Selena Gomez's Cannes Red Carpet Gown Deserves a Standing Ovation

The actress and Rare Beauty founder dazzled in an off-the-shoulder dress and diamond jewelry.

Selena Gomez walks up the cannes red carpet stairs in a black and white gown and diamond jewelry
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Cannes Film Festival is as known for its extended standing ovations as it is for its glamorous, boundary-pushing red carpet fashion. If any look earned applause before entering the theater for today's slate of premieres, it was Selena Gomez's.

Gomez walked the Cannes red carpet on Saturday, May 18, to celebrate Emilia Pérez in an off-the-shoulder Saint Laurent gown styled by Erin Walsh. The look featured a black column shape with a wrap-like, draped white neckline—almost as if an elegant silk shawl had slipped down her shoulders and magically held itself in place. The look's classic movie star energy was amplified by an intricate diamond choker necklace and drop earrings by Bulgari that quite literally dripped diamonds.

Selena Gomez arrives at the Cannes Film festival red carpet wearing a black and white dress with diamond jewelry

Selena Gomez arrived at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Emilia Perez wearing a black column gown by Saint Laurent with a white, off-the-shoulder neckline.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Makeup artist Hung Vanngo prepped Gomez for the carpet with a minimal, matte beauty look including a natural lip and lightly lined eyes. (The look came together with Rare Beauty products, of course.) She swept her hair into a glossy, high ponytail with curled curtain bangs framing her face styled by Renato Campora. The star also debuted a fresh, fiery red manicure.

Selena Gomez on the cannes red carpet wearing a black and white gown and diamond jewelry

Gomez's Cannes red carpet look, styled by Erin Walsh, was accentuated by an intricate Bulgari diamond choker and drop diamond earrings.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Before hitting the carpet, Walsh styled Gomez in a colorful halter dress by Balmain. The cheerful outfit included a structured red buster that flowed into a full, floral printed skirt. She also had her hair pulled back into a high, loosely curled ponytail (minus the curtain bangs from her later red carpet walk).

Those weren't the only looks of Gomez's Cannes tour. The day before, she touched down in the South of France wearing a peplum mini dress by Self-Portrait, paired with an Aspinal of London bag and Roger Vivier slingback heels. She then changed into a custom black dress by Oscar de la Renta and swiped on her Rare Beauty lipstick in the shade Inspire.

A post shared by Erin Walsh

A photo posted by erinwalshstyle on

Selena Gomez the night before the Cannes red carpet wearing an off the shoulder oscar de la renta gown

The night before her Cannes red carpet debut, Gomez wore an off-the-shoulder custom Oscar de la Renta dress—plus her $20 red Rare Beauty lipstick.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Gomez is attending Cannes to promote Emilia Pérez, a film billed as a "musical crime drama" by Variety. Zoe Saldaña also co-stars in the film, while up-and-comer Karla Sofia Gascón takes the leading role. It's Gomez's first live-action movie role in a minute; otherwise, she's been hard at work leading Rare Beauty and tackling TV projects, including a fourth season of Only Murders in the Building and a reboot of Wizards of Waverly Place.

Throughout her recent projects, Gomez has worked with Erin Walsh on looks that bring a feminine edge to her business and red carpet style. Tapping famed houses from Oscar de la Renta and Versace, as well as emerging labels like Maticevski, the star has lately favored off-the-shoulder necklines, ribbon details, and minimal palette—just like her award-worthy Cannes look.

This post was updated on Sunday, May 19, to include Gomez's current hair and makeup team.

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Halie LeSavage
Senior News Editor (Fashion & Beauty)

Halie LeSavage is the senior fashion and beauty news editor at Marie Claire, where she assigns, edits, and writes stories for both sections. Halie is an expert on runway trends, celebrity style, emerging fashion and beauty brands, and shopping (naturally). In over seven years as a professional journalist, Halie’s reporting has ranged from fashion week coverage spanning the Copenhagen, New York, Milan, and Paris markets, to profiles on industry insiders including stylist Alison Bornstein and J.Crew womenswear creative director Olympia Gayot, to breaking news stories on noteworthy brand collaborations and beauty launches. (She can personally confirm that Bella Hadid’s Ôrebella perfume is worth the hype.) She has also written dozens of research-backed shopping guides to finding the best tote bags, ballet flats, and more. Most of all, Halie loves to explore what trends—like the rise of doll-like Mary Janes or TikTok’s 75 Hard Style Challenge—can say about culture writ large. (She justifies almost any purchase by saying it’s “for work.”) Halie has previously held writer and editor roles at Glamour, Morning Brew, and Harper’s Bazaar. Halie has been cited as a fashion and beauty expert in The Cut, CNN Underscored, and Reuters, among other outlets, and appears in newsletters like Selleb and Self-Checkout to provide shopping recommendations. In 2022, she was awarded the Hearst Spotlight Award for excellence and innovation in fashion journalism. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Harvard College. Outside of work, Halie is passionate about books, baking, and her miniature Bernedoodle, Dolly. For a behind-the-scenes look at her reporting, you can follow Halie on Instagram and TikTok.