Just when you thought the Met Ball was this year’s biggest fashion parade, we suggest you take a look across the channel at Cannes for your sartorial direction. Yes, despite the economic downturn, the ‘serious’ tone of the festival and the fact that the French have never really done ‘red carpet bling’ like Victoria Beckham and Rhianna – Cannes has been the backdrop to some serious fashion muscle.
The biggest surprise is the huge range of outfits on display, referencing every catwalk trend going as well as being practically any colour and any style. It seems there has never been a better red carpet event to showcase some true personal star style.
Top of our fashion hot list has to be beautiful Rachel Weisz for wearing two fabulous green dresses – definitely her colour. The first, a Dior day dress in green lace worn for a photo call was perfect for her Snow White complexion while the second, a stunning emerald Valentino gown worn with simple jewellery and flowing hair was elegant and characteristic of the glamorous Cannes atmosphere.
Also wearing Valentino was new L’Oreal darling Evangeline Lilly. For this red carpet she shunned her usual surfer-girl good looks for full-on Euro-glamour in a turquoise dip-dyed gown worn with a tight ponytail. She kept her trademark flawless skin virtually untouched though, choosing to keep her makeup bright and fresh.
Representing the continent were beautiful brunettes Sophie Marceau and Monica Bellucci who both wore striking red dresses (Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior respectively) to the premiere of Ne Te Retourne Pas. Red was a great choice for both women, complementing their dark hair and sultry makeup.
Finally, Bollywood royalty Aishwarya Rai one again proved herself as the best dressed Cannes attendee in her pale blue, asymmetric Elie Saab couture. Aishwarya, who first appeared at Cannes in 2002 in a horse drawn carriage and sunshine yellow gown, has consistently topped ‘best dressed’ lists for the last 7 festivals - be it last year’s heartbreakingly romantic white gown or 2005’s previous year’s fishtail black number.
Colour splashes were the choice du jour for many, but black remained ever-popular for some stars and they wore it well. Top marks to Francophile Kristen Scott Thomas for her tiered Lanvin floor-length dress on the red carpet and to Diane Kruger for her micro-mini (very now in fashion speak) worn with an open tuxedo jacket and Chanel shoes: one of the best catwalk-to-carpet looks of the season.
Overall the Cannes fashion parade was perfect for the climate (economic and not) with no-one being a slave to specific trends or styles. The melting pot of colours, textures and gown-lengths proved that fashion really is for everyone – but it helps have you have top designers on hand to help you choose!
Emma
10 months ago
Fantastic post, I always look forward to your inciteful yet witty posts on the fashion world…Keep up the good work!