Cate Blanchett on Graham Norton...

[DonDrapersAltrEgoBigglesDraper]

It's a tiny thing, inconsequential, really.

Cate's on Graham Norton, and she's sitting in between two blokes (Ewan McGregor and Michael Sheen), and here's the thing... she's dressed just like them. In a dark trouser suit with a blouse underneath.

Usually when I watch this show, the women are inevitably dolled up to the nines in full-on frocks, strapless, corseted waists, flesh on display, the whole shebang. Which is fine. But, the thing is, they do always look ludicrously incongruous next to the plainly dressed, entirely covered-up blokes.

Tonight, the three people on the sofa were all dressed the same. And it was really refreshing to see it. She was just herself.

I found a picture

It's great that she didn't need to have lots of flesh on display.

It's a shame that there aren't more "smart dressed-up" outfits for women that are covering and comfortable but are not traditional men's clothes.

Suits are flattering for men - they emphasis shoulders they go in at the waist etc.

Most women who are not Cate Blanchett don't look their best in a trouser suit.

Where is the comfortable, covering, flattering women's outfit?

Maybe, just maybe it's because she is a highly accomplished, confident, intelligent and comfortable-in-her-own-skin actress who realises that tits and bumcheeks impress no-one. She is also 43, not some 19 year-old facebook-generation airhead (goes for both sexes btw).

She wears trouser suits quite a lot (along with fabulous couture gowns that I may or may not be rather envious of).

I think men are at a disadvantage on that particular sofa: the camera focuses right on their crotches quite often. I wonder if that bothers them? (Probably not the very best forum to muse on that topic...!)

Trills said 'Suits are flattering for men - they emphasis shoulders they go in at the waist etc. Most women who are not Cate Blanchett don't look their best in a trouser suit.'

I don't see the distinction. If a man buys a cheap suit, or one not suited to his build, it will look crap. Not all men's jackets are tapered. Some trousers are pleated, some are not, etc etc etc. A man is capable of looking like Patrick Moore if he chooses the wrong cut.

Obviously there are different kinds of suits but the basic things that make it be "a suit" were designed with men in mind. You can only change it so far before it's not a suit any more.

Cate Blanchett wears trouser suits a lot, because they suit her.

A woman of a different shape who wanted to wear something that said "I am an equal participant in this conversation, I am not merely here for decoration" while still looking good, would have a harder time working out what that outfit should be.

I suppose the harder time comes from having more choice. Is that a bad thing?

There is more choice but every choice comes with a barrel full of assumptions and prejudices about what that choice means.

A man wearing a dark suit and light shirt is not assumed to be making a statement. A woman wearing pretty much anything has to be saying something.

That's a great picture Trills.

My grandma had a bunch of dresses that weren't "statements" - tshirt neckline, calf length, sleeves. Wouldn't have gone for the florals myself, but that was her call. Similar to the way the queen dresses, I guess.

If you were to dress like the Queen it would be a statement though.

Kim, she was PM, how could she not have stood out anyway??

Trills, even if it was similar coverage but not in a pastel colour?

Coverage is only one small aspect of an outfit.

Similar cut to the Queen but different colours - you'd be saying something, wouldn't you? Not the same thing that you'd be saying if it was in duck-egg blue with a matching hat, but you'd be saying something!

I suppose that once again we are a bit blinkered by western/north European culture though. Male African leaders have a fairly colourful choice of outfits, then there are traditional Arab robes, Indian kurtas etc. It's really only a small part of the world that the traditional suit is seen as the default for men.

Well yes, but we're talking about Western people appearing on a Western TV show.

Go for it, Stickemup.

I suppose I am using the queen as I think her style is her "uniform" as much as the D of E's trouser suits are his. But then the queen is never going to be talked over regardless of clothing!

NCG, Ewan McGregor could've worn a kilt. That would've been a statement. But he had an obvious neutral option.

Women do have much more choice in dress than men do, it's a fair point and I don't think that namechangeguy is being especially "what about the menz" as you call it.

Men sort of have both more freedom and less freedom.

Less wide a range of clothes to wear without there being a big fuss (can't wear skirts or dresses without it being a very big deal), but more option to wear something that makes no statement at all, whereas every outfit a woman wears says something.

This is a very interesting article (from 1993 so remember that when considering the fashions mentioned) that was tweeted by @dys_morphia (who I definitely recommend following).