Chic and charming like Cate Blanchett: 15 secrets to style

Cate Blanchett is a queen of style. How does she manage to always be so impeccably chic without ever being corny?
Let's take a look to discover what makes her outfits so special and understand those little secrets that make the Australian actress an undisputed protagonist of style. (Even off-screen!)

You don't always need to use strong colors, glitter, and sequins to grab the eye. Cate Blanchett proved it to us at the Oscar ceremony in 2014, when she received the statuette for best actress for 'Blue Jasmine' wearing a (beautiful) n u d e dress signed by Armani Privé.

We saw the Australian actress in Venice in 2022 wearing a light blue pastel blouse-trousers outfit, again by Armani. But, mind you, it was certainly not just any outfit: the oversized blouse was embellished with graphic details and combined with wide trousers with a jewel button at the ankles, demonstrating, in any case, a decisive and marked attention to detail. So, yes pastel colors, but not dull!

Coco Chanel introduced a new concept of femininity into fashion and not only freed women from corsets and constraints but also led to a new awareness: for a successful look it is not necessary to "suffer" and, above all, millions of ornaments, laces, and frills are not always necessary. Cate is a living example of this. In this photo, she is wearing a black dress with a clean and decidedly chic line.

Another detail emerges when scrolling through Cate Blanchett's looks: the Australian actress always seems to feel comfortable with what she's wearing. When we talk about outfits and fashion, is of this is of primary importance. Wearing a beautiful dress in which, for whatever reason, we don't feel comfortable, would make us look... not quite as charming.

The color-blocking trend is a difficult art to master, which can lead to awkward results. Cate teaches us how to create a look with strong color contrasts and without messing it up. In this case, in a suit by DelPozo, her choice was to combine a neutral color, beige, with a strong color like blue, completing everything with a third color in contrast, a strong and bright orange, reserved only for some small details.

Perhaps there are no more mid-seasons, but surely a mid-length skirt is a must to be chic. Cate Blanchett loves midi or below-the-knee dresses and we had difficulty choosing just one for this gallery. Here you see the one worn by the actress during an episode of the US program 'Good Morning America' in 2015. Isn't she adorable?

And what about this shirt dress designed by Derek Lam? It is one of those dresses that could be a smart choice, especially for us mere mortals with a budget very different from that of a Hollywood star. Spend less frequently and choose a timeless dress that we can wear for a few years.

Cate Blanchett showed up on the red carpet of the 2023 SAG Awards wearing the same lace dress that she had already worn on two previous occasions: in 2014 at the Golden Globes and in 2018 at the Cannes Film Festival. Of course, the original dress was modified and 'updated'. Why not take an example from the Australian actress? Who knows how many things we have in our closet that could get a second chance just by changing a few details.

Being chic does not mean choosing a bon-ton look without personality and giving up your rockier or sensual side. Cate Blanchett proved it at the 2022 BAFTAs with this velvet dress (previously worn in 2015) by Maison Margiela. It has pronounced shoulder straps and frayed fabric hems. To complete it all, a necklace made of white and silver pearls signed by Louis Vuitton. Chic, rock, and with lots of personality.

From Cate Blanchett's red carpet comes another important pearl of wisdom: don't be afraid to challenge clichés. If the long evening dress is, in general, the most popular choice among celebrities, why not stand out from the rest by wearing a pant suit? And if it's a sober and a little boring, add a detail that dampens the monotony of the whole, like that expertly knotted black belt in the photo.

If we've found our style over the years, and if we really feel like ourselves wearing a certain dress or with a certain haircut, we don't necessarily have to change to follow the trend of the moment. Nowadays, Cate Blanchett looks very similar to her appearance in this photo from 2007.

Cate Blanchett is also known for her impeccable taste when it comes to choosing accessories, like the gorgeous sunglasses she's wearing in this photo taken at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018.

Whether it's a dress, make-up, hairstyle, or accessories, if Cate Blanchett takes a chance with one of them, she always contrasts the "excessive" detail with certain sobriety of the outfit as a whole. The touch of yellow in this wonderful lilac Givenchy Couture worn at the 2011 Oscars is an example: a witty hint in a decidedly ethereal and elegant look.

Ok, let's talk about "being unique" in a gallery where we take inspiration from the looks of a star. Isn't that a contradiction? Well, actually, our goal is not to go out and buy clothes similar to those of Cate Blanchett or to get the same haircut, but rather to understand the reasons behind the actress's stylistic choices and learn to make our own unique selections.

Cate's last secret and, in our opinion, the most important, is this: Have fun and play with fashion without taking yourself too seriously. Above all, don't worry about other people's comments.

We are not what we wear. However, even though fashion does not define us, it certainly allows us to express ourselves, leaving us the total freedom to choose whatever we want. And that is what matters most.