As A-list stars go, Cate Blanchett tends to fly under the press radar a little bit. She’s been married to an Australian playwright for nearly 20 years, so there’s little in the way of salacious gossip about her personal life to feed the Internet’s usual curiosity about celebs, and unless she’s promoting a film or project, she tends to keep a low profile. The paparazzi do catch her here and there, though, and she’s almost always carrying a fabulous bag when it happens.
The majority of Cate’s bags are spacious and neutral, and she tends to stick to designers whose pieces she also wears on the red carpet, where she is consistently one of the best dressed in all of Hollywood. Her personal style is sophisticated, modern, and always a little unexpected.
Alexander McQueen Skull Clutch
$1,275 via Saks
Cate attends tons of red carpet events, but she generally hands off her clutch to an assistant before posing for event photos. Unfortunately for us, that means most of her evening bags are relegated to candid shots, which are much more rare.
Bally Leather Satchel
Shop via Bally
In her personal time, Cate seems to gravitate toward big, discreet leather satchels, and this one certainly fits the bill.
Chanel Flap Bag
This look (and this bag) are a little out of character for Cate, but there’s a good reason for that: she was on the set of Blue Jasmine.
Giorgio Armani Trapeze Tote
$1,482 via farfetch.com
Givenchy Antigona Shopper Tote
$1,290 via Barneys
Cate has had a long relationship with Givenchy; she often wears some of the brand’s most avant-garde gowns on the red carpet, and she was also one of the first celebrities to receive a bag in Givenchy’s new logo fabric.
Givenchy Lucrezia Bag
$1,295 via Barneys
She was also an early adopter of the Lucrezia.
Givenchy Shark Satchel
$2,590 via Net-a-Porter
I feel like Givenchy really wants to make this bag happen.
Gucci Jackie Soft Tote
$2,990 via Gucci
For someone who probably doesn’t have to carry very much if she doesn’t feel like it, Cate sure does love big bags.
Lanvin Quilted Shoulder Bag
Shop Lanvin via Neiman Marcus
Even her crossbodies are pretty big.
Lanvin Sugar Shoulder Bag
$2,214 via LUISAVIAROMA
M2Malletier Fabricca Clutch
$1,290 via Net-a-Porter
Prada Inside Bag
$3,450 via Bergdorf Goodman
I’m honestly a bit surprised we don’t see Cate wearing and carrying Prada more often; she loves clothes that are interesting and challenging, and that’s Prada’s specialty.
This is the only of Cate’s bags we couldn’t identify; if it looks familiar, let us know.
Rag & Bone Enfield Shoulder Bag
$495 via Saks
Cate’s clothing choices are generally very high-end, but the more accessibly priced pick from Rag & Bone fits her aesthetic nicely.
Roger Vivier Prismick Bag
Shop Roger Vivier via Neiman Marcus
Roger Vivier Prismick Bag
$2,795 via mytheresa.com
It’s always surprised me that we don’t see the Prismick on more celebrities; it’s beautiful, comes in plenty of different styles and isn’t as over-exposed as many celeb favorites.
Roger Vivier Shopping Tote
Shop Roger Vivier via mytheresa.com
Flap shoulder bags are a growing trend, though, so maybe we’ll see more of it soon.
Tod’s D-Styling Bauletto Bag
Shop Tod’s via Nordstrom
Cate’s collection is almost entirely neutral, which makes this vivid satchel stand out even more.
Viktor & Rolf Bombette Bag
$781 via yoox.com
In some ways, the Bombette is the perfect bag for Cate: neutral, big, angular, left-of-center.
Yves Saint Laurent Downtown Tote
Shop Saint Laurent via Saks
I have a working theory that literally every single woman who was famous during the period that the Downtown was produced has one somewhere in her closet.