Beth Hutchens Wants to Bring Kook Back Into Fashion

What qualifies as an heirloom is deeply personal—and few know that better than Beth Hutchens. In her sunlit FoundRae Soho office, with its wide-brim windows flooding the room with light, Beth admires a ‘70s bird sculpture and an elephant made of wood and seashells she casually picks up off her coffee table. “Anthony Redmile made them in the seventies, and I’ve always been into it,” she tells me. It’s a small glimpse into how Hutchens artfully curates her home and workspace with cherished pieces.

The designer is widely known for her creative energy, but those who know her backstory also register her keen business sense. At just 23, she launched the popular contemporary label Rebecca Taylor with $40,000, making deals from a pay phone in the Chase bank lobby on Seventh Avenue and 40th Street. She initially thought her entire career would be spent at the brand. “I hadn’t really thought it all the way through—I expected to feel older by then. So, when I was 40, we sold the business, and I stayed on as CEO for a while. But I just wasn’t done yet—I had so much more to live and learn.”

Without any concrete business plan, she pivoted directions, left Rebecca Taylor, and launched her next project—FoundRae. This new label was both a creative and spiritual exploration, inspired by her passion for vintage jewelry and her habit of finding and transforming pieces into her own unique creations. Her goal was simple: maintain a small, dedicated team while offering people jewelry that tells a story—just as hers did. The brand’s premise was meant to be intimate and customizable from the get-to, blending symbols from various cultures and eras to inspire self-expression and discovery "based on where you are now or where you see yourself going," Hutchens explains.

Ten years after her first trunk show at Barney’s in September 2015, FoundRae is now a household name in fashion and a favorite among seasoned jewelry lovers and celebrities. Hutchens has grown her business from a small team into a coveted brand with two boutiques in New York City, one in Los Angeles, and a new store in Miami’s buzzy Design District.

Ahead, we chat more about Hutchens's love for learning, her evolving personal style, and her quest to break fashion's cookie-cutter mold.

Marie Claire: How would you describe your dressing style?

Beth Hutchens: I've always really liked mixing things up. I remember when we were in our twenties, and Rebecca [Taylor] asked, "How would you describe your style?" I said, "Classic," and she literally started laughing and rolling on the floor. So, I’d probably say eclectic. But I really meant that I love pieces I can keep in my wardrobe forever. I have a coat I've had since I was 15—a leopard coat from the sixties.

I also sleep in my jewelry—the only thing that changes daily is my necklaces. My bracelets, rings, and earrings are with me every day. Even if I had to run outside naked, I'd still wear jewelry. I slowly add one piece every four months, sometimes taking something off or adding another. I primarily wear FoundRae, antique and vintage pieces, and some by young designers. I sometimes remake vintage jewelry, keeping the past alive with a modern twist.

MC: Do you have a uniform?

BH: I love designer clothes. Today, I'm wearing Gucci pants, but then I mix them up. I usually wear vintage, although I went through a brief period when I was scared to wear it. I had a woman I really admired, and in my late twenties, I’d always show up at her office wearing vintage. She’d say, "I love what you're wearing," and I’d reply, "Oh, it's vintage." Then she'd say, "When you get to my age, you can't wear vintage because it just looks like it’s been in your closet for that long." But I genuinely love and wear vintage all the time, so I had to get over that and realize I like it, so I'm wearing it.

And I love designers who mix in vintage fabrics. There’s just something about Gucci—it always feels tongue-in-cheek to me. They probably don’t intend it to be, but somehow, it feels slightly campy. I like wearing it because it’s not trying to be subtle in a funny way. I also love Bode and Chloé.

MC: What's a style adage that you're not into?

BH: Definitely, “less is more.” I also wish people would take more risks and reflect something they truly like, even if it’s not a hundred percent tasteful. There are too many filters in this world on many levels. I just wish we could feel more empowered to be individualistic and less afraid of how we're seen in each other’s eyes. It seems to influence so many people to look exactly the same.

MC: Are there any fashion or cultural moments that are inspiring you?

BH: I feel like inspiration abounds everywhere you look. It’s less about being in some special place and more about opening your eyes to what’s around you. I’m constantly inspired by art, what I see from others, conversations, and books. I love craft and any artisanship. I’m very inspired by other makers in different disciplines and by seeing how I could apply their techniques or knowledge to our collection.

MC: Are you reading anything that's doing that right now?

BH: I'm rereading a book I've read quite a few times—Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. I’m working on a new protection symbol for the fall, and this book is really relevant to that. I like to immerse myself in a symbol and the tenet I'm considering.

MC: What role does jewelry play in your philosophies?

BH: I purposely design classic jewelry because I want my pieces to last a lifetime and feel familiar. I don’t want them to be trend-oriented; I want them passed on to the next generation—pieces that evolve with you.

In our Have You Met series, we get to know stylish creatives, changemakers, and founders.