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Just when I started to get bored with celebrity fashion, my no.1 girl crush Cate Blanchett came out of hiding to hit the red carpet looking outstanding in a modified asymmetrical cobalt blue floor length dress from Armani Privé’s Spring 2009 collection which had a beautiful draping on the left hip and a long tassel hanging down. The Australian actress completed her ensemble with a black patent clutch and gorgeous eggplant satin pumps. LOVE it! Cate = personified elegance.

Armani Privé Spring 2009 Couture

Armani Privé Spring 2009 Couture

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There’s no way I’m going to pass up on a Cate Blanchett public appearance and not make it my “celebrity look of the day”. My no.1 girl crush has come out of hiding in Australia to attend her favorite designer’s fall 2009 couture fashion show in Paris. And of course she looked once again impeccable! Queen Cate wore a beautiful black pagoda sheath dress from Armani Privé’s Spring 2009 collection which she accessorized with a bejeweled clutch and matching silver sparkling pumps. Oozing perfection from every pore. Oh how we missed you, Cate! ♥ ♥ ♥

Armani Privé Spring 2009

Armani Privé Spring 2009

Cate Blanchett wore this beautiful silver Giorgio Armani Fall 2007 dress on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar Australia December 2007 issue looking very ethereal. The cover was perfection and still is one of my favorite magazine covers to date.

One year later Ciara thought it might be a good idea to wear the same dress. What’s particularly funny about her appearance is that she wore the dress to a screening of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” where Cate Blanchett plays the female lead. I wonder if Ciara knew Cate had already worn this dress and simply wanted to pay tribute to the Australian actress? Who knows.

For once we have a fashion faceoff that’s fairly easy. This dress was made for Cate Blanchett and she wears it so well. No one could outdo her here, not even the model (pictured below).

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Giorgio Armani Fall 2007

Giorgio Armani Fall 2007

If you’re a regular reader, you already know that I’m in love with Cate Blanchett. She’s my no. 1 girl – both as an actress and as a style icon. She is not only heavenly beautiful, but also looks always regal. Almost everything she wears on the red carpet makes her stand out. Cate likes to take fashion risks (which pay off in 99% of the time) and she always wears something unexpected.

Usually, Cate goes for Armani Privé when it comes to big events such as the Oscars or Cannes, but she keeps surprising the crowds by making some completely different choices from time to time (Givenchy anyone?)

Apart from having Giorgio Armani on her speed dial, Cate also happens to favor British fashion designer Alexander McQueen whom I adore as much as I adore Cate as an actress. McQueen will always be in my top 3 (Christian Dior and Alexander Wang are the other ones I love). Cate has worn his designs several times on the red carpet and constantly returns to wearing his clothes for big days.

The Aviator New York Premiere, December 2004

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This dress might have ignited Cate’s love for McQueen. She wore this flirty mint Spring 2005 dress to The Aviator New York Premiere back in December 2004 which she accessorized gold strappy sandals.

The dress was quite girlish for Cate with the low voluminous skirt and the silver embellished criss cross details on the bodice, but she still pulled it off effortlessly.

Napoli Film Festival, June 2005

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At the Napoli Film Festival, Cate was summer perfection in a grass green pleated dress from McQueen’s Fall 2005 collection.

Her dress was cinched in at the waist with a slim silver embellished belt and Cate completed her outfit with adorable silver peep-toe heels. I LOVE the green shade against Cate’s pale skin.

Babel Photocall at the 59th Cannes Film Festival, May 2006

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At the 59th Cannes Film Festival, Cate opted for a multi-colored art deco printed dress from the Spring 2005 collection which she completed with a fire-red cropped cardigan, a turquoise bracelet and gold t-strap heels.

I am glad that Cate didn’t go for the sculpted brown torso, but I would have loved to see Cate rocking the petticoat under the dress. I’m sure it would’ve looked fantastic on her!

Babel Screening at the 59th Cannes Film Festival, May 2006

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Later that day, Cate changed into a gorgeous black kimono gown from the Men’s Fall 2006 collection. The kimono dress had floaty cap sleeves, a black and white piping and floral embroideries on the skirt. Cate wore her hair elegantly in an updo and accessorized with silver jewelry.

Co-star Rinko Kikuchi also opted for a kimono, so I guess both ladies had some kind of a theme thing going on at the premiere.

64th Annual Golden Globe Awards, January 2007

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LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. A year before everyone stated lace as a new trend, Queen Cate was rocking a delicate black lace dress from McQueen’s Spring 2007 collection to the Golden Globe Awards 2007. The strapless dress had a rise and fall hem and was cinched in at the waist with a jeweled belt.

Cate perfected her romantic appearance with softly curled hair and black strappy sandals with a rosette detail on the vamp.

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button Premiere, December 2008

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Being the “Golden Girl” at the premiere of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” last month, Cate shined in a sparkling sculpted Spring 2009 dress which was modified from the runway version as Cate’s was way longer than on the catwalk, had an extra nude underlay and the plunge neckline wasn’t as deep as on the model.

I know a lot of people are hating this dress, but I think Cate totally owned it. She really knows how to surprise me.

I hope to see a lot more of Cate wearing Alexander McQueen in 2009 as this combination is a total knockout. Go, Cate!

It’s officially 2009. We waved 2008 good bye and welcomed a new year. Can you believe it’s already 2009? I feel like 2000 is just one or two years ago. Anyway, 2008 was a great year fashionwise. We had lots of beautiful gowns and many memorable red carpet moments. Everyone loves Top 10-lists so we are the last to disappoint you. Enjoy our 10 Best Gowns of 2008.

