Cate Blanchett may have been panned by some fashionistas for her choice of designer frock at the Paris premiere of her latest film, Blue Jasmine, but she hasn’t been for her performance in the Woody Allen movie.
In the movie, Cate wore pieces from Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, Fendi and Karl Lagerfeld.
“I called up Karl Lagerfeld and I was astounded,” said costume designer, Suzy Benzinger. “He simply said ‘for Cate, anything’.”
By way of contrast to the classic designs she wore in the film, Cate’s Paris premiere outfit was a black and nude Christopher Kane dress that looked like something Spiderwoman might wear: cobweb-like design, uneven short sleeves and ankle-length skirt.
Her performance in Blue Jasmine has film critics raving, and is already generating significant awards buzz.
Cate plays the title role of Jasmine Francis, a delusional Manhattan society wife who loses everything when her husband, played by Alec Baldwin, is sent to prison when he’s found guilty of a Bernie Madoff-type swindle.
The film jumps between past and present, with the present showing Jasmine’s struggle to rebuild her life. The past chronicles the steady decline of her marriage to the point of her husband’s imprisonment. Intermixed is the relationship between Jasmine and her sister Ginger (Sally Hawkins) with whom she goes to live in San Francisco.
Blue Jasmine is currently showing in arthouse Australian cinemas.
Next time we see Cate on the big screen is when she reprises her roll as Elf Galadriel in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. She’ll also appear in the WWII drama The Monuments Men, directed by George Clooney.
And the verdict on the dress?
It's part of Cate's signature that she wears 'risky' gowns. This one's no exception but she has the style and panache to pull it off. Go for it Cate!