Embrace your inner ice queen

If you want to make an impression on the red carpet, you could do worse than channeling not one, but two princesses.

In a shimmering ice blue Armani Prive dress, that’s exactly what Elizabeth Debicki did last weekend at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, where she took home Best Actress for playing Princess Diana in The Crown.

Her stylist Elizabeth Saltzman said the star’s backless dress, embroidered with 145,000 rhinestones, was a nod to Diana’s love of ice blue – from the Catherine Walker number she wore to the Serpentine Party in 1995 to the Jacques Azagury dress that was worn during Swan Lake in 1997. – it also evoked Frozen’s Queen Elsa. She, like Debicki, also has long, icy blonde hair.

The effect was certainly powerful; the blue fabric dramatically accentuated Debicki’s pale skin. Still, ice blue is flattering on all skin tones, given its light-reflecting properties – always a boon for anyone looking to boost tired skin – and makes a powerful statement in a sea of ​​black and white.

It’s more wearable than brutal white, but is arguably much more sophisticated, as it looks less like an attempt to grab the bride’s attention.

Elizabeth Debicki wore a shimmering ice blue Armani Prive dress to the Screen Actors Guild Awards last weekend, where she took home Best Actress for playing Princess Diana in The Crown

Nicole Kidman showed off her inner ice queen in an embellished Balenciaga dress, which she paired with long black gloves

And while several megastars have tried to avoid flashy fashion by walking the red carpet in beige, the truth is that most of us would rather radiate our inner cool in pastels than with a shade that makes you blend into the background.

Blue, the color of serenity and security, also refers to inner steel, so it is perhaps no coincidence that Diana wore many ice blue outfits at the height of her independence. That might explain why the red carpet and catwalk have been full of shadows lately.

Versace, Fendi and Bottega Veneta all sent pastel-clad models down the Spring/Summer ’24 catwalks.

And stars like Nicole Kidman, Rosamund Pike, Greta Lee and Joan Collins have all showcased their inner ice queen at Balenciaga, Dior, The Row and Jenny Packham respectively.

On the British high street, Queralt Ferrer, design director at John Lewis, has invested in ice blue for spring, with satisfying results: sales of their light blue double-breasted blazer are up 155 percent.

Try an ice blue dress for the evening instead of your favorite black dress. Or brighten up your outerwear with a powder blue coat from Hush, £259.

Christina Aguilera (left) wore ice blue to the Grammy Awards in February, while Rosamund Pike continued the trend at the BAFTA Awards in a Dior dress

Bottega Veneta’s spring/summer 2024 collection (left) included ice blue, as did Versace’s (right)

Prefer informal? Try washed denim, perfect for the new season.

The key is to keep the rest of your look simple; black accessories give an icy blue look, so try shoes or a bag in a dark shade to keep the look sophisticated.

Whatever you do, don’t let blue down this season.

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