The 23-year-old actress plays Queen Bee Blair Waldorf in US teen drama Gossip Girl. Her character is famed for her love of expensive clothes, and while she loves wearing them, Leighton feels much more comfortable when she is dressed down.

"It`s a wonderful thing to wear beautiful clothes while working, and it does influence me," Leighton told British magazine More! "Blair appreciates high-end and beautiful designer clothes, which I don?t really know much about.

"But I also like the days where I can be myself and just wear jeans and trainers and don`t have to impress anyone."

Leighton`s other excuse for her casual off-duty look is her busy schedule. She works full-time on Gossip Girl and also performs as a singer. She claims she has no time for shopping, and only wears nice clothes when fashion houses lend them to her.

"I occasionally go shopping but it`s very rare because I don`t honestly have the time," she said. "It`s sad but true. When I go to an event and get to wear beautiful clothes, it`s usually a lending situation where you get to wear it once and then have to give it back because it`s a one-of-a-kind piece. But that?s cool, because if I did own it, I still probably wouldn?t wear it over and over again."
sections: Celebrities