REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

Every Time Cate Blanchett Has Reworn a Red Carpet Look

by Carolyn Twersky
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cate blanchett rewears
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As Cate Blanchett’s longtime stylist, Elizabeth Stewart, once said, “It’s chic to repeat.” And boy did she mean it. While some celebrities will reuse a look once or twice throughout their red carpet career, Blanchett is constantly digging in her archives to bring back her best looks for another go around. From the gorgeous lace Armani Privé dress from the 2014 Golden Globes to the Alexander McQueen suit with satin blue sleeves from her Where’d You Go, Bernadette press tour in 2019, Blanchett has given so many pieces a new life by wearing them for a second appearance. Back in 2020, she went all in on the rewears for the Venice Film Festival, brining along upwards of four looks we’d already seen before. But we’re not complaining. In fact, more celebrities should take note—not every event needs a new dress, and some of these pieces deserve more time in the spotlight. In fact, there are a few of Blanchett’s greatest hits we’d love see on the red carpet again (the one-shoulder periwinkle Jean Paul Gaultier gown she wore to the Oscars in 2005 comes to mind). So while we wait to see which old look Blanchett breathes new life into next, check out every time the actress has embraced chic repeats over the years.

Cannes Film Festival, 2018; Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2024 Show, 2023

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Many of Blanchett’s best rewears over the years have been courtesy of Sarah Burton’s Alexander McQueen, so it makes sense that Blanchett would bring another one out for the designer’s final show for the brand. This look initially debuted as a dress on the Cannes red carpet in 2018, the year Blanchett acted as jury president at the film festival. Five and a half years later, she brought it back as a jumpsuit in order to sit front row at Burton’s farewell show for McQueen.

Palm Springs International Film Festival, 2023; Giorgio Armani Spring/Summer 2024 Show, 2023

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The first time Blanchett wore this studded, low-cut Giorgio Armani caped jumpsuit, she attended the Palm Springs Film Festival back in January 2023. Nine months later, she pulled it out again for the brand’s Milan Fashion Week show. The actress opted to style the jumpsuit fairly similarly each time, with minimal accessories, though she did trade out a pair of black pumps for pointed-toe boots the second time around.

Screen Actors Guild Awards, 2023; Fragrance Foundation Awards, 2023

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The dress Blanchett wore to the 2023 Fragrance Foundation Awards in NYC was the fourth iteration of an Armani Privé look she has worn in the past, which might be a record for the rewear queen. It began as a black lace gown, which the actress wore to the Golden Globes in 2014 and again at Cannes in 2018 before cutting it up to create the sequin number she donned for this year’s SAG Awards. Just four months later, Blanchett brought it out again, swapping the lace under layer for a colorful diamond-patterned piece from the Privé spring/summer 2023 show.

TÁR Screening, 2022; Time Gala, 2023

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Blanchett initially wore this suit from the Alexandre Vaulthier fall/winter 2022 haute couture collection to a screening of TÁR back in October 2022. Just a few months later and she pulled the double-breasted short sleeve jacket out again. This time, though, she ditched the turtleneck underneath and paired it with a slimmer, cropped pant. And if that necklace looks familiar to you, that’s because it’s the same strand of Louis Vuitton pearls Blanchett just wore with her Maison Margiela rewear at the BAFTAs.

Cannes Film Festival, 2018; Film Independent Spirit Awards, 2023

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For the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards, Blanchett reached into her archives for this cape sleeve, asymmetric black stripe satin suit with blue piping from Loewe’s fall/winter 2018 collection, which she originally wore in Cannes back in 2018.

Ocean’s 8 Press Tour, 2018; Sparks “The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte” Music Video, 2023

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Blanchett’s rewears extend beyond the red carpet. When the actress popped up in the music video for Sparks’ new single, “The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte,” she was wearing a familiar, bright yellow suit. Blanchett originally donned the Stella McCartney set during the Ocean’s 8 press tour back in 2018, and brought it out again to live out her video girl fantasy.

