Spotted in NYC: Kelly Rutherford absolutely thriving.
Nearly a decade after “Gossip Girl” first premiered, the actress’ quietly luxurious aesthetic — and that of her iconic character, Lily van der Woodsen — is more relevant than ever.
“I’ve always been very much a minimalist in many ways, but I like beautiful things,” she told Page Six Style. “Because of acting, I’ve played dress-up a lot.”
Rutherford’s love of understated elegance extends to fragrance as well, as she just launched a perfume with her longtime friend Veronique Gabai: Rose Première, a luxurious blend of mandarin, bergamot, musk and (of course) rose that captures “the divine feminine,” as she put it.
“We went to Grasse last year and picked the roses,” Rutherford recalled. “I got up really early in the morning because they bloom first in the South of France.”
The result is a chic, clean scent she feels her iconic “Gossip Girl” character would “for sure” wear.
“It’s kind of a combination of the two of us,” she said.
Perfume isn’t the only part of her beauty routine Lily would approve of, however. Rutherford told us she’s also a fan of Merit’s The Minimalist Complexion Stick — “I love their stuff,” she said — and French drugstore staples like Avène’s Haute Protection Tinted Compact.
“It’s really good for the summer because it’s got a little tint to it and some sunscreen in it; I love that,” she said of the latter.
She’s also shopping fellow actress Pamela Anderson’s Sonsie skin care line, saying the “Baywatch” icon “makes a really nice lip balm that I like to travel with.”
But while many of her beauty staples are relatively affordable, Rutherford still has an eye for the finer things in life — particularly when it comes to Hermès. (She’s even earned the nickname “Birkin mom” online, thanks to her love of the luxury brand.)
Many pieces from her extensive personal collection even made cameos onscreen in “Gossip Girl,” as the show had trouble sourcing sought-after designer items.
“At the time when we started, there was no RealReal or Vestiaire,” she said. “With certain things, you just couldn’t find them everywhere like you can today. So I just pulled in a few of my things here and there.”
And years later — just as many fans return to the show again and again — Rutherford is ready to hit replay on some of Lily’s most iconic looks.
“It was how many years ago, and it’s still pretty relevant,” she said. “There’s so many things I loved on the show; so many good [outfits].”
And if you’re hoping to channel Rutherford and Van der Woodsen’s luxurious aesthetic in 2026, rest assured there’s no wrong way to do so — take it from the quiet luxury queen herself.
“There really are no mistakes,” she told us. “Fashion is one of those beautiful things that just keeps evolving as you do.”
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