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“Wear What You Want” Icon: Cate Blanchett

April 13, 2011 by WendyB

Actress Cate Blanchett has become known for her bold fashion choices. I think we’d all be surprised if she turned up at an event looking merely “pretty.”

Embed from Getty Images

The couture gown by Givenchy that Blanchett wore to this February’s Oscars was no exception.

Embed from Getty Images

I didn’t love that dress in an “I want to wear it” way, but I respected it. And I did love what Blanchett said about the dress to InStyle last week:

“People get so worried about dressing for other people, but you’ve got to wear what you like,” Blanchett said. “If people get it, they get it. If they don’t, then it doesn’t matter. There are so few houses that can afford to do couture, and since the red carpet is such a wonderful showcase, we should be celebrating that.”

That makes Cate Blanchett my second Wear What You Want icon. The first was Helena Bonham Carter, of course. Can’t beat a woman who wears mismatching shoes. Feel free to post links to your favorite Blanchett looks in the comments.

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Filed Under: Celebrities, wear what you want, Wear What You Want icon

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Aja says

    April 13, 2011 at 12:31 am

    I just love her. Equal parts gorgeous and talented. And yes, I know I can always count on her to wear something out of the norm. And thank god, Hollywood can be so boring sometimes.

  2. Ofelia says

    April 13, 2011 at 12:32 am

    Wendy, I’m with you on Cate! She is an extraordinary actor, she keeps her private life private and she has a style of her own.
    I simple adore her; I’ve seen all, all of her movies!

  3. stacy says

    April 13, 2011 at 12:46 am

    Cate… she can do no wrong. Her Oscar dress got trashed by lots, but I loved it. And it was different… thank God!

  4. Susan Tiner says

    April 13, 2011 at 12:52 am

    Even as a total dufus of fashion, I appreciated the architectural structure of that dress. I tried expressing this at an oscar party with friends but only my English friend agreed. All others were either making disparaging comments.

  5. Eli says

    April 13, 2011 at 1:48 am

    I actually loved the “toilet seat” dress, as others referred to it. I think it’s stunning

  6. Sheila says

    April 13, 2011 at 2:17 am

    I just (like, half an hour ago) finished watching her as Maid Marian in the recent “Robin Hood” and was just saying how I love her style. It’s like you read my mind!

    I liked this yellow dress. http://www.marieclaire.com/cm/marieclaire/images/8J/Cate-Blanchett-wi-med.jpg

    I’m a sucker for yellow.

  7. StefM says

    April 13, 2011 at 2:23 am

    LOVE her. Bold and daring and always, always, always a shining star. Too many favorite looks…. But how about going back in time for this one (when John G. didn’t offend)? http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/fashion/celebrity-fashion/2010/01/18/red-carpet-best-dressed#!image-number=25 Best of all: I love hummingbirds.

  8. Emily Britton says

    April 13, 2011 at 2:52 am

    I love both of them

  9. Helen F says

    April 13, 2011 at 5:11 am

    I love her and her style choices. It’s always nice to see something other than strapless, grecian, blah blah blah..

  10. The Style Crone says

    April 13, 2011 at 8:09 am

    Yes, wear what you want! Cate has courage and that in and of itself speaks to me.

  11. eric says

    April 13, 2011 at 8:26 am

    Cate has both hypnotically light beautiful eyes and a great fashion sense. Will she be wearing any of your jewelry in the upcoming ‘Hobbit’ film?

  12. Christine says

    April 13, 2011 at 8:45 am

    I loved her Oscar dress. She always looks fantastic. Excellent choice for your second “Wear What you Want” icon.

    I’m still bitter she lost the Oscar to Gwyneth Paltrow, a Who Cares What She Wears icon.

    Cate is by far the better actor.

  13. Elissa says

    April 13, 2011 at 9:15 am

    I’m so glad you featured Cate. I have always admired her fearless approach to style. She always looks regal and gorgeous, and in a sea of professional styled actresses and starlets she always stands out.

  14. Madeleine Gallay says

    April 13, 2011 at 9:21 am

    Style transcends fashion and her beauty, along with Tilda Swinton, is so genuine.

    I think that she should give you the leopard McQueen immediately.

  15. Leah says

    April 13, 2011 at 9:39 am

    She definitely walks to the beat of her own drum. She looks beautiful no matter what she’s wearing.

    xo L.

  16. Rebecca says

    April 13, 2011 at 11:09 am

    Cate Blanchett is always stunning.

  17. Alice Olive says

    April 13, 2011 at 11:18 am

    Aww, my anti-spam word is ‘blessyou’. So, bless you, WendyB!

    Love Cate. From the start, she has made bold choices and clearly enjoys the art of fashion. Brava!

  18. qin says

    April 13, 2011 at 11:18 am

    that last gown looks AMAZING on her.

