eh eh.. it looks just like the crochet my grandmother use to made!

Maybe the stylist was Portuguese..

True, it is a bizarre dress, and on anybody else it would indeed look like a crocheted blanket from times past, but I’m rather digging it on Cate here. There’s just something about her, she gets away with things nobody else could;-)
She’s one of the best actresses and a true fashion icon in my book too Angie. And she looks happy and so confident in this dress, I think she’s having fun, I like that!!

What in the name of Afghans is this dress? I’m certain that I had an Afghan blanket that looked exactly like this in college at some point.

But bless her, she usually looks fab. I shall forgive her for her blanket blunder.

The dress is atrocious, but I love her makeup and hair. The only plus of the dress is that is shows off her awesome shoulders, collarbone and neck! She should definitely wear more 1-shoulder dresses . . . just not in the form of a blanket.

Wasn’t that on the back of the couch in Rosanne Barr’s sitcom “(

Maybe it is something along the lines of Jerry Seinfield and the pirate shirt?
Maybe she was doing a favor for a friend who designed it! : )

I love your reference to the Seinfeld episode. I thing it looks awful even on her.

I must be weird, but I think this dress is adorable. I’m not into celebs, so I know nothing about her style, but I like the dress. I think it’s creative and cute.

I think if it was something other than crochet it would have been fabulous. I love the shape, the ruffle at the bottom, and the one long sleeve with the ruffled cuff. The fact that it is made up of granny squares is really tragic though. Could have looked awesome.

When you take a lot of risks, sooner or later there will be one that misses!

In Australia, we have this thing called “taking the piss [out of something/someone]“. It ranges from gentle send-up to biting satire. I think this hoot of an outfit is a gentle piss-take – the designer taking the piss out of fashion and Cate having fun with the concept. It’s amazing isn’t it that if you’re beautiful enough you can wear Nana’s afghan and still look, well, striking. (The frills are such a nice touch!)

PS (Sorry) it may also significant for my theory that she wore the dress to an event in Melbourne, which is the style capital and probably our most sophisticated city. I doubt if we’ll see her in it at a Sydney event (let alone Los Angeles).

aww, I love the granny square blanket dress! It’s so odd that it’s great. When I was younger (and in a less crazy-hot, though equally dull city), I loved to wear bright and odd things just because.

It reminds me of something Ugly Betty would wear!

This is the second time I’ve seen this dress blogged. This is not an attempt at serious fashion, it’s a tongue-in-cheek, making fun of the whole fashion/red carpet look. I think she was just showing her silly side.

Cate Blanchett’s style is indeed marvelous. The crochetted part of the dress is ghastly, but I do like the shape of the dress with ruffles and one bare shoulder.
If we can pick a talentless fashion disaster, I recommend Lady Gaga.

This is hilarious!!!! My mother made a sweater/jumper/top for my sister and me which we both wore in our elementary school pictures. The sweater looked just like one big granny square on the front and one big granny square on the back, sewn together except for the neck and arm holes!!!!
So this is very funny to me to see Cate Blanchett wearing a dress made like this.

This has been all over my favorite fashion blogs, and it seems to be a collective WTH from everyone. Normally when she missteps, it’s more because it’s too avant garde rather than too…grandmothery. What’s particularly interesting is that it’s from a relatively unknown label, which would suggest that instead of being pressured into it like if it were an Armani or Dior, she probably CHOSE it. I’m so curious to hear what her thoughts are on that dress!

I actually own and use some blankets like this on my kids’ beds (made by their great grandma). when this pic came out a few days ago in Aussie papers I briefly considered cutting one up and making a dress out of it. I do see a sort of appeal to it

I truely hope she didn’t pay a lot for the dress. My nan’s a wizz with the crochet hooks and could have knocked one up in no time, for the cost of a couple of balls of wool from the charity shop!

We all have bad days.

i think the only problem is the clownish sleeve! to me it would look quite retro and almost twiggy-esque if it were just a traditional sheath or cut straight across and strapless. the squares are fun and playful on the bodice, on the sleeve = dr. suess.

I know I’m in the minority, but I think Cate can totally pull this off. I think it’s happy and fun, and she still looks beautiful. This dress just makes me smile. It’s like a colorful geometric painting.

I agree with jessicavk. Believe it or not, if it had a second sleeve (or no sleeves) and no ruffle on the bottom, I would be okay with this dress. The bold colors look great on her, and I have a soft spot for this outfil because it reminds me of a pair of hot pants that my grandmother crocheted me in the 70s that I LOVED!!!

I may be odd, but I kind of like it. And if anyone can pull it off, it’s Cate. Though I think it would be better without the ruffles.

This also made me think of the 70’s when everyone was making granny squares and I had a crocheted purple skirt (lined) with matching crocheted long waistcoat.

It’s called perimenopause. She needs to put down the SK-1 and pick up some Estrogel.

I think Cate’s outfit was entirely tongue-in-cheek.
Us Aussies do have a slightly weird sense of humour : )
Fab site btw.

I love the hair and make up and those shoes, everything in between I would rather forget. As Laura mentioned though, when you are very fashion forward you will make the odd mistake.

If there is anyone in Hollywood that can pull off that “blanket dress”, it would be Cate Blanchett. Yes, the dress is a very odd choice. But Cate is absolutely beautiful (inside and out). And in my book, she could be wearing a garbage bag & I woud still love it and her

Cate Blanchett is one of the most elegant actresses around today, and I always look forward to seeing her outfits. But that is one ugly dress. I don’t mind the colors or the crocheted texture at all, but that granny-square pattern is just unsuited to a dress, especially an asymmetrical one shouldered style like that. If it were stripes or just about any other pattern it wouldn’t be so bad.

Oh how interesting. The dress is hideous; the cut just doesn’t match the “fabric” at all. But I have to admit I’ve always had a fondness for this type of blanket, it’s so retro-chic and reminds me of my childhood. I have a crocheted cardigan that I love for that very same reason.

She looked much better as Galadriel…