When looking to make an impression on the red carpet, you could do worse than channelling not one, but two, princesses.

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

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

The effect was certainly powerful, the blue fabric dramatically setting off Debicki’s pale skin. Yet ice blue is flattering for all skin tones, given its light-reflective properties — always a boon for anyone looking to boost a tired complexion — and makes a powerful statement in a sea of monochrome.

It’s more wearable than unforgiving white, yet is arguably far more sophisticated given that it smacks less of an attempt at bridal attention-seeking. 

And while several mega-stars have tried to shun flashy fashion by walking the red carpet in beige, the truth is, most of us would rather signal our inner cool in pastels than a shade that might make you blend into the background.

The colour of serenity and security, blue also hints at inner steel, so it’s perhaps no coincidence that Diana wore many ice-blue outfits at the height of her independence. Which may explain why the red carpet and the catwalk have been full of the shade of late.

Versace, Fendi and Bottega Veneta have all sent pastel-clad models down their Spring/ Summer ‘24 catwalks.

And stars including Nicole Kidman, Rosamund Pike, Greta Lee and Joan Collins have all displayed their inner ice queen in 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 pleasing results — sales of their pale-blue double-breasted blazer are up 155 per cent.

Try an ice-blue dress in the evening in place of your go-to black. Or perk up your outerwear with a powder-blue coat from Hush, £259.

Prefer casual? Try washed denim, it’s perfect for the new season.

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

Whatever you do, don’t give blue the cold shoulder this season.

HOW TO GET THE LOOK