CANNES — While people go to Hollywood to be famous, stars go to Cannes to be seen on the red carpet.
Now in its 68th year, the festival by the Riviera has earned the reputation of having one of the choicest and most trendsetting red carpets in the world. This is where well-known fashion designers showcase their new or most daring creations as their actress muses wear their gowns or couture dresses for the world to see.
Showing some skin and wearing bold colors are welcome. Being daring with peek-a-boos or using lace to tease in neutral colors is common.
So far this year one red carpet favorite was the stunning Mad Max: Fury Road star Charlize Theron who attended the Palais premiere of the movie in a bright canary strapless Christian Dior Couture gown which made her stand out on that red carpet. With her hair brushed up and wearing Chopard earrings, the look was perfect on a hot breezy day.
Naomi Watts, who stars in the Gus Van Sant-helmed The Sea of Trees, attended the premiere of the movie with Matthew McConaughey in a one-shoulder, backless, gray Armani Prive embroidered gown that is layered and features the bamboo motif. Wearing her hair to one side and donning strappy sandals, Naomi looked elegant on the red carpet. Appearing at the photo call for her Matteo Garrone-directed Tale of Tales movie, Salma Hayek made her fashion statement in a tailored Alexander McQueen black dress with big bright and bold red roses.
Sienna Miller, who is a first time juror at the 68th Cannes Film Festival, attended the premiere of The Sea of Trees in a revealing kite-inspired Valentino Couture that used block coloring of gray, yellow, red and moss green. The Boho style backless dress provided an air of fun and freedom as Sienna wore her hair in a relaxed do.
Emma Stone, who is starring in the Woody Allen much-talked-about movie The Irrational Man, wore an all-white backless Christian Dior gown that had one of the longest trains seen on the Palais red carpet. Wearing her hair up, Emma looked fresh and elegant.
While Emma wore all-white, Rachel Weisz, here with Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Lobster, wore an all-black sexy Narciso Rodriguez jumpsuit for the photo call of her movie that showcased peek-a-boos on both sides of her waist, spaghetti straps and a plunging neckline.
Edgy and daring was Natalie Portman, who is making her debut as a feature director with A Tale of Love And Darkness. She climbed the famous red steps in a Black Swan-inspired dress from the same film costume designers.
Also in black was Julianne Moore who attended opening night in a glittery Armani Prive gown showing off some cleavage on the red carpet of the Grand Theatre Lumière. With a classy black wrap-over front with a unique mesh and texture and her red locks parted on the side in a clean-cut dramatic look, the award-winning actress looked every inch a star. The 54-year-old actress, who attended Cannes this year in her role as a L’Oreal Paris ambassador, also wore diamond dangling earrings to enhance her look.
Also bold, sexy and daring was Furious 7 actress Michelle Rodriguez, who attended the premiere of The Irrational Man in a form-fitting black Ellie Saab gown that had black lace sleeves and black lace paneling along the bodice. She accentuated her look with her neat chignon.
Finally, what is a red carpet without Lupita Nyong’o? Thankfully, the fastest rising fashion icon made her Cannes debut in a plunging green chiffon Gucci gown that she twirled and had fun with on the red carpet to the delight of the photographers and onlookers.
Looking forward to our next Cannes red carpet experience.
Janet R. Nepales
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