A celebration of red carpet glamour over the last 10 years from the world’s premier film festival
Words by ALISON EDMOND
Right about now, we would normally be cooing over the glamour on the sun-drenched tapis rouge of the 73rd annual Cannes Film Festival. Each year at the end of May, La Croisette becomes one giant catwalk as stars and models descend on the Cote d’Azur to drink Champagne atop superyacht decks and celebrate the best that the movie industry has to offer.
Cannes is known as the launching pad for many a Hollywood career, and the enormous prestige that goes along with being involved in a movie that wins a Palme D’Or is pretty much a guarantee for industry respect, increased publicity and box office success (Parasite was last year’s victor and went on to sweep the board at this year’s Oscars). But sadly, this year the festival, among so many others, was canceled for the first time since 1968, when it was shut down partway through, in solidarity with the civil unrest demonstrations that became known as May 68.
So instead, to savor what we are missing, we have rounded up the best fashion looks from the last 10 years, from Elle Fanning’s showstopping run last year to Marion Cotillard’s rebellious metallic jumpsuit back in 2010 — la creme de la creme.
2019
There really was only one standout muse at Cannes 2019. Elle Fanning, then 21 years old — the youngest ever member of the jury — truly had her debutante party in public and wowed us all with her natural poise and style.
ELLE FANNING in VALENTINO at the Les Miserables premiere, in DIOR at the Once Upon a Time in … Hollywood premiere, and in GUCCI at the Cannes opening ceremony. From left: Photo by Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock. Photo by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage. Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage.
2018
This year brought a touch of rebellion on the red carpet, with Jennifer Connelly and Kristen Stewart wearing modern minis, and Laura Harrier as the picture of modernity.
JENNIFER CONNELLY in LOUIS VUITTON at the Stars of the Night premiere. LAURA HARRIER in Louis Vuitton at The Blackkklansman premiere. KRISTEN STEWART, CHANEL ambassador, in a metallic gray embroidered short silk dress, look 61, from the Fall/Winter 2013/2014 CHANEL HAUTE COUTURE collection, and CHANEL makeup at The Blackkklansman premiere; photo by Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock.
2017
There was an air of frothy retro romance this year. Nicole Kidman was femininity personified in Rodarte, while Tracee Ellis Ross and Elle Fanning were inspired by the decadence of old Hollywood.
TRACEE ELLIS ROSS in JENNY PACKHAM at the amfAR Gala; photo by Jaguar PS/Shutterstock. ELLE FANNING in GUCCI at the How to Talk to Girls at Parties premiere; photo by George Pimentel/WireImage. NICOLE KIDMAN in RODARTE at the How to Talk to Girls at Parties premiere; photo by Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock.
2016
A tougher glamour surfaced in 2016, with Julianne Moore in a moody Givenchy number that set the scene for Jessica Chastain and Ruth Negga to follow in fashion-forward, intricately constructed looks.
JULIANNE MOORE in GIVENCHY at the Cannes opening ceremony and Cafe Society premiere; photo by Jaguar PS/Shutterstock. JESSICA CHASTAIN in ALEXANDER McQUEEN at the Money Monster premiere; photo by Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock. RUTH NEGGA in MARC JACOBS at the Loving premiere; photo by Magicinfoto/Shutterstock.
2015
It was a refreshingly romantic moment when three of the industry’s coolest stars — Rooney Mara, Lupita N’yongo and Zoë Kravitz — stepped out in floating chiffon and embroidered princess dresses.
ROONEY MARA in ROCHAS at the Carol premiere; photo by Magicinfoto/Shutterstock. LUPITA N’YONGO in GUCCI at the Cannes opening ceremony and La Tete Haute premiere; photo by Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock. ZOË KRAVITZ in VALENTINO COUTURE at the Mad Max: Fury Road premiere; photo by Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock.
2014
Structure and craftsmanship ruled in 2014, from Zhang Ziyi’s futuristic gown to Marion Cotillard’s finely tuned metallic pleats to Hilary Swank’s cut-to-perfection couture number.
HILARY SWANK in ATELIER VERSACE at The Homesman premiere; photo by Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock. ZHANG ZIYI in STEPHANE ROLLAND at the Grace of Monaco screening; photo by Jaguar PS/Shutterstock. MARION COTILLARD in CHRISTIAN DIOR at L’homme Qu’On Aimait Trop premiere; photo by Denis Markarenko/Shutterstock.
2013
In 2013, flash was back, albeit in elegant and subtle incarnations. Tilda Swinton paraded the ultimate relaxed glamour, followed in suit by Naomie Harris in a minimal metallic sheath and Nicole Kidman with the most subtle of nods to the trend of the year.
NAOMIE HARRIS in CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION at The Great Gatsby premiere and the Cannes opening ceremony; photo by Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock. TILDA SWINTON in HAIDER ACKERMANN at the Only Lovers Left Alive premiere; photo by Jaguar PS/Shutterstock. NICOLE KIDMAN in ARMANI PRIVE at the Zulu premiere and closing ceremony; photo by Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock.
2012
Nude tones ruled back in 2012, from the elegance of a matte slip dress on Naomi Watts to the full-on shine of a corseted gown on Diane Kruger, while Tilda Swinton, once again, went for tailored perfection in shantung silk.
TILDA SWINTON in HAIDER ACKERMANN at the Cannes opening ceremony; photo by Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock. NAOMI WATTS in CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION at the IFP Celebrates Women in Film event; photo by Luca Teuchmann/FilmMagic/Getty Images. DIANE KRUGER in VIVIENNE WESTWOOD at the Amour premiere; photo by Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock.
2011
And the award goes to … Armani Prive, who outfitted all three of the best-dressed ladies in nautical tones: Uma Thurman and Aishwarya Rai in sailing blues, and the unfailingly elegant Zoë Saldana, who carried off red flag stripes.
AISHWARYA RAI in ARMANI PRIVE at the Sleeping Beauty premiere. ZOË SALDANA in ARMANI PRIVE at the premiere of The Tree of Life. UMA THURMAN in ARMANI PRIVE at the premiere of Les Biene-Aimes and at the festival’s closing ceremony.
2010
Strong fashion statements made for a great start to the decade, with a young Carey Mulligan turning heads in her beaded jumpsuit; Marion Cotillard rocking her own strapless version; and loyal Alexander McQueen fan, Cate Blanchett, making brave choices once again.
CATE BLANCHETT in ALEXANDER McQUEEN at the Robin Hood premiere; photo by Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock. MARION COTILLARD in LEFRANC FERRAND at the Chopard 150th anniversary party; photo by George Pimentel/FilmMagic. CAREY MULLIGAN in AZZARO at the Wall Street; Money Never Sleeps premiere; photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage.
May 28, 2020
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