21st Century Style Icon: Kelly Rutherford

21st Century Style Icon: Kelly Rutherford

By: Elena Ossoski

This is Kelly Rutherford’s world and we are just lucky enough to live in it. Known by the pop culture savvy masses as the mother of all mothers on Gossip Girl, Lily van der Woodsen, Rutherford has spent the past few decades with a certain notoriety in the public eye. Although she may not have received the same level of hysteric attention as some of her co-stars from the show like Blake Lively or Chace Crawford, she is indubitably impossible to ignore when she is out and about. 

Rutherford always seems to cut a chic figure and is frequently seen sporting polished pieces in neutral palettes. She tends to favor silhouettes reminiscent of those worn by the Onasiss sisters, Jackie Kennedy and Lee Radzwill. Rutherford’s near-daily outfit pictures have received massive attention on Instagram and beyond as media outlets continue to fill the oversaturated pool of “stealth wealth” content. 

While her outfits seem rather simple at first glance, they are always topped off with an unexpected twist. Camel trenches are paired with Castleterrano olive-colored suede boots, cashmere knits are teamed with psychedelic frames, and the wardrobe-hero black coat is trimmed with a Peter Pan collar. Rutherford’s style is the cure to “quiet luxury” fatigue as she transcends the boredom that often results from sticking to conservative colorways through her use of untraditional silhouettes and accessories that reflect her distinctive point of view.

At 55, Rutherford is the poster girl for sartorial elegance and grace, confirming that personal style has always been – and always will be – immune to the irrelevant element of time. 

To learn more about our favorite “21st Century Style Icons”, keep reading Square Magazine. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for daily fashion, beauty, and lifestyle coverage.

Images belong to Kelly Rutherford.