Blake Lively
Gossip

Unlike her TV alter ego, Blake Lively doesn't party, get fake married, kill people, straddle her best friend's boyfriend during bar stool sex or any of that stuff.

But when it comes to Gossip Girl fashion, she and Serena van der Woodsen mesh.

“I dress just like Serena!” the 22-year-old actress tells the November issue of Nylon. “I own half her wardrobe, so it’s far too similar to how I dress!”

She loves the oddity of looking like her real self, but being someone so different.

“I feel ridiculous at times with her, because I’m, you know, killing someone or marrying someone, but I look like me. I’m like, ‘Oh, this is absurd.’”

Blake Lively in the new issue of Nylon.

Having her character's style be similar to her own isn't something common for Blake, who is rumored to be getting engaged to Penn Badgley in the near future.

“I hide behind the character’s hair, makeup or clothes. If I can transform myself, people will believe that’s who that is. And I need to believe that’s who that is.”

One fringe benefit of trying out a character? Getting into new products that she might not try on herself, including her latest beauty obsession: press-on nails.

“They’re really amazing,” she says. That and free handbags that may fetch four or even five figures in a boutique. Talk about job perks. Some girls have it all.

Gossip Girl stars Blake Lively and Penn Badgley, whose characters used to date on the hit CW show, have been dating more than a year and a half.

According to reports, they are looking to extend that ... forever!

A close pal of Blake's repors that it is just a matter of time. The couple are expected to announce their engagement sooner rather than later.

Sunday is Badgley's 23rd birthday, and while some speculate they might have something else to celebrate then, others say talk is premature.

Just a little, though.

''I think if November 1 was Blake's birthday, he might have surprised her with a ring,'' quipped the source. ''But my guess is over the holidays.''

No question, Penn Badgley and Blake Lively are a cute couple, and one that likes to keep a low profile as well. They would have our blessing.

Penn and Blake. Dan and Serena. They're hot by any name!

As great hair goes, it's hard to top natural beauties (and SoCal natives) Blake Lively and Lauren Conrad. But both have departed from their signature looks of late.

Inspired by Conrad's vivid Mara Hoffman dress at last week's Hollywood Style Awards, stylist Byron Williams gave the former star of The Hills some "boho braids."

Last month, Frederic Fekkai stylist Renato Campora used the line's products to turn Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively into a modern day goddess at the Emmys.

That is some ponytail, Blake! Wonder how long that took to do.

Check out the two styles below and vote on your favorite ...

Whose hairstyle do you like better?

It's a style showdown featuring a gorgeous young actress and one of those krazy Kardashians who appears on the cover of every magazine for whatever reason.

Who's your money on?

Gossip Girl star Blake Lively got into character as Serena van der Woodsen in her Alexander Wang dress recently. As always, she makes it work. Salivatingly.

Meanwhile, newlywed Khloe Kardashian hit a party in L.A. in the very same draped purple mini. Who wore it better? Vote in the survey below and tell us ...

Who wore this dress better?

The 2009 Emmy nominees did not include Gossip Girl.

Two of the CW hit show's stars were present on the award show's red carpet, however, looking as glamorous (and different) as you'd expect.

Blake Lively (right) wore a sultry red gown with a plunging neckline, while Leighton Meester opted for a white, Grecian-influenced ensemble.

Whose Emmy outfit do you like more? Vote below ...

Who looked better?

Today's celebrity birthdays feature a couple of rising TV stars. And we don't exactly have to issue a Gossip Girl or True Blood spoiler alert to point out the respective hotness of this birthday guy and gal. Because you are already well aware.

Here's a little photo tribute to one of the only men on the planet who can top Robert Pattinson in an attractiveness poll, Alexander Skarsgard (33) ...

... and the incredibly beautiful Blake Lively (22) ...

Other celebrity birthdays today? Rachael Ray, Rachel Bilson, Gene Simmons, Claudia Schiffer, Regis Philbin and Sean Connery. Give it up for August 25!

One Michael Kors. One movie star. One Gossip Girl.

When Angelina Jolie wore a black leather version of the strapless dress to the premiere of Inglourious Basterds, well, we were floored by the mother of six. Especially because she looks so much better than she does bronzed and breastfeeding.

But perhaps not as much as we were when Gossip Girl's Blake Lively wore the same dress in neon pink at the CFDAs. She looked so youthful, bold, vibrant...

OK, we'll stop now.

So, who do you think wore this dress better? We know it's a no-lose proposition, but tell us who you think wins this style showdown in the survey below ...

Who wore this dress better?

Blake Lively is known for wearing ridiculously sexy outfits on the set of Gossip Girl, but the 21-year-old star doesn't do anything special to look good in them.

How much do you hate her right now, ladies?

"I do panic before I have to wear a really skimpy outfit, but I don't have enough willpower," she says of dieting in the August issue of UK Glamour Magazine.

"I had to do a scene in a bra and shorts for the first time in two years ... On the day of the shoot, I ate a pork burrito, chips and a coke. Afterwards, I thought, 'I probably shouldn't have done that.' But hey, whatever."

So maybe she doesn't eat right, but she exercises, right?

"I have never worked out, but I know you always feel better when you do," the blonde Burbank, Calif., native says, "so I'm planning on getting a trainer.”

Lively says despite all the cattiness that exists in Gossip Girl, on and off the set, she gets along very well with her costars: "We hang out after filming, and actually look forward to spending time together outside of work."

That includes her real-life leading man Penn Badgley, although she admits it wasn't always the case - she was unhappy when he was cast on the series at first.

"At first I was so upset that they hired him," she says.

"I actually poisoned the whole cast against him. But then they noticed that he was not a jerk and was actually a really nice, charming person. Almost immediately I realized that too, but it took me about a week to admit it."

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) gathered last night to honor their own, and the celebrities came out in force to light up the red carpet.

Among those on hand? A pair of Gossip Girl hotties.

Blake Lively looked very pretty in pink, opting for bold color in a slim, strapless Michael Kors fuchsia dress, accentuated by jewelry and her loose, blonde locks.

Meanwhile, Michelle Trachtenberg looked uptown chic in a Behnaz Sarafpour dress with a silver bustier top and navy skirt. No sign of Evil G lurking up in here!

Which Gossip Girl star looked better? Tell us below ...

Which star looked better?

It was an afternoon of young, talented beauty at this week's CW upfront presentations.

Each spring, networks invite advertisers to an event that serves as the official launching party for its fall schedule. This is where deals are made and new shows are announced.

For The CW, a channel that aims to attract a less mature audience, it was the perfect time to showcase its array of up-and-coming stars.

Or Ashlee Simpson, who somehow has a role on the remade Melrose Place. Here's a shot of Mrs. Pete Wentz at the upfront ceremony:

Due to the success of Gossip Girl and 90210, The CW is more interested than ever in focusing on teenage soap operas.

Aside from the aforementioned remake of Melrose Place, look for The Beautiful Life on the network's fall schedule. It stars Mischa Barton and Corbin Bleu.

Click on the pics below to enlarge more photos of various young, gorgeous CW stars:

[Photos: Splash News]