The Power of Fifteen

Nearly 15 years ago, a new era of fashion icons and culture resets was born. With the release of the salacious and drama-filled Keeping up with the Kardashians (KUWTK) and the scandalous and exclusive-feeling hit Gossip Girl, the stage was set for great rebirth in what would soon become a great fashion shift in the 2010s. And with it, came our very own STITCH!

As we celebrate our 15th birthday (No mom, it’s not a phase. We are still cool!), we look back at the era we were born into, at the cusp of what led Kylie Jenner to become the youngest billionaire in the world and Blair Waldorf to make headbands “in” again. 

KUWTK changed the world of reality television as we know it; with scores of viewers tuning in to watch the six siblings have petty fights and live their lavish lives. While there were many spinoffs in the 15 years since its inception, the original was always the most mainstream, allowing viewers to follow along as the Kardashians grew into the moguls they are today. Yet, the show is slated to have its final season this year. 

Meanwhile, Gossip Girl, which rose to major fame quickly as people grew enamored with the lives of New York City’s elite upper class, is set to see a reboot this year. The dichotomy of this is something worth exploring; as one 15 year long chapter ends, another chapter begins for this 2007 hit show. 

2021 has asked us to beg the question: is there a place for the exclusive, top 1% lifestyles of the Kardashians and the Upper East Side’s elite to grace our screens? Probably not. As people begin to lose interest in the habits of the modern day bourgeoisie, it seems their reign as the unofficial queens of the U.S. is coming to a close. The pandemic has exacerbated this frustration even more, as people grew increasingly angry with how the Kardashians have been partying and going on countless vacations, including Kim’s 40th birthday island getaway, while people have lost loved ones and their jobs. 

Despite this movement away from ogling at the lives of the high upper class, today, four of the siblings, Khloe, Kendall, Kim and Kylie, make up the top 20 most followed people on Instagram, with Kylie snagging a spot in the top five. There is no doubt that people still buy into the Kardashian and Jenner image of luxury, family and copious riches. The show may be ending, but the Kardashians already have deals signed with Hulu, hinting at something new to come.

Gossip Girl is also still expected to receive a reprisal, which was met with much excitement and appraisal. Among many critiques of the original show’s lack of diversity or accountability, the creators have promised a much more diverse show, with LGBTQ+ storylines and many actors of color. But is this enough?

“If they have actors that aren’t problematic and characters with actual representation, I could totally see it having a comeback,” Caroline Dickerson, a junior and avid Gossip Girl fan, says. “It’s easy for a white, blonde to see an idol in Blake Lively, but now other girls will have the opportunity to see someone who looks like them and be their style icon.” 

Why are we still so in love with the shows, despite standing against the opiusness they represent? While there may be no one answer, many viewers of the show have grown up with it over the last 15 years. I myself have come back to Gossip Girl at every time of need in my life, it may be ridiculous and problematic, but it remains a comfort. Plus the fashion is impeccable. 

Along with catch phrases such as “Bible” and “If you know how I feel, why would you say that?!” and a cacophony of ugly crying faces, the Kardashians gave us iconic looks to remember forever. We saw Kim go from grey skinny jeans paired with silk tops and fur shawls to her stunning Roberto Cavalli Met Gala 2015 sheer, crystal-encrusted gown, and lest we ever forget the time she wore those clear thigh high boots and somehow made it look cool (or did she?).

There is much to love and much to look forward to as these shows come back this year (or at some point), albeit in different forms. One thing remains essential in 2021: keeping the shows, their creators and the cast and crew accountable.

“It might be a different audience, but the idea of Gossip Girl would be cool to see a more inclusive show,” Dickerson says. “The changes they’re making are all for the better, obviously it’s a different cast and the old cast is so iconic, but what’s to say this cast can’t be just as iconic as they were?”