There’s more to wearing glasses than just… erm… wearing glasses. While some just grab any old pair of spectacles and make do, a rare few have transformed the humble act of putting on a pair of glasses into something bordering an art-form. We like to call these stylish folk the Eyewear Icons. This time around, we’re lavishing a bit of praise on the spectacle style of Kelly Rutherford.
First off, you might be scratching your head wondering, “Where have I heard of her from?”. In the words of Troy McClure, you may remember her from such television shows as Gossip Girl and Melrose Place.
You probably won’t remember her as ‘Salesgirl’ in Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge, or ‘TV Watcher’ in a 1988 odd-couple cop movie called Shakedown—but thanks to a career in film and TV which stretches right back to the high-drama of the 1980s daytime soap opera boom, she’s one of those people who’ll have you saying, “What else was she in?”, every time she crops up on screen.
As well as having an eclectic Wikipedia page boasting roles in everything from Scream sequels to the reboot of Dynasty, she’s also a bit of a low-key eyewear icon with a distinctly elegant-yet-effortless style.
We talked about this a bit with Harry Styles—and Liam Gallagher too—and how there’s maybe two types of eyewear icons. There’s the Iris Apfels and Sir Elton Johns of the world who push the boundaries of spectacle style with big, bold ‘n’ bonkers frames, and then there are the slightly more relatable icons who might not be quite as far-out, but have a seemingly in-built knack for always looking great in a pair of glasses.
We’d say Kelly Rutherford sits in the latter category, regularly snapped in shades from some of our favourite designers and adding serious style to such regular, everyday tasks as grabbing something for lunch or standing in a lift. In fact, it’s Kelly’s elevator style shots which have given her a bit of a second life as a style inspiration and moodboard mainstay—with countless online articles on how to emulate her enviable elevator steeze.
So what’s the secret? Well, there are worse places to start than a pair of Lapimas. Rutherford is a firm fan of Gisela and Gustavo Assis’ designs and is rarely seen without a chunky pair of frames from the brand’s São Paulo atelier.
Founded in 2016, Lapima takes a lot of inspiration from the bold modernist architecture of Brazil—creating striking acetate frames which manage to feel both modern and classic at the same time. Rutherford wears them perfectly, pairing their avant garde designs with oversized outerwear and quality knitwear for a masterclass in the whole ‘quiet luxury’ thing.
Considering the brand can also list Julia Roberts, Andre 3000, Aubrey Plaza and Cate Blanchett as fans, it’s a testament to Rutherford’s style that she’s the star most synonymous with the brand.
She’s got too many pairs to list off here—but seems to gravitate towards round bug-eyed frames like the Julia and the Martina—combining chunky white frames with yellow lenses for just the right amount of ‘60s flavour.
It’s not all Lapima either. And as seems to be a common theme for all contemporary Eyewear Icons, Rutherford is also a fan of Jacques Marie Mage. Clearly a woman of taste, she wore a pair of clear-framed Taos with a swanky beige shellsuit in one of her elevator shots for a prime example of sportswear sophistication.
Rutherford’s Gossip Girl character, socialite mum Lily van der Woodsen is often cited as the show’s true style icon, and while it’d be easy to think Rutherford’s elegant approach to eyewear is something she inherited from her most famous role, it seems it was the other way round. Art imitated life. Rutherford regularly lent her own clothes and accessories to the show—including her insane collection of Birkin bags (on that subject, Rutherford is such a fan she actually named her son Hermès).
Looking at her style today, you can’t help but think that the Gossip Girl wardrobe department must have had an easy job when it came to dressing Lily van der Woodsen, and hers and Kelly’s relaxed take on luxury gear seem one and the same. Classic… timeless… effortless… Rutherford’s style is a reminder that striking frames and a stripped back wardrobe of quality pieces will always work—even if you are just standing in an elevator.
