The latest Cannes Film Festival, specifically its 79th edition, held from May 12th to 23rd, once again brought together big names in world cinema and countless celebrities who find in the traditional French red carpet an opportunity for international visibility.
Beyond all the business involved in the festival, this visibility also brings the glamour that we, fashion lovers, eagerly await every year: the beautiful dresses paraded along the French Riviera. From the airport look chosen to arrive in the city to the gala looks displayed before thousands of photographers from around the world.
Without any criticism of stylists or designers, I’ve only selected the models that made my eyes sparkle. And yes, I feel that, in some awards ceremonies, a little more effort is needed in the compositions. Therefore, I will present my favorite candidates, explaining the reason behind each choice. Not necessarily in order of preference:
1. Ruth Negga appeared in a long green Dior dress, with black lace details and fringes, almost in an Art Nouveau aesthetic. The delicacy of the dress impressed me precisely because of the contrast with the large, voluminous models that dominated the festival. And she wasn’t the only one to go this way.
2. Cate Blanchett appeared in a Givenchy with the same proposal as Ruth: long, slender, and full of fringes. Fringes that echoed the embroidery like the continuation of the paint in a painting. Magnificent, elegant, and sophisticated.
3. Bella Hadid appeared in a Schiaparelli made to measure for her sculpted body. Unlike Jane Birkin’s proposal, which immortalized looser, boho dresses, Bella reformulated this aesthetic in her own way, and she didn’t disappoint. There was a simplicity and beauty extremely connected to the fashion imagination of Jane, her inspiring muse.
4. Sharon Stone opted for a Miss Sohee Couture worked with flowers embroidered in crystals and a sfumato in black, white, and gray. On the back, a giant stole completed the composition. Pure 50s glamour. Worthy of a true movie star.
5. Coco Rocha wore a classic strapless black dress, elegant and dramatic, overflowing with exuberant feathers by Georges Chakra Couture. The perfect representation of a classic movie diva.
6. Barbara Palvin brought an angelic elegance in a light blue Miu Miu to announce her first pregnancy alongside her husband, Dylan Sprouse. Beautiful, radiant. She seemed to float on the red carpet.
7. Chiara Ferragni, at the invitation of Roberto Cavalli, wore a long green dress entirely embroidered, a mix between Ruth Negga’s Dior and Cate Blanchett’s Givenchy, with velvet details. I must admit that including Chiara on a best-dressed list is not usually an easy task, precisely because of her frequent lack of effort in her choices. But, this time, with Cavalli, she appeared discreet, elegant and extremely refined. She earned her point.
8. Finally, I want to highlight the only Brazilian who truly charmed me on the red carpet: Verena Figueiredo. Perhaps precisely because I follow her on social media, I realize how she manages to maintain her aesthetic identity and adapt it to the most diverse occasions and events she participates in. And, of course, she looked stunning in her outfit designed by Lo de Lui. What personality! Beautiful!
It’s a shame that our Brazilian representatives don’t always choose to be daring when they reach such a high level of visibility, perhaps due to demands from the brands themselves. It’s like having a historic occasion before you and wasting it with looks that won’t be commented on, remembered, or revered.
Perhaps that’s exactly why Cannes continues to fascinate so much. Because it was never just about cinema. For a few days, the French Riviera transforms into a grand stage for image building, fantasy, and aesthetic permanence. And, amidst so many flashes, carefully calculated dresses and performances, some looks manage to do what fashion does best: create memory.
