Jenny Humphrey Style Analysis: Identity Formation & Fashion Evolution

Jenny Humphrey is a reoccurring character of the show Gossip Girl. She is the sister to main character Dan and daughter of Rufus Humphrey. In the beginning, Jenny is a freshman at Constance, captivated by the world of the Upper East Side and strives for the attention and approval of Queen Bee Blair Waldorf. Though, as the show progresses, Jenny becomes a force of nature that rebels against the norms of as she aspires to become a fashion designer with her own distinctive look. Jenny throughout the show has a drastic style transformation. I'll be explaining her style evolution using fashion psychology as fashion is a tangible depiction of one's inner self, but can be altered to showcase different components of one's identity. Jenny's differing looks convey where her values lie and who she wants to be or who she is because even at a young age, she was very infatuated by fashion and drawn to clothing that acts as an extension of herself. Within Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, he stresses the importance of the process of identity formation and developing a sense of direction. Typically, this is formed between the ages of 12-18 where young people develop a personal identity and idealized self through the exploration of values, beliefs, and goals. Fashion is a variable that conveys this and personal style is a part of growth and self-expression. When one is misled or unsure of their place in society, world confusion occurs. Jenny is featured within the first few seasons of Gossip Girl, aging 14-17, where her style changes as she undergoes life experiences and forms her identity. She is very much in a state of world confusion, but ultimately finds herself. To begin this timeline, we will look at her first look in Season 1, a plaid top beneath a jacket that mirrors the styles of her father and brother who have a more classically artistic and grunge sensibility to them. The dainty necklace and floral detailing adds a bit of feminine touch, hinting at Jenny's interest in girlish looks and luxury, but also her alternative roots in rock lenient. Here she is sweet and innocent, a people pleaser who is in awe of the girls around her. Especially Blair, Jenny idolizes her and takes cues from her in every way, from how she behaves to how she dresses. Jenny is very trend-conscious as the girls around her often sport the latest it-bags and off-the-runway pieces, but she often makes her own clothes or goes thrifting, always opting for something high-end. Here she is wearing preppier looks, as her family values education greatly and she goes to a private school. She is not only taking on this look out of aesthetic interest, but the sociological placements of it. Jenny often wears sweet and soft pieces, such as blouses, bows, opaque tights, and of course headbands as an Her go-to look of the season is a peacoat paired with a mini skirt. In terms of colors and patterns, she opts for pastels, plaids, florals, and traditionally feminine ones. Colors with a feminine appeal are often described as sweet, lovely, beautiful, and romantic, which portrays her identity as a young girl. She often mixes in other bright saturated colors in a similar manner to Blair, which mirrors her values along with adopting her belief system. This is a bi-directional relationship, as clothes impact how we feel and how we feel influences what we choose to wear. By adopting Blair's look, she feels more in tune with the environment, as if she is truly a part of the Upper East Side. She projects a facade that she is a part of this world, and constantly works to uphold her idealized image, from clothes and social status to parties and a boyfriend. The more immersed she becomes, the more she begins to act like her friends. Her loved ones fear that she has become corrupted due to her radical shift from being a nice girl into a scheming one like Blair. Eventually, her true identity shows, and the cracks of the story she told fully break. Jenny is rejected by the girls of her school after being exposed for lying about her relationship with Asher, but opposite to this rejection, Jenny learns that she has been accepted for a fashion internship with Blair's mother, Eleanor Waldorf at Waldorf Designs. Beginning the second season, Jenny's look strays away from the Blair-Waldorf inspired one, towards a more Courtney Love aesthetic. In real life, Taylor Momsen was in a rock band, The Pretty Reckless, so she wanted her look to be true to her and the look of her music. Her style is very much her own, so the show's producers integrated her post-grunge rock look into the show's storyline. As her music career was taking off, the stylists on Gossip Girl were very conscious of these and used this new style to push boundaries with Jenny's character. Before, she was wearing lots of vintage clothes, like torn up jeans and, you know, paint splattered t-shirts. I know a great Jenny Humphrey day look would be a kind of Courtney Love, 90s-inspired slip dress, but also I think with the pattern here, we see a little of the original Jenny Humphrey, who to me was inspired by Molly Ringwald. It has a vintage feel to it, but it's a little more luxe. There's a silk in this actual designer piece, so it kind of embodies who the Jenny Humphrey of today is. The styling of Jenny becomes a key component in her narrative, expressing her identity, but also her goals and placement in the world. Her goal of queen shifts into becoming a fashion designer as she becomes more in touch with who she is and develops further skills within her interests. Jenny's looks began to move on the spectrum between traditionally sweet and girlish to more punk and grunge. Jenny