We know we still have the final season to look forward to, but we're already going into Gossip Girl withdrawal. Sure, the show's gone off the rails a bit in recent years (ever since poor, tortured Jenny Humphrey was shipped off to her mom's), but no matter how soapy and twisted things get, we'll never stop loving Leighton Meester. And, with the show's end approaching, we're worried we're not going to see quite as much of our favorite reformed mean girl as we'd like.Fortunately, Leighton's gig as the face of Vera Wang's Lovestruck fragrances is filling that soon-to-be void in our hearts. In the latest ads for the new Lovestruck Floral Rush, Leighton and a handsome beau cavort around NYC in a modern update to the classic Romeo & Juliet story. We had the chance to sit down with Leighton and talk about the shoot, love at first sight, and her admirable stance (and tips!) on going makeup-free with confidence. Read on and be prepared to fall even more in love with the stylish and ultra-sweet star.
Tell us a bit about the shoot. You got to swan around NYC in some pretty sick couture — what was that like?
"It was totally magical and a really beautiful experience that I had with Vera and the streets of NYC. Just knowing that I’m working with such an iconic, amazingly talented woman and I get to represent her brand is a dream come true. On top of it, I got to wear three incredible gowns that day.
"The commercial shoot was definitely a modern, NYC take on Romeo and Juliet, with Juliet on the balcony waiting for her love. They had a beautiful man to come and sweep me off my feet with flowers — what girl doesn't want that? I felt great, up on this fire escape by myself most of the day — I felt very peaceful up there. A lot of people gathered to watch and it just felt really romantic and cool."
This shoot revolves around the idea of love at first sight — do you believe in that?
"I think it’s not as much love at first sight, but that excitement, that rush you get when you are falling in love with someone [that I believe in]. All the possibilities, just that feeling that you get when you aren’t with the person and you are imagining what it’s like when you are about to see them."
Photo: Courtesy of Vera Wang