Golden Globe Awards, 2014; Cannes Film Festival, 2018; Screen Actors Guild Awards, 2023

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If this Armani Privé dress looked familiar, it’s because Blanchett has worn it not once, not twice, but three times. Well, technically she wore it twice before the Armani team took the lace from the original dress and re-purposed it as an under layer for this sequin-covered gown the actress wore to the 2023 SAG Awards.

Cannes Film Festival, 2014 and Berlin Film Festival, 2023

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Blanchett brought back this Givenchy spring 2018 haute couture dress with a tiered rainbow skirt for the premiere of TÁR at the Berlin Film Festival. The first time she wore it, for the Blackkklansman premiere at Cannes in 2018, she showed off the velvet waistband originally shown on the runway. This, time, though, the actress opted for a large, black leather belt.

TÁR UK Premiere, 2023 and Berlin Film Festival, 2023

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Just a month after Blanchett wore this pink lurex velvet Alexandre Vauthier haute couture top with a matching column skirt to the TÁR premiere in London, she pulled it out just a few months later for an event at the Berlin Film Festival. Of course, paired with black vinyl trousers, the top allows for a much more casual look.

Academy Awards, 2015 and BAFTA Awards, 2023

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When it came to updating this Maison Margiela couture gown for the 2023 BAFTAs, Blanchett opted to add a bit more structure to the shoulders and swap out the turquoise floral bib necklace by Tiffany & Co for strings of Louis Vuitton pearls.

Where’d You Go, Bernadette Screening, 2019 and London Critics' Circle Film Awards, 2023

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Apparently, Blanchett decided she knocked it out of the park the first time she wore this Alexander McQueen fall 2019 suit with electric blue satin sleeves, so she styled it exactly the same way for her second wear.

Venice Film Festival, 2020 and Governors Awards, 2022

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It’s hard to forget about this Alexander McQueen spring 2020, so when Blanchett wore it out again for the Governors Awards last year, we instantly recognized it from Venice in 2020. It seems the only difference she made for her second wear was lengthening the skirt and pinning the left side of the blazer to her waistline.

The House With A Clock In Its Walls Photocall, 2018 and Venice Film Festival, 2020

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Blanchett pulled out this Acne suit featuring a jacket with an embroidered lapel during the Venice Film Festival two years after she wore it with a matching embroidered, cream button down for a photocall at the Rome Film Fest.

New York City, 2019 and Venice Film Festival, 2020

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We can’t blame Blanchett for wearing this blue tie dye Triple RRR drop crotch jumpsuit twice. It looks like the perfect, comfy casual piece.

BAFTA Awards, 2016 and Venice Film Festival, 2020

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One of Blanchett’s best rewears to date, the actress took the intricately embroidered Alexander McQueen top she wore to the 2016 BAFTAs with a feather-covered skirt, and paired it with wide-leg trousers for a red carpet in Venice four years later.

BFI London Film Festival, 2015 and Venice Film Festival 2020

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The first time we saw this caped Esteban Cortazar spring 2016 dress was at the premiere for Carol at the BFI London Film Festival, but Blannchett loved the look so much, she brought it back in 2020, this time pairing it with a Pomellato necklace. Blanchett went on to donate the gown to an auction at the Venice Film Festival, with the proceeds going to U.N. Women and Facing History and Ourselves.

Giorgio Armani Event, 2014 and Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Awards, 2019

Donato Sardella/Getty Images for Giorgio Armani/Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images

The second time Blanchett wore this colorful, beaded Armani Privé fall 2012 jumpsuit, she opted to let her hair down and cinch it with a belt.

New York Film Festival, 2015 and American Film Institute's 46th Life Achievement Award Gala, 2018

Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images/Rich Fury/Getty Images

No, Blanchett doesn’t have a body covered with tattoos that she’s been hiding all these years, she just wore this cool, trompe l'oeil dress by Parisian designer Yacine Aouadi on two separate occasions.

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