Nate Archibald from 'Gossip Girl'
He's more dreamy than McDreamy. He's so scrumptious that TomKat (Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes) reportedly gushed over him at a recent event. Yes, Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford) from Gossip Girl, airing Mondays on The CW, seems to have a lot going for him. But it takes more than enviable eyebrows and porcelain veneers to impress us. It takes bushy eyebrows, porcelain veneers and pouty lips. He's like a boy version of Brooke Shields back in her Blue Lagoon days. No wonder he appeals to both Katie and Tom.
Still, it's Nate's modern preppy style that has us appreciating him from a purely sartorial perspective. A classic-fitting pima cotton placket long-sleeved pullover in navy from Ralph Lauren turns every guy into an object of affection. They virtually scream "old money" on even the newest of boys. Go with a V-neck sweater or vest over the top of a vibrant button-down dress shirt, and the girls will definitely start taking notice. Remember, every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed man. And any of the light-weight sweaters from Ralph Lauren will put you far in front of almost every other guy. Seriously, Lauren knows how to create classics. And Nate, in either a pullover or a cricket cable V-neck, is an instant classic. Trust us, sweaters are for summer, too!
Of course, a sweater without the right pair of pants -- or any pair of pants -- will get you noticed for all the wrong reasons. And on this show, don't people already have enough to talk about? Nate works all the angles with button-fly premium chinos from J. Crew in British khaki. Based on the original standard-issue officer's surplus chino from the 1930s, they're made from imported, vintage-style cotton slub twill.
And in the denim department, he works both high-end and midrange levels. Nate occasionally sports a pair of Slim Jim jeans from Nudie. Dedicated to the point of obsession, Nudie recommends that wearers not wash their jeans for the first six months of ownership. (That might generate some gossip of its own.) Nudie jeans are hot -- even if you don't look like Nate. But you don't need to be rich to wear great jeans. A pair of standard-fit jeans from Gap -- with slight whiskering and washed-out knees for a vintage look -- look great and don't break the bank.
But the preppy handbook requires sport coats over jeans and khakis at least 50 percent of the time, and Nate has that requirement well in hand by having a few jackets from Hugo Boss hanging in his closet. A slim-fit, single-button notched-lapel jacket in navy or black works for all occasions. Add a pair of Harding Panel lace-ups from Johnston & Murphy, and you'll have all the traction you need when Serena, Blair or Jenny looks you up and down.

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