Not only does Leighton Meester's Blair get the best lines, but on last night's Gossip Girl, she got the best braids too.

Now that Blair and Chuck are together, what is a scheming upper east side princess to do? Without her legions of underlings to play puppet master with, Blair is finding she needs to reinvent herself this season. And it's not just her party techniques that need updating, it's also her look.

This week she abandoned her trademark headband for a neatly braided, pulled-back style. Of course, nothing with Blair is that simple. She creates a more dramatic look by weaving a bundle of small braids in to a cluster in the back. It's a sleek, chic and altogether smart look. Braiding is a really simple and elegant way to upgrade your 'do, and it's not as difficult as it looks.

Most people look better with a slightly off-center part or with a deep side part. If you're going to pull your hair back, consider starting with a side part and only braiding only one side. Start with a few, thin strands of your hair in the front, then pull them tightly as you braid away from your part, picking up a little bit more hair with each row of braiding. Essentially, you'll be making a french braid that twists around the side of your head.

Give your daily ponytail a style infusion, by making the braid your new best friend. It's the new B to your S.