In New York last night, the magnificent Cate Blanchett demonstrated that she can convey elegant sophistication and dazzling sexy in equal measure — no matter whether she is wearing a neckline slashed to the waist — or this, a high neck frill not seen since the Lady Di days.

And I love it. It is Proenza Schouler and is well within the black and white trend, especially since it is all about the tiny polka dots. And there is that slit up the front that lends it the contemporary edge it needs not to look stuffy. Brilliant.

And obviously Cate is beautiful in anything, but this is especially pretty. She was attending the first New York screening of The Monuments Men, a film by George Clooney. Ahem. I'll be seeing that one then. Obviously.