Cate Blanchett is a Hollywood A-lister that has walked many a red carpet in her time. Regularly up for Oscars, Golden Globes and other major awards, the Tár star is no stranger to a designer moment and has plenty of incredible fashion moments in her past (and, we’re sure, in her future).
Take a look at some of Cate Blanchett’s best fashion moments over the years, as we track her style evolution from young Australian actress breaking into Hollywood to bonafide movie star.
BAFTA Awards, 2000
One of Cate Blanchett’s first red carpets was the 2000 BAFTAs, and she made her mark in this sequin and sheer-panelled slip dress with t-bar Mary Jane heels.
Golden Globe Awards, 2001
While this pinstripe suit is definitely a product of the early 2000s, Cate Blanchett’s cherry red lip and turquoise earrings teamed with a sleek bun made it work (and you just know we all would have searched for wide leg pinstripe pants after seeing this).
Orange British Academy Film Awards, 2005
Blanchett often opts for simple, timeless shapes when it comes to red carpet fashion looks. This champagne-hued gown has aged beautifully since its appearance almost twenty years ago.
Academy Awards, 2005
One of Blanchett’s most memorable red carpet gowns, this Valentino piece saw her land on many a best dressed list for the 2005 Oscars. You could even say it tipped the actor into ‘movie star’ territory.
The Met Gala, 2007
A standout fashion moment for Cate Blanchett was this fringed gown at the 2007 Met Gala. It’s fairly understated for the annual event, but remains one of her most beautiful looks of all time.
‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age’ Premiere, 2007
This 70s kaftan fashion moment is one of Cate Blanchett’s brightest, but it’s also one of our favourites. The colour is incredible, the design walking the line between minimalist and striking, and as always, Blanchett’s team have paired it with understated hair and makeup to let the outfit shine.
Paris Fashion Week, 2009
At the Giorgio Armani Privé show for Paris Fashion Week 2009, Cate Blanchett explored structure – something the star began experimenting with in the late 00s and continues to embrace to this day.
Academy Awards, 2011
At the time, this Givenchy gown was fairly polarising, but as the years have passed it’s ended up on many best dressed of all time lists.
Blue Jasmine Premiere, 2013
Again, Cate Blanchett chooses the clash of feminine details with sleek structure – here in Balenciaga, this kind of contrast has become a Blanchett signature for red carpet style.
BFI London Film Festival, 2015
This Esteban Cortazar dress – worn by Blanchett for the screening of Carol at the BFI London Film Festival – is dark and moody compared to some of the actor’s other gowns work through the 2010s. The wave-like sleeves and shimmering train were a red carpet hit, however.
Academy Awards, 2016
Another of Cate Blanchett’s most loved red carpet fashion moments. An Armani Privé gown with 3D applique blooms and, as aways, teamed with pared-back hair and makeup, if Blanchett wasn’t already classified as a Hollywood screen siren, she was after this appearance.
Venice Film Festival, 2018
This dress lives rent-free in our heads. A complete knockout appearance for Cate Blanchett at the Suspiria screening, once again it’s Armani Privé – representative of the actor’s close relationship with the fashion house. “He’s the master of authentic and natural sophistication. His clothes are always sensual but pared down,” she told Us Weekly at the time. “And I feel like myself in them. I never feel like the gown is wearing me.”
Venice Film Festival, 2018
Did Cate Blanchett upstage Lady Gaga at the A Star Is Born premiere in this impeccable Armani Privé gown? Almost – the swathes of velvet, 80s-inspired sweetheart neckline and soft, feathered cape saw this dress go down in history as one of the star’s best red carpet looks.
Venice Film Festival, 2019
Armani Privé proves to be a consistent win for Cate Blanchett – this tiered gown was worn by the star to the Joker premiere and garnered plenty of attention from fashion editors and paparazzi alike.
Goya Cinema Awards, 2022
This fashion moment is probably one of Cate Blanchett’s sexiest red carpet looks, and one of her best from 2022 – again, Armani Privé.
Cate Blanchett made a welcome appearance on the film festival circuit to promote Tár, and proved that she has the red carpet presence only the most respected of Hollywood stars has. The detail on this otherwise minimalist jumpsuit (a Schiaparelli design, no less) turns it into wearable art – a signature of the fashion house in its current iteration.