There aren’t many occasions more sartorially exquisite than the annual Cannes film festival. And narrowing down the number of iconic fashion moments is next to impossible, for an event that’s been as much about red carpet glamor as it has been about film premieres since the 1950s.
It is possibly one of the “Big Three” of European film festivals (along with Venice and Berlin) and one of the “Big Five” international film festivals (Venice, Berlin, Toronto and Sundance in Salt Lake City ), but Cannes is undoubtedly bringing a fashion program that captures the glamorous and luxurious landscape of the French Riviera.
The festival takes place over 12 days, with this year’s 76th edition taking place from May 16-27, 2023. And alongside the glamor of the red carpet, this year will bring fashion show excellence, as Dua Lipa and Donatella Versace s are getting ready to preview their High Summer women’s collection “La Vacanza” on May 23rd.
From Sofia Loren in the 50s to Diana Ross in the 70s, Princess Diana in the 80s, the supermodels of the 90s and the cheeky It-girls who started the beloved trend of the year 2000, until Anne Hathaway stole the show from Armani Prive in 2022. There was never a dull fashion moment.
The 15 best fashion moments of all time from the Cannes Film Festival:
Kate and Johnny Depp were the undisputed king and queen of Cannes style. in 1998, Kate wore a vintage black feather-trimmed dress a la Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas first. Almost ten years later, she replicated the dress for her first-ever collaboration with Topshop.
An iconic outfit, an iconic photo. Madonna stole the show when she arrived wearing nothing but a Jean Paul Gaultier conical bra, high-waisted briefs and a satin cape. The conical bra has become one of her signature outfits.
The actress stole the red carpet for us last year, hands down. For the closing ceremony, she took the traditional saree and gave it the most exquisite contemporary twist. She wore an off-white ruffled gown custom designed by Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla, paired with an equally shimmering pearl necklace that draped her entire cleavage.
While we loved Kristen’s custom Chanel couture mini dress, this moment was even more memorable as she stripped off her Christian Louboutins and walked barefoot down the red carpet in protest. Women were reportedly denied access to certain firsts wearing flat shoes.
Diana made headlines in 1973 wearing a three-piece tuxedo suit to the Oscars. She wore a stunning embellished dress with an oversized collar to Cannes later that year.
In one of her most iconic fashion moments, the late princess wore a powder blue chiffon gown by one of her favorite designers, Catherine Walker. Elizabethi Debicki then paid tribute to Diana and this outfit for the premiere of The crownin which Elizabeth plays the character of Lady Di.
Italian actress Sophia personified old Hollywood glamor in a strapless eyelet and tulle ballgown, paired with an elegant fur stole, contrasting opera gloves and statement necklace.
Red carpet queen Angelina Jolie stopped the public in her tracks as she walked down the stairs in 2011. The Atelier Versace silk gown with a thigh-high slit is one of her best ever.
Brigitte was the ultimate bombshell at Cannes this year, posing at the beach in a bikini, which was outrageous at the time. She then stole the red carpet in a tulle ballgown and fur stole. Iconic.
For the premiere of The BFG Movie, Blake stunned in a bright blue Atelier Versace gown that we weren’t sure she’d ever be able to top. Cue: his appearance at the Met Gala six years later…
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