Regal in Plum: Kelly Rutherford Pairs Patrick McDowell Tailoring With René Caovilla’s Jewelry-Like Pumps

On September 19, 2026, Kelly Rutherford brought her polished approach to fashion week dressing to Patrick McDowell’s show at Yeomanry House during London Fashion Week. The rich plum Patrick McDowell coat dress gave her look a stately quality, while sparkling René Caovilla pumps introduced a lighter, jewelry-like finish.

Standing 5’8” (172.7 cm) and wearing a US women’s shoe size 10, Rutherford has a natural affinity for elegant pumps. She has previously worn Dior Sweet-D pointed-toe slingbacks with a classic cream skirt suit, but her crystal-and-pearl René Caovilla heels took the silhouette in a much more decorative direction.

Kelly Rutherford pairs a plum Patrick McDowell coat dress with sparkling René Caovilla slingback pumps at the Patrick McDowell show during London Fashion Week at Yeomanry House on September 19, 2026 (Credit: Yui Mok / PA Images / INSTARimages)

Kelly Rutherford Wears Sparkling René Caovilla Pumps

Rutherford wore René Caovilla’s Pearl White Slingback pumps, made in Italy from lightweight tulle mesh. The sheer construction worked especially well with such elaborate embellishment, allowing the shoes to retain a delicate appearance despite being densely decorated.

If you love the look, shop René Caovilla’s Pearl White collection, where the similar Pearl White Slingback 80 retails for $1,660 and the lower-heeled Pearl White Mule 60 is $1,280.

Hand-applied rhinestone crystals and pearls covered Rutherford’s pointed-toe uppers, catching the light without obscuring the underlying mesh. An elasticated slingback strap secured each shoe around the heel. For more on how this construction differs from other pumps, our guide to pumps and slingback heels explains the defining features of the open-backed silhouette.

Set on approximately 3-inch heels, the pumps added height while remaining relatively restrained in proportion. René Caovilla’s glittering Stardust soles provided another signature detail underneath.

Crystal-covered slingbacks are also part of the Italian label’s broader design vocabulary. Sarah Jessica Parker has worn René Caovilla crystal-embellished pointed-toe slingbacks with 4.25-inch stilettos, offering a more dramatic interpretation of the same combination of sparkle, pointed toes, and an open back.

A closer look at Kelly Rutherford’s René Caovilla Pearl White slingback pumps, featuring sheer tulle mesh covered in hand-applied pearls and rhinestone crystals (Credit: Yui Mok / PA Images / INSTARimages)

Kelly Rutherford Embraces Tailored Style in Patrick McDowell

Rutherford paired the ornate pumps with a structured plum coat dress from Patrick McDowell. The double-breasted design featured jeweled flower-shaped buttons running down the front, adding a decorative element that subtly echoed the sparkle of her shoes.

Broad, lightly padded shoulders and sharp peak lapels gave the upper half a tailored structure, while seams through the bodice defined Rutherford’s waist. The silhouette then opened into a calf-length skirt, balancing the stronger shoulder line with a softer shape below.

The pointed slingbacks also fit an established pattern in Rutherford’s fashion-week wardrobe. At Patou’s Fall/Winter 2026 presentation in Paris, she chose metallic silver pointed-toe pumps with structured slingback straps, pairing them with a belted plaid coat and black tights.

Kelly Rutherford showcases Patrick McDowell’s tailored plum coat dress, detailed with sharp peak lapels, structured shoulders, and jeweled floral buttons, at the designer’s London Fashion Week show (Credit: Yui Mok / PA Images / INSTARimages)

Kelly Rutherford Adds a Playful Touch With a Crystal-Embellished Bag

Rutherford kept her jewelry restrained, wearing a delicate pendant necklace, bracelet, earrings, and rings. Her most noticeable accessory was a spherical silver evening bag suspended from a fine chain strap and covered with sparkling floral embellishments.

The bag worked particularly well with the René Caovilla pumps: rather than introducing another color or texture, its silver surface and floral crystals repeated the light-catching details already present at her feet and in the jeweled buttons of the coat dress.

She finished the look with her blonde hair pulled into a sleek, center-parted bun, leaving the coat dress neckline unobstructed. Soft, neutral makeup kept the focus on the rich plum tailoring and crystal accessories.

Kelly Rutherford finishes her Patrick McDowell look with a spherical silver evening bag covered in sparkling floral embellishments, along with delicate jewelry and a sleek center-parted bun (Credit: Yui Mok / PA Images / INSTARimages)

Why Celebrities Love René Caovilla’s Crystal Shoes

Rutherford’s pearl-and-crystal slingbacks fit naturally into René Caovilla’s long tradition of treating evening shoes like jewelry. Founded near Venice in 1928, the Italian house is known for handmade footwear finished with crystals, pearls, glittering soles, and elaborate ankle details.

That approach is especially recognizable in the iconic René Caovilla Cleo sandal. Inspired by an ancient Roman coiled bracelet, its crystal-covered serpentine strap wraps around the ankle like jewelry. Over the years, Tinashe, Mabel McVey, Victoria Justice, Halsey, Alessandra Ambrosio, Bella Hadid, Miley Cyrus, and Gal Gadot have all been associated with the style.

Rutherford’s slingbacks offer a more restrained interpretation of the same idea. Instead of crystals spiraling dramatically around the ankle, pearls and rhinestones cover the sheer pointed-toe pumps, letting the embellishment make the statement while the silhouette stays classic.