Young fashion fans know how to pull it together

NEW YORK -- Dressing down -- for the office, special occasions and even supposed black-tie affairs -- has been around so long that today's teenagers and 20-somethings are over it.

Instead of embracing the sloppy look that society has come to expect from its youth, this generation takes pride in pulling its look together. There might not be a better occasion to pull out all the stops than New Year's Eve, when people are in the mood for a party and everyone has that new digital camera tucked in the pocket.

"Young people are really excited about getting dressed up," said Eric Daman, costume designer for "Gossip Girl."

But he adds that there's nothing old or stodgy about the new "fancy."

"They like to mix a great little leather jacket with a cocktail dress, or they'll take that leather jacket and make it a New Year's outfit with a sequin blazer, a boy's tank top and skinny jeans and rock 'n' roll boots. They'll take a dress-up item and dress it down just enough," said Daman, whose style-advice book "You Know You Want It" was just published by Clarkson Potter.

This photo released by The Crown Publishing Group shows an outfit from "You Know You Want It,' by Eric Daman, costume designer for "Gossip Girl". (AP Photo/The Crown Publishing Group)**NO SALES**

"Gossip Girl" star Leighton Meester writes in the foreword that she had a more casual style before Daman persuaded her to start trying on trends. "I feel so much more comfortable going outside of myself and dressing up; I appreciate designer clothing and beautiful material," she writes.

Spoken like a connoisseur of fashion -- and Meester is 23 years old.

And there's no doubt that Meester and co-star Blake Lively are considered trendsetters, with them turning out to attend, say, an afternoon fashion show in a cocktail frock. There's no grunge here as their on- and off-set wardrobes are chronicled by the press.

Perhaps it's not lost on these young stars that the lasting fashion images of the class of celebrities just before them -- Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears, included -- are mostly disheveled "don'ts."

For 17-year-old Doc Shaw, of Disney Channel's "Deck Life With Zack and Cody," the turning point in his wardrobe came young. "I've been dressing up for years. I like to know I look presentable."

This photo released by The Crown Publishing Group shows an outfit from "You Know You Want It,' by Eric Daman, costume designer for "Gossip Girl". (AP Photo/The Crown Publishing Group)**NO SALES**

Sure, he was teased a little in his Atlanta-area public school, he said, but now he sees 13- and 14-year-olds trending toward the geek-chic look. Shaw likes to think he was ahead of that curve.

"Anywhere you go, you never know what can happen or who is looking at you. I want to look ready," he said.