It was really hard to narrow down my initial selection of about 30 dresses and discard 2/3 of them, but it had to be done and now I’m quite proud of my choices. These are the best of the best. I surely may have missed out on a few dresses, but it’s simply impossible to catch up on every event. So please bear with me if you should feel I have forgotten a must on this list. Just drop me a note and let me know about it.

Expect more “Best of 2008“-lists to follow soon.

Cate Blanchett in Armani Privé

Queen Cate makes sure not to be missed out on this list of the “Best Gowns of 2008“. She was a vision in pale pink Armani Privé at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.

Everyone knows Cate loves Giorgio Armani and often wears his designs, but who are we to blame her when she looks so svelte in his clothes? She will always be my number one, fashionwise and as an actress. I ♥ you, Cate!

Camilla Belle in Armani Privé

Armani Privé Spring 2008

Camilla Belle was absolutely breathtaking in an aqua one-shoulder Armani Privé tiered silk gown.

Naomi Watts in Thierry Mugler

The 2008 Costume Institute Gala brought us some of the most beautiful and stunning gowns of the year, another one which was worn by Australian actress Naomi Watts.

Naomi wore a white pleated halterneck vintage dress by Thierry Mugler with the company’s logo – a star – at the waist, fire-red lips and wavy locks. She’s quite the glamorous Marilyn Monroe here, but oh how good she looked!

Bee Schaffer in Nina Ricci

Bee Schaffer, the daughter of editor-in-chief of American Vogue, Anna Wintour, wore one of the most amazing & most beautiful gowns I’ve ever seen. She attended the Costume Institute Gala in a strapless aubergine Nina Ricci gown.

I am still mesmerized at the mere sight of this beautiul fairy tale dress and do not tire of looking at it. The gorgeous amethyst colour, voluminous skirt and all the sparkling embroidery spiralling down the bodice. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! But it’s not all about the dress – Bee in it is pure perfection and so is her hair, make-up and accessories.

Olivia Wilde in Reem Acra

Olivia Wilde was an ethereal beauty at the 2008 Primetime Emmy Awards wearing a delicate pearl grey satin and chiffon Reem Acra gown with jewel-encrusted cap sleeves. Simply divine!

Mila Kunis in Matthew Williamson

Mila Kunis was yet another stunner wearing a shimmery Matthew Williamson draped gown with a plunge-neck and floral appliqué at the waist when she attended the Max Payne LA premiere back in October. She’s oozing laid-back sexiness from every angle. LOVE IT!

Amy Adams in Proenza Schouler

Amy Adams was beyond gorgeous in her green strapless Proenza Schouler gown at the Oscars 2008. Green on a redhead is a match made in heaven.

Zhang Ziyi in Armani Privé

Armani Privé Spring 2008

Zhang Ziyi was ruffled perfection in her blue strapless Armani Privé gown. Beautiful!

Reese Witherspoon in Marchesa

Marchesa Spring 2009

Reese Witherspoon brought some serious glamour to the 42nd CMA Awards wearing a dramatic black lace gown from Marchesa’s Spring 2009 collection. Reese was a feast for the eyes in her asymmetrical dress and the fire-red lips. She knows how to work the red carpet.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Nina Ricci

Nina Ricci Spring 2008

So obviously we can’t finish this list without having Sarah Jessica Parker on our mind. SJP strut the red carpet in a gorgeous strapless Nina Ricci Spring 2008 gown which had a sweetheart neckline and a metallic pleated taffeta overlay. Carrie Bradshaw would approve.

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Red Carpet Fashion Awards – Best Dressed 2008

Fashion Critic, the girl who runs celebrity fashion blog Red Carpet Fashion Awards also has a Top 10 list for 2008. We both agreed on Cate Blanchett and Camilla Belle looking divine in Armani Privé (didn’t surprise me as we both love Queen Cate & Armani Privé).

Apart from these two beautiful ladies, I most admired her for putting Carine Roitfeld in that red animal print Balmain Fall 2008 number on her list. I totally missed out on this one.

The dress I liked least on her list was Kate Bosworth’s silver Chanel Couture Spring 2008 dress. Though I generally love everything Kate wears, I really disliked this one. Maybe if the dress was longer and hadn’t this strange hemline, I would have loved it, but that way it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Oh, her blog’s readers also have a Top 10 for “Best Dressed in 2008“. Go check it out!

Fabulousness – Best Dressed 2008

Chris who runs Fabulousness, also a great blog I frequently read to hook up on celebrity fashion, published her Top 25 red carpet appearances. We also have some choices in common (4 to be exact – Cate Blanchett, Camilla Belle, Olivia Wilde & Amy Adams).

The best dress she featured which I don’t have on my list is Diane Kruger in Valentino Spring 2007 Couture. Diane never fails to impress.

I least liked Michelle Williams in the purple tiered YSL dress on Chris’ list. While I admit that it is a beautiful dress, I do not agree that it deserves to be in the Top 25.

We want more… Best Dressed 2008

If you’re still hungry for some more 2008 red carpet coverage, here are some more “Best Dressed in 2008“-lists. Which gowns were your favorites? Write a comment and let us know.

• Best of 2008: Queen of the Red Carpet (FabSugar)
• 10 Best Dressed Stars of 2008 (PEOPLE)
• 2008: The Best Dressed List (MarieClaire UK)
• Top 20 Best Dressed Celebrities of 2008 (Film.com)
• 2008’s Best Dressed (SHOWBIZ)