Cate Blanchett has long been a fashion icon, but the Oscar-winning actress is making headlines for a different reason: she re-wears designer gowns. At the 2025 Venice Film Festival, Blanchett donned a black Armani Privé gown with a jewel-encrusted neckline for the second time, having first worn it at the 2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards. The move highlights her commitment to sustainability on the red carpet.
Blanchett and her stylist, Elizabeth Stewart, have embraced outfit repeating at least nine times in recent years. Stewart previously shared on Instagram, 'It's chic to repeat,' noting the environmental impact of sourcing new looks from around the world. 'It takes planes, trains, and automobiles for almost any look,' she wrote, 'so if we can avoid most of that by simply re-wearing an incredibly great look… we are going to do it dammit!'
Fashion expert Megan Watkins, head stylist at SilkFred, praised Blanchett's approach. 'Cate is the perfect example of how powerful a capsule closet that you can re-wear is,' she told HELLO!. 'Great style isn't about constantly chasing something new, but about finding pieces that feel timeless and wearing them in a fresh way.' Watkins added that re-wearing adds to the story of a garment.
Blanchett is not alone in her sustainable red carpet choices. Billie Eilish, Kate Middleton, Jane Fonda, and Emma Stone have all repeated outfits for high-profile events. With dozens of red carpets annually, sourcing custom gowns for each is unsustainable. Watkins predicts more stars will follow suit, noting that re-wearing 'shows confidence in your choices and proves that true style stands the test of time.'
