The 77th Cannes Film Festival has come to an end, and, without a doubt, the level of glamour was as prestigious as ever. Nonetheless, the line between chic and vulgar was often paper-thin, with outfits ranging from elegant to downright questionable, featuring bold transparencies and some truly daring (or desperate) style choices. Undoubtedly, the spotlight shines brightly on undiscussed queens: Andie MacDowell, Helen Mirren and last but never least, the Black Venus, Naomi Campbell.
Ageless Andie: Hollywood’s Silver-Haired Stunner Shines in Sequins, Sending a Glittery Message to the Forever-Amazing Squad
Andie MacDowell wore a Prada georgette dress adorned with gold and silver sequins on the red carpet of 'La Plus Precieuse Des Marchandises' at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 24, 2024. Courtesy of Prada
The silver-haired sensation, Andie MacDowell, stole the spotlight on the second-to-last evening of the event, dedicated to the film ‘La Plus Précieuse des Marchandises’ by Oscar-winning director Michel Hazanavicius. She stunned in a full-sequin gown by Prada, exuding confidence and timeless elegance that seemed to say, “I woke up like this... feeling fabulous at any age!” It’s impossible not to be dazzled by her dress, dripping in silver and goldish sequins, with wide semi-transparent sleeves and fluid drapery. Pure elegance and self-assurance, effortlessly. A diva who laughs in the face of stereotypes, embracing her age with authenticity and love while ditching the tiresome notion of eternal youth. So, Hollywood’s forever-stunning brigade, take notes and try to keep up!
Rebel Helen: The Regal Actress Reigns Supreme at Cannes, Thumbing Her Nose at Superstition in Purple Perfection
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The 2024 Cannes Film Festival shimmered with glamour as it hosted the premiere of ‘La Plus Précieuse des marchandises’ (The Most Precious of Cargoes) on Friday. Indeed, Andie MacDowell’s partner-in-crime, Helen Mirren, boldly flaunted purple, thumbing her nose at superstition and stuffy event protocols. She strutted in a silk Mikado maxi dress from Elie Saab’s haute couture collection, the majestic amethyst colour perfectly complementing her light skin tone and impeccably coiffed grey hair, styled in a sleek bob. A central crossover detail accentuated her shoulders, leading into extra-long sleeves and a double-draped skirt, complete with an imposing train that majestically trailed her every step along the red carpet. Her face, luminous and proud of every wrinkle, was adorned with natural and minimal makeup that highlighted her green eyes. A pair of drop earrings and a geometric lace-inspired necklace added an extra touch of brilliance. Helen Mirren is undeniably the supreme queen of timeless elegance.
Recycler Naomi: The Black Venus Walks in Vintage Chanel Couture, Proving Fashion Never Fades—Including Herself
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Certainly, she couldn’t miss the scene: Naomi Campbell, the Black Venus, walked the red carpet for ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga at the Cannes Film Festival on May 15, making sure we know she was perfectly comfortable re-wearing the same Chanel black sequin dress she first modelled in 1996—part of the late Karl Lagerfeld’s spring-summer 1997 haute couture collection for the fashion house. This garment, with more than two decades of history, remarkably shows no signs of ageing. An old favourite, sensual yet never vulgar, it fitted her like a glove once again, thanks in part to its subtle transparency that highlighted her sculpted curves and supreme elegance. This is how you recycle in style!
Margaret’s Oops Moment: Chanel’s Latest Haute Couture Pink Gown Turns Heads (and Not in a Good Way) at Cannes
@enews #MargaretQualley had a sparkling moment on the #Cannes2024 carpet. #KindsofKindness ♬ original sound - KC
However, while Naomi Campbell’s timeless allure and sultry charm remained steadfast, Chanel seemed to have taken a turn for the worse, offering looks that could easily be mistaken for curtains from a countryside cottage or grandma’s tablecloths. At the premiere of her latest film ‘Kinds of Kindness,’ directed by Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos, Margaret Qualley’s appearance in Chanel haute couture channelled more of a six-year-old’s birthday party vibe than sophisticated elegance, with its abundance of draping, fringes, and tulle overwhelming her feminine silhouette. It was a boho-chic disaster that left much to be desired, especially when topped off with a headband adorned with ‘stellar’ decorations, making her resemble a bridesmaid. Margaret, this fashion marriage just isn’t clicking!
Barbie-Obsessed Greta: President of the Jury’s Cannes Fashion Missteps Fail to Wow the Crowds
Greta Gerwig wore LOOK 58 from the Balenciaga 52nd Couture collection while attending the "L’Amour Ouf" red carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, on May 23rd. Courtesy of Balenciaga
Even American actress, writer, and director Greta Gerwig, the President of the Jury for the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, failed to elicit screams of joy and amazement but rather garnered a few sympathetic tears of disapproval. Still clinging to her Barbie-core aesthetic, draped in a Balenciaga fall 2022 haute couture gown in vibrant pink taffeta by Demna, she embodied the Cannes Croisette Barbie while attending the premiere of ‘Beating Hearts’ on Thursday, May 23. The one-shoulder dress with a voluminous skirt, paired with long black gloves, harked back to a bygone era of 1950s divas. After living out her Barbie fantasy for a night, perhaps Greta can redirect her focus to more pressing matters, like updating her wardrobe beyond the confines of pink. Not content with just one fashion faux pas, Greta Gerwig had already made one during the jury photocall held at Palais des Festivals on May 14. On that occasion, she opted for a cotton dress by John Galliano for Maison Margiela Artisanal, adorned with white and blue stripes and a waist-cinching corset: an instant Portofino with a dash of cottage core. While impeccably crafted by the sole living fashion legend Galliano, it did give off a slight Easter egg effect on the neckline.
