Interview with Gossip Girl Stylist, Eric Daman!

 (Photos from cwtv.com)

There's one thing that can instantly cure the case of "the Mondays," and that will occur precisely at 9pm on January 30th when the CW airs the 100th episode of Gossip Girl, with one of the most glamorous Royal Weddings on all of television!

Here at WanderLust, we curtsy to the man that can create a character solely out of patterned tights and a headband. The New York Times credits Eric Daman as being "Arguably as integral to creating a character as the ''Gossip Girl'' writers" and we couldn't agree more. Eric Daman, Gossip Girl's style guru, has pioneered wardrobe styling for the Upper East, but after talking with him, we found out he influences a much more diverse group of fashionistas than just "Manhattan's elite." (CLICK HERE for the full article!)

Daman's creations on Gossip Girl (a few of our favs pictured above) have varied from uniforms to gowns, uptown to downtown, and even New York to Paris. We asked Daman what he loves most about styling in different cities and countries and he stated, "Inspiration comes from everywhere. As a stylist and costume designer, I strive to create looks that capture the truth of the character, and the zeitgeist of the locale."

Curiously, we asked if Daman related more style-wise to Chuck, Nate, or Dan. "I relate to each of them differently: With Chuck I can push boundaries in a way that Nate wouldn't, though Nate has a casual elegance all his own which is also important; Dan's styles vary more than ever—so does his character and the choices he makes," he remarked. We also had to know, if he could invent a new character for Gossip Girl, who would they be, and how would they dress? Daman responded, "The writers already one-upped me when they created Liz Hurley's character Diana Payne!"

For all those that envy the leg-wear on Gossip Girl, get excited, because Daman recently released a line of tights in collaboration with DKNY. We asked him about his inspiration behind the line, and he told us, "New York City was my main inspiration. Each style in the DKNY collaboration is influenced by different aspects of the beauty of Manhattan. The architecture, the colors, the patterns of lights in the skyline all contribute to the final design decisions. The lifestyle of Manhattan's socialistas demands a wardrobe with multiple options. Girls can go from day to night, form chilly to warm by stepping into a pair of slinky, leg defining tights." Totally lusting the patterns he's created!

Known for his collaborative spirit, Daman has partnered with prominent designers and brands. The 100th episode of Gossip Girl and the episodes leading up to it feature a partnership with Vera Wang whose dresses grace the shoulders of the bride Blair, her maid of honor Serena, and the bridesmaids. Speaking to the point of design integrity: "All the dresses Vera and I decided on for the Royal Wedding are incredibly gorgeous! The higher end couture dresses mix beautifully with the dresses for the bridesmaids which come from Vera's line at David's Bridal. The elegance and integrity is admirable and goes to show you if you know you want it, you can find it out there, and Vera Wang has an amazing set of options that are incredibly accessible!" Blair's minions will each be dressed in a short, one-shoulder organza dress with a bias-cut flange skirt accented with a waist-slimming elastic belt from Wang's more affordable line for David's Bridal, White by Vera Wang. (Available for $198!)

As a Creative Director for Charlotte Russe, Daman knows just how to style girls of all ages and budgets to make them feel, and look their best. "I always like to mix high end choices with lower price-point options. There is design integrity available out there and if you know how to dress yourself to maximize your best features what matters most is how great you feel in what you are wearing. That's why, for example, at Charlotte Russe we created a range of party, prom, and cocktail dresses for under 50 dollars and they look like a million bucks!" said Daman about working with Charlotte Russe.

TUNE IN: Tonight, January 19th, Daman will be guest judging on Project Runway All Stars with one of the most famous fashion icons... the one and only... Miss Piggy! A true woman of style in a "very Dior inspired outfit" and her signature pearls. Follow Daman and Project Runway (#PRAllStars) for live tweeting!

One day Eric Daman will style WanderLust... one beautiful day.

Lust,