hides away at the atelier since she is the target of torment for Blair and the girls at school. Her alternative look acts as a rejection of the world she once desperately wanted to be a part of and is symbolic of her paving her own path into the world of fashion. When she no longer feels the need to impress Blair, her fashion evolves, colors get darker, hemlines higher, and more glam rock references are being made. Rather than being treated like a young naive girl, she is treated differently due to a new perception that is produced by her new look. Ecological scientists at the California State University, Northridge, and Columbia University find that the formality of clothing might not only influence the way that others perceive a person and how people perceive themselves, but could also influence decision making in important ways through its influence on processing style. So here Jenny's fashion is becoming more individually developed. She is fully immersed in a life of creativity, where fashion and new concepts are at her fingertips to explore, but she does have this underlying fear that is a constant in the back of her mind. This is a status of identity moratorium, which is when one is exploring in an attempt to establish an identity, but has not committed to just one yet. Usually this occurs in emotionally intense times where young people experiment with different roles or belief systems. Jenny ultimately decides on homeschooling and continues to pursue fashion. She is deeply influenced by her friend Agnes and artistic youth culture, hence furthering her look to be more alternative rather than continuing to work at Waldorf Designs. She rebels when Eleanor takes credit for her work and throws a guerrilla fashion show under her own name at a benefit honoring Bart Bass and Lily Vanderwoodsen in an attempt to get financial backers for her line. Her designs appeal to that 2007 youth culture. Jenny decides to return to Constance and she is in between worlds. With Jenny's move to the Upper East Side and Blair's blessing, she becomes Queen of Constance. However, Blair isn't pleased with how Jenny conducts her reign, but still has her own style. As Queen, she features a lot of menswear-inspired pieces, corset tops, layering techniques, and edgier accessories such as fishnets, studded boots, and excessive jewelry. She no longer sports very colorful pieces and goes more for blacks and neutrals. Though she now behaves much like Blair, she still holds on to clothing that she wore when she broke away from Zytus, always been an extension of herself. She learns to use it to harness power. The girls around her dress just like her, showing their dedication, much like how those in uniform often follow rules and behaviors because of strong alignment. She uses clothing as a tool. For example, when she buys bags for the other girls, she exerts her power as Queen. The clothing is not only a status symbol of wealth, but one of power. Fashion's influence can be indirect and constitute a form of soft power. Her clothing creates a social distance that enhances abstract cognitive processes. Traditionally, this occurs with formal and more authoritative clothing, even though this is not the typical prim and proper Queen look. It's one that enhances social distance and hierarchy between the girls. Jenny and Blair's power struggle continues. Ultimately, Jenny is banished from Manhattan. She makes her first appearance in season 4, here after some time on her own. In continuing to hone her skills as a designer, Jenny's fashion is fully established. She claims that leaving the Upper East Side was the best decision for her. She has matured as a person and her alternative look is still present, going from one that stresses rebellion and power to one that is more chic with rock undertones. Jenny goes to an interview with Tim Gunn and presents her collection, but once again is sabotaged by Blair. Rather than fighting back or admitting defeat, Jenny stands her ground and upholds her own belief system. Jenny's style is more put together and polished, much like her behaviors. This is evident as she goes to speak with Tim Gunn once again about her work. She is very collected, well-spoken, and much more logical because she is thinking for herself based on her own established values that are very well put together. She leaves the Upper East Side once again and goes to study in London, but does make another appearance at her brother's wedding in the finale. Her final outfit is a fitted mini dress with sheer fabrics and gold embellishments, paired with a nude heel with a gold lenient. Her hair is stylishly proper with an undone factor. Her makeup is heavy but clean. She enters carrying a bag labeled J for Waldorf, showing that Jenny and Blair have mended their relationship and now work together as Jenny has her own line under the brand. Here, Jenny has reached identity achievement, which refers to when one has explored multiple avenues of identity and have committed to one. She becomes an accomplished, educated fashion designer with her own distinct look that has components that appeals to many groups of people. Throughout the series, her fashion remained a constant outlet that not only allowed her to express herself, but also learn more about herself and the world around her. Her final style does have components of past identities, making her more versatile, but also more individual. Though she has gone through many troubling events, she has also gone through many great ones, which have caused her to come out of this a stronger person with fashion that will serve many in the same way that fashion served her. I hope you enjoyed this video. 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