You might know her as the old money, ever-so elegant Lily van der Woodsen from CW's Gossip Girl, but the last few years have seen Kelly Rutherford cement herself as a style icon in her own right. On TV, Serena’s mum was a pioneer of quiet luxury - her carefully curated outfits, styled by costume designer Eric Daman (a protégé of none other than the iconic Patricia Field) exuded class, taste and the undeniable power of a wealthy Upper East Side woman.
Rutherford’s personal style mirrors the van der Woodsen aesthetic with luxe knits, stealth wealth shoulder bags and muted colours. Her outfit selfies on Instagram have garnered attention from fans of all ages, with many on TikTok calling her a 'Birkin Mom', a title Lily van der Woodsen would surely be proud to own.
Last week, Rutherford blazed an oh-so-fabulous trail around Paris, attending multiple shows as part of the biannual Couture Week. At Jean Paul Gaultier's showcase, which this season was designed by none other than Simone Rocha, Rutherford was sitting next to Kylie Jenner (maybe you've heard of her?), wearing a sugary pink frock and Roger Vivier pumps with beaded hair slides decorating her bun. For Dior, she went back to her roots as a van der Woodsen, wearing a cream skirt suit with point-toe pumps that was very Upper East Side (Charlotte York would definitely approve).
Although Couture Week offers a unique opportunity to dress up like you've never dressed up before, Rutherford's off-duty outfits are what has really captured people's imaginations. One of our favourite influencers, Ellie Delphine, called Rutherford 'the OG Birkin Mom', in a recent Reel, commenting: 'I love that she has remained true to her personal style in spite of trends.'
Sleek, simple, but impactful, part of the draw of Rutherford's signature style is her incorporation of smaller up-and-coming sustainable brands. Featuring names like French labels Dépêche-toi, Balzac and Transylvanian knitwear brand Ami Amalia, her mindful curation offers an invigorating change to the sameness so often seen across style influencers on social media.
Rutherford's lift selfies and daily affirmations are a breath of fresh air. If her newfound Tiktok fandom tells us anything it's that her style icon status is only rising. We can't wait to see what inspo she will deliver us with in 2024.
SHOP: How To Channel Kelly Rutherford's Style Now
www.mytheresa.com
Spotted on the front row at Couture Week, these chic suede pumps Rutherford wore, while sat next to none other than Kylie Jenner, had social media buzzing.
balzac-paris.com
When Rutherford wore these boots in a picture she posted to Instagram, fans were desperate to know where she got them. The answer is Balzac Paris, a French brand you'll want to bookmark for its glorious accessories and even better clothes.
balzac-paris.com
Also from Balzac, Rutherford has this exact coat. Super chic but practical, it has a hood for bad weather and will take you right from winter into spring.
www.theoutnet.com
Kelly Rutherford's cosiest jumper - cable-knit and cream - is by Mr Mittens. And while we can't find the exact sweater, this oversized vest is now reduced to £119 on The Outnet.
www.repetto.com
These Repetto ballerinas come in so many different shades.
www.selfridges.com
Kelly owns this exact gilet by Soeur, which she paired with a plaid skirt and ballet pumps.
www.agjeans.com
Kelly gets her straight-leg jeans from AG Jeans, which she tends to pair with suede ankle boots.
www.fay.com
This Fay jacket is very similar to the plaid style worn by Kelly.
Gavi Weiss, Grazia’s Fashion Assistant has a penchant for vintage clothing, '90s rom-coms and matcha lattes. You can usually find her steaming up a storm on the set of our next big photoshoot.