Hollywood is a high-stakes fashion game at the best of times, but in 2024—where the trend cycle is the formidable, fast-paced vortex that it is—it has become increasingly expected that stars keep reinventing the sartorial wheel.

Indeed, with awards season well and truly upon us, it is all the more necessary to nail the task of occasion-dressing without falling victim to the often-fraught space of the fashion retrospective (we’re looking at you, 2010’s). Some celebrities are beginning to turn to the archives of their favourite designers to pull off red-carpet glamour, but one Hollywood A-lister has been practising the art of archival dressing for years already. 

Outfit repeating is Cate Blanchett’s modus operandi. The New Boy actress has long been a staunch advocate of rewearing what you have, appearing on red carpets in designs taken from her own archive, to prove that outfit-repeating doesn’t have to be the fashion faux pas we’ve been convinced it is. Most recently she appeared on the AACTA red carpet in a sleek black Armani jumpsuit with an asymmetric gold sleeve. If the look feels retro, that’s because it is. Blanchett wore this same outfit six years ago to the Venice Film Festival, but then it was an off-the-runway dress from the Armani Privé autumn/winter '18/'19 collection. By reworking the original design Blanchett and her stylist Elizabeth Stewart, whose motto when it comes to the actress is the ever-quotable ‘it’s chic to repeat’, have shown that red carpet glamour doesn’t always have to be new to be exciting. Sometimes the most exciting looks are the ones we see over and again, with fresh, new details each time. After all, our own wardrobes (or wallets) can hardly sustain an endless cycle of constant new-ness. Blanchett’s red carpet style is the ultimate lesson in consulting our own archives so that we might always be the most glamorous version of ourselves.

Here’s every time Cate Blanchett proved that outfit repeating is chic.

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Armani Privé at the 2018 Venice Film Festival and the 2024 AACTA Awards

First worn by Blanchett as an off-the-runway Amarni Privé gown to the Suspiria premiere in 2018, the actress upcycled the look for this year’s AACTA red carpet—turning the dress into a chic jumpsuit while keeping the gold lurex one-shouldered detail that proves the '80s is always in.

Maison Margiela at the 2015 Oscars and 2023 BAFTAs

Blanchett wore the same Margiela gown that she attended the 2015 Oscars in to the 2023 BAFTAs, updating the look with a pearl Louis Vuitton necklace instead of the turquoise statement Tiffany & Co. piece that she originally paired it with.

Alexander McQueen at the 2019 Where’d You Go, Bernadette Screening and the 2023 London Critics Circle

The actress opted for this outré McQueen look twice now, proving that it always pays to make a (mutton-sleeve) statement.

Armani Privé at the 2014 Golden Globes and the 2018 Cannes Film Festival

This sheer lace Armani Privé gown proved just as striking the second time around, styled both times with a sleek, timeless up-do.

Armani Privé at the 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards and the 2023 Fragrance Foundation Awards

Paying homage to the previous Armani Privé number, Blanchett wore this sequined cutout Armani dress twice in the same year, updating the look with different sheer underlayers—one lace reworked from the original dress, and one mesh diamanté from the Armani Privé spring/summer 2023 collection.

Alexander McQueen at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival and the 2023 Alexander McQueen spring/summer 24 show 

Ever the Alexander McQueen fan, Blanchett pulled out this look she’d originally worn at Cannes Film Festival in 2018 for Sarah Burton’s final show for the brand.

Giorgio Armani at the 2023 Palm Springs International Film Festival and the 2023 Giorgio Armani spring/summer 24 show

This studded, caped jumpsuit made its re-appearance on Blanchett a few months after she debuted it at the Palm Springs International Film Festival with the same minimal accessorising—if it isn’t broken, why fix it?

Loewe at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival and the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards

One of the many looks Blanchett churned out at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival included this low-cut Loewe silk suit, which proved just as chic five years later on the Film Independent Spirit Awards red carpet.

Givenchy at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival and the 2023 Berlin Film Festival

Tiered, ombre Givenchy haute couture is a statement most would not be brave enough to wear even once, but Blanchett shows time and again that her style is not for the faint-hearted.

Alexander McQueen at the 2020 Venice Film Festival and the 2022 Governors Awards

This layered, tulle gown with gold appliqué, asymmetric sleeve and combined black blazer has graced the red carpet on Blanchett twice in the space of two years, proving that even the boldest look can be reworn.

Alexander McQueen at the 2016 BAFTA Awards and the 2020 Venice Film Festival

The queen of reworking strikes again—the intricate, embellished bodice of this Alexander McQueen dress which originally appeared attached to a feathered skirt is given new life with a pair of chic black trousers and blazer.

Esteban Cortazar at the 2015 BFI London Film Festival and the 2020 Venice Film Festival 

Blanchett wore this sequinned, cape-sleeved Esteban Cortazar gown at the BFI London Film Festival premiere of Carol, and again five years later at the Venice Film Festival.

Armani Privé at a 2014 Giorgio Armani Event and the 2019 Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Awards

Oh, the versatility of a zippered jumpsuit! Blanchett first wore it with a higher neckline, and the next time she opted for a belt to cinch the waist and a lower neckline that hinted at the lace underneath (an early advocate of the exposed bra trend, perhaps).

Yacine Aouadi at the 2015 New York Film Festival and the 2018 American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award Gala

Blanchett wore young Paris designer Yacine Aouadi’s work first to the premiere of Carol at the New York Film Festival, and brought the striking, trompe-l'œil dress out again three years later For an American Film Institute Gala.

Valentino at the 2023 Green Carpet Fashion Awards and The New Boy Photocall in 2023

Blanchett rather fittingly wore this mint green Valentino suit, constructed from deadstock and archival fabric, first to the inaugural Green Carpet Fashion Awards, and a few months later to a photocall for The New Boy in Sydney.

Acne at The House With A Clock In Its Walls Photocall in 2018 and the 2020 Venice Film Festival

Demonstrating how the same suit may be reworn in different ways just by switching out the shirt underneath, Blanchett paired this Acne number first with a butter yellow shirt, and later with an understated black to let the embellishments on the lapels shine.

Alexandre Vauthier at the 2023 TÁR UK Premiere and the 2023 Berlin Film Festival

What first appeared as an '80s-inspired lurex dress by Alexandre Vauthier actually proved, a couple months later, to be a two-piece that Blanchett repurposed with a pair of vinyl trousers and a thick belt to cinch the waist—a Blanchett mainstay.

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