Many of us who came of age in the late 2000s and early 2010s will forever think of Kelly Rutherford as her iconic on-screen character, Lily van der Woodsen. Gossip Girl was one of the most defining shows of its time. Following in the footsteps of Sex and the City, it helped to define a new era of pop culture’s influence on fashion.
Rutherford’s character on-screen, in many ways, mirrored her style off-screen, and that remains true to this day. The actress, mom, and activist shares her love of fashion and putting together outfits with her 2.5 million (and counting) Instagram followers.
Kelly on Kelly
Just like her character on Gossip Girl, Rutherford has a truly enviable collection of designer bags, and her off-duty outfit of the week is one we will immediately be attempting to emulate (first, we just need to get our hands on a Kelly of our own).
Our quiet luxury queen touched down in London ahead of LFW and immediately offered us a lesson in off-duty dressing. Rutherford paired a stunning Hermès 35cm Kelly Sellier in Natural Sable, Butler Leather with a monochromatic look that is so simple yet oh so chic!
Let me explain why this outfit does work fabulously, since we have some ENVIOUS naysayers in the comments:
Her fit is a perfect example of effortless elegance with a cozy, monochromatic touch. The oversized quilted cardigan adds a rich texture while keeping things relaxed and warm. Paired with wide-leg cropped pants, the look stays comfortable yet polished. The neutral color palette—cream, beige, and tan—creates a sophisticated and timeless appeal.
The accessories elevate the outfit beautifully: the structured leather handbag adds a luxe feel, while the oversized sunglasses bring a touch of retro glamour. The choice of sleek, neutral-toned sneakers keeps the ensemble modern and practical, perfect for an elevated casual look. Overall, this is an excellent mix of comfort, sophistication, and street-style chic.
I can’t believe I have to spell it out for the unfashionable plebs…
You’re very judgmental with your righteousness. Not everybody has to like what she is wearing and it certainly doesn’t make them “plebs”. It’s simply a matter of personal taste and no one is right or wrong.
This look is a good example of the difference between an outfit which is “in style” vs an outfit which is “attractive”. Sometimes they are the same, but not always.
Comfort, sophistication, and street-style chic—yes, yes, yes!
She’s asking for trouble carrying it like that in London…
I was actually just thinking that….
Do you personally live in London? Be honest.
There is a blogger, Sophie Shohet, that resides in London. She discusses the high crime rate of women’s handbags. She makes a strong case for securing handbags to protect against thieves. Also, she suggests not carrying high end designers (Chanel, Hermes, etc.) because thieves are becoming more sophisticated and know which bags to target.
While I do like this bag, I don’t see this outfit working that well.
She used to have the best harness collection but she sold it to sue her ex husband and eventually lost the lawsuit
Her ex-husband was deported from the US for fraud, the judge gave him custody stating she had the funds to travel to see the kids since he couldn’t come back. Once they were out of the country he was denying her visitation, so she was suing to get back joint custody of the children and went bankrupt because of it!
So incredibly sad! While I love her style, I also appreciate who she is as a person. After what she went through, she became an activist for women and children.
Sorry, but using a take-away paper coffee cup in 2025 is neither chic nor cool when there are so many sustainable options…
Oh for goodness sake – get off your high horse – anyone can get thirsty without having planned to assure sustainability or responsibility for the environment and the state of the world
I believe that’s a K32, not 35.
I had our own Notorious Pink help with the ID, and after much back-and-forth, she settled on 35cm!
She looks like she’s about to ask for the manager.
She looks so chic while I would look like a total weirdo in the same fit.
There seems to be a disconnect between the casual clothes and the structured handbag. Retourne would have been a better choice.