  19. Tanvi says

    April 13, 2011 at 11:41 am

    I do respect her philosophy! And she doesnt really go all ‘lady gaga’ on us, just a little unconventional, which I think I like and appreciate.

    ♡ from © tanvii.com

  20. K-Line says

    April 13, 2011 at 12:00 pm

    I’m curious to know your choice for Wear WhatYou Want North American…

  21. The Styley says

    April 13, 2011 at 12:17 pm

    I love her dress at the Oscars. Like you, I can’t imagine it on me, but I wholeheartedly appreciated the effort.

  22. mystyle says

    April 13, 2011 at 12:23 pm

    Hi my dear-I love both dresses, they are so unique and Cate always pulls off unusual looks with style and grace x

  23. Smashingbird says

    April 13, 2011 at 1:20 pm

    I do love her, she is fabbbb. Was soo pleased to see her in the Givenchy, that whole collection was just beautiful.

  24. featherfactor says

    April 13, 2011 at 2:11 pm

    I love Cate. She has such incredible taste and is such a risk taker but looks good in everything she chooses.

  25. nadia says

    April 13, 2011 at 2:37 pm

    Cate is one of my favorite actresses . shes extremely elegant and has old school glamour ,.

  26. Vegetable Assassin says

    April 13, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    I love Cate! She puts all those stylist dressed, boringly similar starlets and celebrities to shame. She’s funky and quirky and even if you don’t agree with her choices always, she’s memorable in a sea of mediocrity.

  27. Megan Mae says

    April 13, 2011 at 4:15 pm

    I love both dresses. I remember that purple one being bashed and I was astounded. It’s so unique and different. I totally feel in love with the structure and flowy bottom.

  28. The Seeker says

    April 13, 2011 at 5:18 pm

    We all should follow her advice!!

    xoxo

  29. Fashionistable says

    April 13, 2011 at 5:26 pm

    She is so wonderful. I agree with what you said about the 2nd dress but then I love her comment. Rock on. Xxxx

  30. Marian says

    April 13, 2011 at 9:20 pm

    I LOVE THIS WOMAN! I am convinced i do because of that quote on wearing what you want and if people get it, they get it! been my mantra since high school.

    Love this post Wend!
    xoxo
    Marian.

  31. Marian says

    April 13, 2011 at 9:20 pm

    p.s love that she embraces Couture and supports the industry

  32. Ana says

    April 14, 2011 at 2:29 am

    I loved her dress that night and she is one smart lady. These actresses have the finances and access to couture/stylists, yet they choose to wear different variations on the same old prom dress.

  33. Emma at Daily Clothes Fix says

    April 14, 2011 at 2:29 am

    So true. I love her boldness and how she doesn’t mind what other people think. It’s a celebration of clothes and expressing yourself and that’s how it should be.

  34. Penny Dreadful Vintage says

    April 14, 2011 at 8:55 am

    She is a joy. I loved the crochet dress she wore to an opening in Sydeny a few years ago.

  35. Bella Q says

    April 15, 2011 at 12:29 am

    Cate Blanchett is one of the few celebrities I get excited over- I’m not much a celebrity follower but I love her- talent, beauty and real style is aces in my book. I love the way she presents herself- cool as a cucumber and fearless in her choices.

  36. Miss Conduct says

    April 15, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    Two things: 1. You don’t hear Cate whinging about what a terrible tragedy it is that she hasn’t died yet, i.e., actresses complaining about how “hard” ageing is; and

    2. GFY and other humorous fashion critique sites, having lost novelty, have now become instruments for women to attempt to enforce conformity of dress on other women. Those who step out of line by wearing something slightly different than what every other woman wore are ruthlessly punished. Why would anyone willingly participate in this? Let’s hear it for fearless chicks!

    • WendyB says

      April 15, 2011 at 1:31 pm

      I’m with you on Go Fug Yourself. Funny at first, way past its prime. In fact, I was over it in 2007 when I started this blog with the motto “Wear what you want.” http://wendybrandes.com/blog/2008/01/middle-of-next-blog/

      But aging IS hard. Saying it’s better than the alternative doesn’t make me want to kiss every new gray hair 😉

  37. Elizabeth says

    April 16, 2011 at 9:04 pm

    I’m with you on both of these.

    But we must consider Cher. Maybe we don’t love her choices, but it can certainly be argued that she wears what she wants.

  38. That's Not My Age says

    April 18, 2011 at 12:50 pm

    I like your wear what you want icons – and admire their attitude towards style. How about Viviene Westwood?

  39. fashion herald says

    April 18, 2011 at 3:24 pm

    One of my favorite Cate looks is the gold-spangled Balenciaga she wore at 2007 Met Ball. The best photo is WWD, but here’s a style.com: http://bit.ly/eLHYyl
    Also, every one of her pregnant looks, sheez she must have been most stylish pregnant woman ever.

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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