The outbreak of World War II forced the cancelation of the inaugural Cannes Film Festival, meant to take place in 1939 on the French Riviera as an alternative to the Venice Film Festival. In September of 1946, seven years after ideation, the Cannes Film Festival finally rolled out its red carpet with 18 countries attending, including the United States and their premiere Cannes Film Festival candidate, The Wizard of Oz. Today, 89 countries attend the annual May festival, and while the films are a main attraction of the event, so are the fashions. This year's event— taking place through May 28—will include not just movies but dinners and parties with A-list attendees like Anne Hathaway and Julianne Moore. Like the Oscars and the Met Gala, those in attendance put their best fashion foot forward, donning custom designs and haute couture.
Stylist Alexandra Imgruth, dressing French actress Léa Seydoux for this year's film festival (you might recognize her from the 2011 movie Midnight in Paris), weighs in on what it takes to get red carpet ready. "Léa and I began discussing ideas for Cannes during the BAFTA's back in March—even though film nominations don't get announced until April. It's good to have ample time," she explains. "We knew we wanted to do something different from our most recent looks—a bit more European," she says. The event's dress code is strictly black tie, even for paparazzi in attendance. Still, Imgruth feels, given the International attendance of the festival, that people take more creative liberties with their looks.
Imgruth's favorite past Cannes Film Festival ensembles include Sophia Loren's old Hollywood glamour looks from the 1950s. Her recent best-dressed nominees include Julianne Moore in Chanel and Diane Kruger in Vivianne Westward. Ahead we've included some of the best Cannes Film Festival looks from 2022, with plenty more glamorous moments on the way.
Bella Hadid
Margaret Qualley in Chanel
Kaia Gerber
Léna Mahfouf
Kimberley Garner
Catrinel Marlon
Stella Maxwell
Candice Swanepoel
Tessa Brooks
Cara Delevingne in Balmain
Bella Hadid in Versace
Kristen Stewart in Chanel
Diane Kruger in Oscar de la Renta
Léa Seydoux in Louis Vuitton
Emily Ratajkowski in Miu Miu
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Alicia Vikander in Louis Vuitton
Alessandra Ambrosio
Naomi Harris
Naomi Campbell
Sara Sampaio
Marion Cotillard in Chanel
Jessica Wang
Carla Bruni in Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello
Riley Keough
Iris Law
Sharon Stone
Tilda Swinton in Alaïa
Alicia Vikander in Louis Vuitton
Alessandra Ambrosio in Alberta Ferretti
Julia Roberts in Louis Vuitton
Anne Hathaway in Louis Vuitton
Soo Joo Park
Jasmine Tookes
Tilda Swinton
Anne Hathaway
Kat Graham
Didi Stone
Jennifer Connelly in Louis Vuitton
Viola Davis
Alena Mikhailova
Viola Davis in custom Alexander McQueen
Jessica Wang
Chanel Iman
Elle Fanning
Eva Longorio in Cristina Ottaviano dress and Aquazzura shoes.
Andre Lemmers and Adriana Lima
Eva Longoria in an Alberta Ferretti dress and Chopard choker
Eye Haidara in Lanvin
Berenice Bejo in Valentino
Katherine Langford in Prada
Didi Stone in Roberto Cavalli
Rebecca Hall in Burberry
Deepika Padukone in Dior Haute Couture
Jennifer Connelly in Louis Vuitton
Caroline Daur in Valentino
Rebecca Hall in custom Gucci and Deepika Padukone in Sabyasachi
Julianne Moore in Bottega Veneta
Lori Harvey in Alexandre Vauthier
Lashana Lynch in Fendi
Agathe Rousselle in Louis Vuitton
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