Kell on Earth: If You Have To Cry, Go Outside
The 2000s were a different time, to say the very least.
The Great Recession was in full swing, and Bravo was serving up a steady diet of reality television gold with shows like Tabitha’s Takeover and Real Housewives of NYC, while Tim Gunn was urging designers to "make it work" on Project Runway. Street style and bloggers were in full swing, and every morning started with an RSS feed check-in to catch the latest runway-inspired DIY — long before the term "dupes" entered our lexicon.
One standout, a one-season wonder that Bravo delivered — and has stayed with me for 15 years — is Kell on Earth. The show followed Kelly Cutrone, founder of the PR agency People’s Revolution, as she navigated the chaos of Fashion Week in New York and London in 2009. Kelly’s no-nonsense, take-no-prisoners approach to leadership was on full display in this eight-episode, behind-the-scenes look at the world of public relations. From writing press releases to managing the guest lists and seating assignments at runway shows, to acting as the liaison for American media at London Fashion Week, viewers were shown every gritty detail.
The season culminated with a creative campaign for DKNY’s Cozy Sweater, executed in true guerrilla style on the streets of Manhattan. It was cutting-edge for 2009, and nearly impossible to find online today. Thankfully, The Wall Street Journal still has the video archived for us.
New York’s gritty, tough environment embodies the "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere" mentality. People’s Revolution represents that ethos to the core — good, bad, and everything in between. The show also introduced us to Andrew Mukamal, Kelly’s assistant at the time, who has since become a brand consultant and fashion stylist to celebrity clients like Margot Robbie and the incredible Barbie press tour wardrobe. His goth-inspired details and Rick Owens fan behavior certainly left a mark.
From start to finish, Kell on Earth is a moment frozen in time, worth revisiting. In 2009, the age of influencers had yet to fully arrive, but even then, we got a glimpse of what was to come. In one early episode, the stepmother of Alix Earle makes a brief cameo as an industry gatecrasher post-scandal. In 2009, influence was a different animal — social media was still in its infancy. Watching this time capsule through a 2025 lens offers a wild ride of perspective.
WHERE TO WATCH: Amazon
XOXO,
Lauren