Sports Reporter Laura Rutledge Outfits That Totally Missed The Mark

Laura Rutledge is one of the most fashionable sports reporters there is. The former pageant queen turned ESPN personality has nailed everything from the sandwich method of styling to fabulous monochromatic 'fits (which are perfect even for the laziest days) and she regularly dazzles in very bold looks. But even with such an impressive outfit portfolio, Rutledge hasn't always scored a touchdown in the style stakes because her penchant for taking fashion risks has gotten the better of her. And not just once.

What in the hell is Laura Rutledge wearing? She look like a sexy tomato. pic.twitter.com/jZlQbMZb4y

— DNP Sports (@notthefakeDNP) January 22, 2025

So many of Rutledge's ensembles have gotten people talking, including the striking, red top, hosiery, and boots combo she sported with a black, leather-look, pleated mini skirt while on-air in January 2025. "What in the hell is Laura Rutledge wearing?" one viewer asked on X, likening the star to a tomato alongside a shot of her in the sports studio. Ouch. But that's certainly not Rutledge's only outfit that missed the mark.

Laura Rutledge tried a fun monochrome moment in a summer 2025 Instagram post but, unfortunately, the bottoms let the look down. The bold, blue, baggy pants were wrinkled all over, which (although it happens to the best of us) ruined her aesthetic and made her outfit look unkempt. Equally, the bottoms were so long we couldn't even see her left foot. Not only can that be a trip hazard, the star was posing outside, so risked ripping and dirtying the hems.

Laura Rutledge attended the 2025 GQ Bowl in a boxy torso dress that didn't flatter her shape. The cream number had black edges and a basque waist, but the skirt had too much volume and bulk around her hips, hiding her enviable figure. Though she kept her footwear simple with understated black open toes, the star overdid it with her accessories, too. The sports reporter wore multiple bangles on her right wrist, a watch and bangles on her left wrist, and chunky, hoop earrings, which were all competing for attention.

Though Laura Rutledge's Britney Spears-esque look was chic and fun from the front, it didn't give her the most flattering silhouette. In a snap shared to Instagram showing the TV personality posing to the side, the cut-off grey sweater and white shirt combo stuck out and created a large gap between her waist and her clothing. If we were her stylist, we'd have suggested pairing the same sweater with a more form-fitting top tucked into her leather miniskirt to better suit her shape.

Considering Laura Rutledge has had so many fashion wins, her purple dress and tall footwear was a misstep. In a 2024 Instagram upload, she wore a long-sleeve, ruched, deep purple dress, but the material looked cheap and thin (look closely and you can see the top of her boot). She took a risk pairing it with black, thigh-high boots, but it didn't pay off. Covering her legs and arms aged her and made the 'fit look frumpy. A simple, nude court shoe would have been sleeker and more professional.

In 2023, Laura Rutledge told her Instagram followers she was going for "'70s vibes" with her silky paisley shirt, skin-tight pleather leggings, and shiny, black, thigh-thigh boots. But none of the pieces worked together. The hippie-esque top would have better suited high-waisted, flared jeans — one of the hottest '70s fashion trends. To top it off, the mismatch of textures on the super shiny bottoms and slightly less shiny footwear meant each piece was competing for attention rather than creating a cohesive look.

Back in 2016, Laura Rutledge shared an Instagram upload showing her in a short, waterfall dress with tights and one of her favorite pieces of footwear — thigh-high boots. But the loose, black garment and flat, green boots looked way too casual as she posed alongside two men — including "The Bachelor" host Jesse Palmer — who both looked sharp in suits. This was a case of wrong place wrong time, as the 'fit could have worked had she swapped the hosiery for light blue jeans and worn it to a less formal occasion.

Laura Rutledge brought serious shine and sparkle to the ESPN set in 2022 and posted the proof on Instagram. But her black-and-white blazer top, leather-look leggings, and glittery boots combo felt like too much for a day at work. The bedazzled stilettos were more appropriate for a club or the stage than the workplace, and all three bold pieces together were distracting and attention grabbing considering her co-stars were dressed in more casual suits and sneakers.

In 2022, Laura Rutledge was ahead of the game with the coquette trend, but her look just missed the mark. She wore white, lace tights with pointed toe heels featuring a bow under a lilac blazer dress. But the white on white didn't flatter her proportions. The fastening around her ankles made her look shorter than she actually is, and the embellishments were too much alongside the patterned hosiery. This dress looked more far more chic when she ditched tights and wore it with white sneakers later that year.

Though Laura Rutledge's lack of fear around experimenting with color is admirable, there was too much of it in one of her 2024 studio outfits. In an Instagram photo, the fashionista wore a long, bright yellow sweater dress with a tall slit plus bright blue, thigh-high, pointed-toe boots. She'd also painted her nails bright red, but the trio of bold primary colors totally clashed. Each daring piece would have worked better if it was paired with more neutral garments, such as the blue boots alongside a black dress or the yellow garment with nude heels.