Iris and the Thorns: Former Miss Universe’s Couture Dress Takes a Prickly Turn
@gala.fr #irismittenaere #cannes2024 #tiktokfashion #beautytok #cannesfilmfestival ♬ GASLIGHT - INJI
At Cannes, everything becomes a work of art, even the dresses. For instance, during the 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga' red carpet event, Iris Mittenaere, 2016 Miss France and Miss Universe, wore a stunning long black chiffon dress from the Stephane Rolland haute couture fall-winter 2023 collection. The dress featured a train, an ultra-seductive slit, and was adorned with a gold leather ramage sculpture that enveloped the model like a thorny bramble—perhaps a few too many thorns, but you know, the most beautiful roses sting!
Un-Futuristic Elena: Cannes Fiasco with a Techno-Punk Clash, Circus Attitude, and Beehive-Shaped Hairstyle
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While Iris Mittenaere exuded beauty with a mysterious yet prickly aura, actress Elena Lenina transformed into a circus artist with a ‘futuristic’ touch on the ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ red carpet at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival. A tribute to Paul Poiret that unfortunately fell a bit short, morphing into a techno-punk layered ensemble, complete with a beehive-shaped hairstyle that’s anything but avant-garde.
Regal Anya: The Queen’s Gambit Star Scores a Checkmate with Old Hollywood Glamour
Global Brand Ambassador of Dior for Women’s Fashion and Makeup, Anya Taylor-Joy, wore a Dior Haute Couture embroidered beige tulle dress by Maria Grazia Chiuri. Courtesy of Dior
Anya Taylor-Joy, however, seems to have never heard of the word ‘mistake’ as she effortlessly glided in a fairy-tale strapless champagne-coloured Dior haute couture dress by Maria Grazia Chiuri, adorned with Tiffany & Co. diamonds on the second day of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival when she arrived at the screening of ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.’ The custom ball gown was inspired by an iconic design from Dior history: the ‘Mexico’ dress first designed by Christian Dior himself for the autumn-winter 1957 collection. Chiuri’s interpretation? Classic, elegant, and dripping with old money, old Hollywood vibes!
Crystal Clear Bella: When a Supermodel’s Sheer Confidence Meets More Transparency than a Glass of Water
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After skipping the 2024 Met Gala, supermodel Bella Hadid appeared to embrace the “less is more” philosophy at the latest Cannes Film Festival. However, her choice of attire—a Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello see-through dress from the fashion house’s autumn/winter 2024 collection—proved that sometimes “less is too little.” Her dress at the premiere of ‘The Apprentice’ had a midi length, plunging V-neckline, central draping, and was extremely transparent. Who could rival Hadid in pulling off such a daring look? Probably no one, but maybe she’s taken it a tad too far. There’s a fine line between boldness and excess, and in this case, the excessive display of feminine curves left very little to the imagination.
Adam! Chris! Barry! The Guys in Cannes: Where Are They?
Directly jet-setted from the Met Gala 2024, Hollywood stars like Adam Driver, Chris Hemsworth, and Barry Keoghan continued to impress with their stylish looks.
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Adam Driver brought the glamour for Cannes Day 3, as he attended the premiere of ‘Megalopolis’—the movie he starred in—sporting a princely, somewhat old-school look. He wore a white wool silk tuxedo jacket paired with a white silk shirt and tailored black wool trousers, accessorised with a Piaget Polo Date on his wrist.
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Chris Hemsworth, on the other hand, went for a ‘bad boy’ look, breaking the Cannes Film Festival dress code at the premiere of ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’. Instead of the required tuxedo or evening dress, he wore a white jacket and shirt with sleek black trousers. Hemsworth embellished his outfit with a rare Chopard Alpine Eagle Frozen watch: a masterpiece in 18k white gold, set with diamonds and baguette-cut blue sapphires. Nothing different from the Met Gala, apart from the black trousers and his now very obvious passion for precious jewellery!
@whomagazine Barry Keoghan and his frilly little shrt arrive at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, for the premiere of Bird. #barrykeoghan #cannesfilmfestival #saltburn #espresso #barrykeoghanedit ♬ espresso sabrina - celebs media
Last but not least, Barry Keoghan opted for a relaxed take on the classic tuxedo, custom-made by Burberry, as he graced the red carpet at the 77th Annual Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of his latest film, ‘Bird.’ He wore a light blue tuxedo jacket paired with a pristine white pleated plastron shirt and tailored sleek black wool trousers, all completed with an Omega watch. While charming and elegant, some may feel that he could have taken more risks and revisited the colour coordination of the outfit.
These are just our interpretations of some of the most buzz-worthy outfits at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. So, which ones caught your eye?
Diletta Moschella
MA in Fashion Promotion, Communication & Digital Media, Milan