Words by Chanelle Goddard
With the 74th Cannes Film Festival in full swing, we select the very best looks served on the red carpet – because that’s what really matters, right?
What do you get when you mix the biggest stars, cinema and the French Riviera? The very best of fashion, style and clothes, of course. Since 1946, the Festival de Cannes has pulled in the biggest names, with eager fans of cinema and style clutching at straws to get a taste of the action. There’s just something about the glamour of Hollywood and the beauty of the French Riviera that seems to work so damn well. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see Rihanna stroll up the scenic steps of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès or Timothée Chalamet dazzle the crowd in what could only be described as tailored perfection?
Yes, the films are important – but more than anything else, it’s the glamour, the style and the romance of it all that we really love. The Golden Globes are great, the Oscars, magnificent. But for all their glamour, they sometimes lack that romantic feeling or the scenic beauty of the Cannes Film Festival.
So, with the 74th Cannes Film Festival in full swing, we’ve sorted through the very best looks. And yes, there were many honourable mentions – but these are our favourites, okay?
With no further ado, here they are (in no particular order):
Luka Sabbat, 2019
You see, when you have the confidence to stroll into Cannes, with a boot instead of a shoe, a crisp white shirt and a pair of red-lensed shades, you’re bound to be pretty stylish. It helps, too, mind you, when you have the face of a model – and the swagger of a star.
For his second look, he swapped the shirt for a printed t-shirt, somehow managing to look even cooler. We’re not jealous, at all…
Rihanna, 2017
From the Grammys to the Met Gala, few get it consistently right like Rihanna. So, in 2017, when she showed up to the festival in an elegant Dior Haute Couture dress, you’d have thought no one would be surprised. On the contrary, even for Riri herself, the look was a huge success, earning fashion plaudits and admiration all across the world. There’s just something about red carpets, elegance, and Rihanna.
Bradd Pitt & George Clooney, 2007
Perhaps one of the least surprising additions to the list. And if you’re thinking: but they’re just wearing what all other men wear? Try putting together a perfectly tailored black tie ensemble, with a dainty self-tied tie, and picture-perfect elegance. Then, we’ll talk, okay?
Lupita Nyong’o, 2015
Very few stars are as elegant and well put together as Lupita Nyong’o. At the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, she put that elegance and beauty – along with her immense acting talents – to good use. In a dress by Gucci, she cemented her place in the festival’s all-time best-dressed list.
Will Smith, 2017
When the fresh prince shows up at Cannes, he’s due to get noticed. When he shows up in a perfectly tailored double-breasted tux, he’s definitely bound to end up on a best-dressed list. If not yours, ours. In attendance as a member of the film jury – no, us neither – he pulled off one of the hardest looks in menswear: the double-breasted dinner suit.
Princess Diana, 1987
Across the world, Princess Diana’s widely loved for her style and personality. From casual looks to black tie, she pulled off outfits that still continue to inspire people today. For the festival’s 40th anniversary, she arrived in a blue chiffon dress. It became one of her most celebrated style moments, earning her a well-deserved spot on this list.
Keiynan Lonsdale, 2019
For lessons in how to jazz up the simple black suit, look no further than Keiynan Lonsdale. With a simple print shirt – and an alternative to the usual oxfords or formal slippers – he makes the kind of ‘dress codes are for tampering’ impression we all wish we could pull off.
Amal Clooney, 2016
Who knew lawyers could be so… stylish? Like her husband, Amal Clooney knows a thing or two about style and elegance – and at her debut in 2016, she turned heads in a ‘cornflower’ yellow dress with Cartier earrings.
Earning a spot on the best-dressed list is no easy task. To do it on your debut is an even bigger challenge. And somehow, she managed to keep the cameras of George Clooney. Not bad, Amal. Not bad at all.
Leonardo DiCaprio & Brad Pitt, 2019
It’s Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio & the French Riviera – need we say more?
Halle Berry, 2006
There isn’t much Halle Berry gets wrong. So, at Cannes – and every other red carpet outing – she’s bound to impress. At the 2006 festival, she showed up in a Reem Arca gown, turning heads, driving fashionistas crazy, and just being her usual elegant self.
Johnny Depp, 1998
When it comes to personal style, he oozes it, putting 99.9% of us to shame. He’s a self-proclaimed rebel, with little care for formalities – not even ties. And whilst he’s at it, he’ll swap the white shirt for a dark grey one – just because he can. Oh, and the cigarette. Just so Johnny, you know?
Need some style inspiration? Here are the best trainers to wear this summer.