Outside of her wit, charm, and phenomenal acting, Cate Blanchett is perhaps most celebrated for her sartorial choices. Whether she’s on the red carpet or in interviews, the 54-year-old star often
ends up on Best Dressed lists. That said, Cate doesn’t just wear beautiful clothes for aesthetic appeal. Instead, she uses her clothing as a vehicle to promote sustainability.

This is why it’s only fitting that she is recognized as one of the most eco-minded fashion icons of our generation. Later this March, Blanchett will even co-chair the second Green Carpet Fashion Awards (GCFA) set in Hollywood. A long-time champion of sustainable fashion, Blanchett is the perfect representative for this star-studded occasion.

Cate’s History with Eco-Fashion

Although the high-end fashion that celebrities wear is more often described as decadent than sustainable, Blanchett proves that looking good does not come at the expense of the environment. Across the years, the Aussie has been known to rewear couture pieces to big events. One of her favorite brands to recycle is Versace. An Italian brand famous for its luxury items, Versace’s market resonance is so large that it licenses its name and branding to select partners. Case in point, Versace sunglasses are now under the EssilorLuxxotica conglomerate but are still made using the same high-build materials. Through this, the Italian fashion house can distribute exclusive eyewear collections that embody the bold, fashion-forward, and innovative styles that admirers have come to expect. One of these admirers is Blanchett herself, who has graced a number of Versace store parties since the early 2010s.

Through the years, the actress has often reworn Versace dresses, albeit with a few minor alterations. This speaks to the house’s timeless style and Blanchett’s own creativity. A recent example of this was at the 2023 SAG Awards. There, Blanchett donned a black form-fitting Versace frock that she originally wore to the 2016 Costume Designers Guild Awards. In this recent event, Blanchett and her style team refreshed the dress by pairing it with some lace repurposed from an old Armani ballgown.

Speaking of Armani, this is another label frequently reworn by Blanchett. Another Milanese luxury fashion brand, Armani, is among Italy’s biggest couture houses. Over the years, its success has seen it expand into ready-to-wear, eyewear, and beauty. The latter two are also licensed to outside parties like L’Oreal. Armani Beauty recently appointed a new CEO to grow these sectors further. To date, some of Blanchett’s most celebrated looks are Armani. Before reusing the black lace in the aforementioned SAG awards, Cate had already worn the original lacy number twice, in 2014 and 2018. Blanchett has also reworked high-end brands like Louis Vuitton, Maison Margiela, Alexander McQueen, and Givenchy couture while still ending up on best-dressed lists.

What’s next for Cate’s sustainable efforts?

With the awards season in full swing, Cate will be hosting the upcoming Green Carpet Fashion Awards as co-chair once again. Since it was first introduced in 2017, this initiative has recognized leaders for their social, political, and environmental advocacies. Apart from the Australian actress, the event will be co-chaired by other influential women, including Julianne Moore, Zendaya, Minister of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil Sônia Guajajara, and GCFA founder Livia Firth. In last year’s GCFA, Blanchett wore a stunning mint custom Valentino suit that was made using deadstock fabric, so we can only speculate what sustainable new look she’ll wear in 2024.

Outside of fashion, Cate is currently transforming one of her properties into a green home. The Sussex mansion, which was previously owned by author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is set to receive over 90 solar panels. This is in line with Blanchett’s other personal efforts at sustainability, which also include being a long-time vegetarian.