The 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival is a broad spectrum of movies premieres, celebrities, and major parties and events. But more so, for the style fans, it’s a broad spectrum of beautiful style that ranges from resort wear to beach attire to lavish gowns from the best haute couture designers in the world (Roberto Cavalli, Giorgio Armani, and Karl Lagerfeld for Fendi and Chanel just to name a few.)
So who amazed us on the red carpet? Who came out and disappointed? And who left us gasping for more?
Opening Ceremony Glam
Karolina Kurkova in Armani Prive
Karolina Kurkova’s Swarovski crystal-flecked blue sequin dress from the Armani Prive Fall 2009 collection was quite beautiful and certainly one of the favorites of Cannes.
Salma Hayek in Gucci Premiere
As was Salma Hayek’s Gucci Premiere champagne silk georgette gown with silver beads, which competed with many of the chic gowns on the first big red carpet night of Cannes.
Best Standout Color
Linda Cardellini in Alberta Ferretti
While royal blue, red, and white are big trends at this year’s festival, Linda Cardellini stands alone in one of the only fuchsia dresses on the red carpet. It was quite simple in many other respects, but quite extraordinary nonetheless.
Best Style Statement
Milla Jovovich in Prada
One can always count on Milla Jovovich to make a style statement that’s one-part glamorous and one-part unique. Love this polo-style number!
Best Princess Dresses
Penelope Cruz in Marchesa
One can always count on Marchesa for frothy princess style dresses with a bit of princess thrown in. We saw it with Rachel McAdams and we see it once again with beauty Penelope Cruz.
Rachel McAdams in Marchesa
Perhaps many of Marchesa’s dresses look similar to each other, but they all have something special and beautiful which is why her collections are worn time and time again by Hollywood’s A-listers. Great red number worn by Rachel McAdams.
Best Print
Sarah Jessica Parker in Elie Saab
She may wear dressed down duds in New York City, but one can always count on the super Sarah Jessica Parker to be a fashion winner when the time is right. She does it again in a pretty print Elie Saab piece.
Best Style Change
Tilda Swinton
Tilda Swinton looks fantastic! And even more so because we’re so used to seeing her in crisp pants and menswear-inspired numbers that this is such a refreshing change for the actress, who still throws her signature style into the number.
Best Jumpsuits
Gwen Stefani in Lanvin
Gwen Stefani never fails and she certainly doesn’t here in this black and gray Lanvin jumpsuit that sweetly matches her husband’s suit.
Paz Vega in Azzaro
I know a lot of people had a lot of bad things to say about Paz Vega’s bow-topped Azzaro jumpsuit, but I actually loved it! Of course, only Paz can pull it off.
Biggest Fashion Risk
Kirsten Dunst in Rodarte
Kirsten’s green halter top mixed with lace is certainly an intriguing retro textured number, but it’s definitely not one of my personal favorites. Is Cannes the right time to take a fashion risk? Yes. Is this one that works? That would be a resounding NO.
Most Ill-Fitting
Bar Refaeli in Roberto Cavalli
While the color is certainly beautiful and the cut of the gown is a signature wild Roberto Cavalli, I’m afraid this dress hits the Israeli supermodel in all the wrong places.
Most Happy Dress
Jessica Chastain in Zac Posen
Jessica Chastain is one lucky lady right now, being flanked by both Sean Penn and Brad Pitt in one moment. And her sunny Zac Posen dress seems to speak to that happiness with its beautiful yellow shade.
Best JLo Impersonation
Cheryl Cole
I know what you’re thinking. This dress looks nothing like the rique brightly color peacock number worn by Jennifer Lopez in the Grammys, but for some reason that’s the first reaction I got when I saw this plunging white piece by Cheryl Cole. Guess it has to do with the deeply low cut and the way her breasts are held perfectly in place?
Best Dressed Down
Eva Herzigova in Dolce & Gabbana
While I believe this outfit is a bit too casual for the glam gown-filled Cannes red carpet, I do like the menswear-inspired element and those punchy red shoes.
Basic and Beautiful
Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace
Angelina Jolie wearing black. No big surprise there. Angelina Jolie wearing Atelier Versace? A bit more surprising. But knowing Angelina’s typical black wardrobe choices, you’ll definitely understand why she picked it.
Photos: People.com, Wireimage
