Cate Blanchett’s Latest Dress Is Built for Red Carpet Flashbulbs
Designer John Galliano is not known for sticking to convention. At Maison Margiela, he has masterfully continued on the label’s experimental spirit, where his collections have offered up unexpected pieces such as sleeping bag sleeves and selfie stick shoes. When it comes time for him to design for the red carpet, then, Galliano naturally strays from traditional Old Hollywood-type gowns. Last night, he debuted a custom-made dress for actress Cate Blanchett, who attended a screening of her new film The House with a Clock on its Walls at the Rome Film Festival, and you could say his creation was, well, cleverly fitting for the location.
On the red carpet, Blanchett wore a black satin Maison Margiela Artisanal gown, finished with a pleated Chantilly lace overlay. Overtop the sleeveless silhouette, Galliano then applied a thin layer of iridescent film at the front, which reflected light off of paparazzi flashbulbs and changed colors throughout the step and repeat. You could say he had such a grand premiere in mind during its creation process. Underneath her dress, Blanchett wore Mary Jane platforms for added height, and then accessorized with minimal jewelry—after all, when you have a dress that shapeshifts on its own, you don’t need much else.
