In “Summer, Kind of Wonderful,” We see this coordination with Blair which grows in unison over time. Even at their wedding, his suit is styled to mirror and compliment her untraditional fashion-forward Elie Saab wedding gown. If you’re interested in the style evolution of Blair Waldorf and delving into Queen ‘B’ Syndrome Style to The Art of Fashion is available to watch now.
But It was such a pivotal scene, the three little words and the look have a lot to unpack from the color psychology which holds symbolism of growth and harmony, a nod to the moment, and Daman wanting it to almost get lost in the atmosphere as if they could stay in this one fairy tale moment together but also green is the color of jealously. While Blair is more saturated, Chuck is the one who is more muted and more soft. But most of the time he has very loud looks.
Chuck has these two sides to him, the one side is so dark, and the other is so light. Straightaway we can see the light and dark typically it’s right in front of us through the pastel hues and rich deep tones. Another color that Chuck often is seen in is purple which is symbolic of wealth, extravagance, creativity, and wisdom but also has been related to inferiority and obsession to achieve that the color is symbolic of. We see Chuck especially wearing purple when he is trying to not just follow in his father’s footsteps, but surpass him or when he puts together a fashion show to help Blair amidst his own expectations. He has a vision in his head of what success means to him and he wants to create it. According to color theory, purple has a shadowy side that includes associations with sorrow, a need for intimacy, and repentance, despite its proximity to more romantic tones and is a complementary color of gold, Serena’s Color.
But it’s not always about color when it comes to his fashion. He is one to often implement the contrast rule so in terms of styling this means different silhouettes, textures, degrees of formality, and even different fashions can all be used to create a striking contrast. Many people will admit, “I have this romantic side to me, and this edgy side too.” You don’t have to stick to one style or the current fashion trends; instead, you can try out different looks and combinations that beautifully reflect who you are. The beauty lies in the individuality of each component. The trick is to keep your cool and find a happy medium between the various elements. That balance may change from day to day, but in accepting those different sides of yourself you learn how to create a cohesive look.
Chuck has his own look. He’s not boxed in, but very liberated as a person. We see so much of his mindset as well through how the outfits are put together and the styling techniques mirror how he’s feeling.
Costume Designer Eric Daman stated in an interview with Fashionista when asked about his favorite character to dress, “I feel like if there was really one to pick, I’d have to say it was Chuck Bass, because I feel like what we did for menswear for him — how we dressed him and who he was, how he carried it all — was very pioneering in the menswear world. I think he relaunched menswear and was able to dress like a gentleman. It wasn’t just about jeans and T-shirts and being a ‘super sports guy.’ We took being masculine and made it okay to wear ascots and pink jackets and be flamboyant like a peacock-like men used to be. It wasn’t seen as fay or dandy. I love that he really switched a button for men to dress better.”
It’s lovely, even the menswear people would wear traditionally have that Chuck Bass spin on them from patterns like striped button-downs and matching paisley ties and pocket squares to textures such as velvet jackets and patent loafers. Having good style as a man can work in your favor. Instantly men in real life similar to Chuck will catch people’s eye because the norm is to wear jeans and a tee or trousers with a button down.
Like I was saying before, for men to have their own style they have to really perfect it, and when a man can stand out, put himself together, and make it work suddenly, even if people personally don’t like it aesthetic, view this man with more competence, respect, someone who is not a follower someone who has their own mindset. I speak about this and creating it for yourself more in-depth in my video on how to look and feel confident in every outfit but
I was once talking to a businessman, a younger entrepreneur in his late 20s who owns a media company. We were just chatting and he began talking about fashion to me as I talked about my work and explained how often he goes and golfs with others in his field that are many years his senior. He has this choice to show up trying to dress like them or he can look more modern, embrace his youthful side, and not just wear something age-appreciated but cutting edge. To show he has something special to him, and that he isn’t going to do what everyone else is doing. That’s his signature.
We also can’t talk about Chuck without mentioning the signature scarf which also was very symbolic of this boyish innocence he carries with him earlier on despite his lifestyle. As he matures we see this scarf slowly fade out but the neck isn’t left unadorned rather we see this development into cravats. Often as people grow, old pieces of their former self remain and are renewed, given new life. The original integrity or old senses of style are conjured up in new ways. For a womenswear example, I used to wear kneesocks to school and had a uniform, that silhouette of the high knee I retain through knee-high boots. Often people, with fashion feel they age out of specific looks and it’s not about but rather thinking about what you take joy in wearing, what’s comfortable, and adapting to the life you lead now.
Fashion and self-image are intimately linked. Fashion is self-expression and shaped by our self-image which in turn is a confirmation bias of identity. In the book ‘I Don’t Want to Talk About It’ by psychologist Terry Real, he explains how men and boys often have to shut different sides of them away. Turning away from their mothers to depend on as well as their fathers which Chuck lacks. He suffers from a condition titled normative male alexithymia, “defined as a subclinical form of alexithymia found in boys and men reared to conform to traditional masculine norms that emphasize toughness, teamwork, stoicism, and competition, discouraging the expression of vulnerable emotions.” – Assael Romanelli, Ph.D. The supression of the true self often leads to feelings of numbness and can lead a person astray, for instance, to turn to substance abuse. Chuck is often deemed weak by his father and it shapes how he carries himself.
As he matures, we begin to see more classical pieces in the mix, it’s no longer so loud but rather a quiet confidence as he comes into his own as a man and steps out from his father’s shadow, like the bright orange coat to the beige overcoat paired with gloves. He often tries to overcompensate his deeply rooted insecurities, he doesn’t want to be seen as weak or broken. Unlike the quiet luxury approach that has grown in popularity these days, Chuck is the opposite. He likes to be extravagant and larger than life, even when questioned about why he is deserving he has a sharp wit to him or simply replies with his catchphrase I’m Chuck Bass and wants people to see him as this powerful man. He goes from being a crass and sleazy boy who secretly has a heart of gold and does kind acts for those he cares for to a put-together young savvy businessman who is upfront with who he is merging all sides of himself. His codes of dress aren’t dwindled down but implemented with a refinement that matches his new values, lifestyle, and goals. He refines himself inside and out, he tries to make right his wrongs, to take responsibility for himself such as trying to be a better person and to not shut away the dark or light but learn to join them together. refine which by definition is to remove impurities, and make small chances for further accuracy.
Chuck presented a novel interpretation of the concept of “masculine attire” to the general populace, thereby questioning established conventions of men’s fashion. By demonstrating the power of self-expression through clothing choices that deviate from prevailing trends, he effectively broadened the definition of sartorial masculinity.
