Fashion Muse: Michelle Trachtenberg Plays A Troublemaker

You're an individual, and that makes people nervous. And it's going to keep making people nervous your whole life. ~ Golly, 'Harriet the Spy'

Michelle Trachtenberg has been playing the troublemaker since she was 11, first as sixth grade spy Harriet M. Welsch, and later as Gossip Girl's Georgina Sparks. Both of these Upper East Side princesses were fashionable and quirky; Georgina had a penchant for smoky eye make-up and Gothic rosaries, and Harriet had a killer yellow trench. (And if Harriet had never made up with Sport and Janie, she would definitely have become 'G;' remember her merciless battalion against the other kids?)

Harriet's look is easy for an 11-year-old because it includes all the essentials: jeans, tees, sneakers... and a tool belt. Now, maybe you don't need the belt once you get passed the teen years, but the rest of her uniform easily translates into grown-up casual.

A pair of low, canvas sneakers or boat shoes look universally great with boyfriend jeans and a bright tee. For a more modern look, you can switch out the colors for stripes and have a summery, nautical ensemble perfect for walking through the park and grabbing ice cream.

13 years later, Trachtenberg played Georgina Sparks. Drug addict, liar, and now possibly pregnant with Dan's child (yup, I said it!), Georgina has been the Upper East Side's resident BAD, bad girl since season one. She dressed the part, with monochromatic outfits, tons of silver jewelry, and black, black, BLACK.

Michelle Trachtenberg embodied the part, never making an appearance as 'G' without her trademark eyeliner and black nail polish. These bad girl signatures can be used on any girl to embolden her look.

If G's campy style is too much, a few touches here and there, like a tough leather jacket and oversize shades, also add edge to an ordinary dress or jeans. Bring out your inner troublemaker with some of these ideas, and finish it of with the baddest bad girl staple: a killer attitude.