Cannes Film Festival 2021: Best Dressed

Model and designer Candice Swanepoel channelled old-school Hollywood glamour at the screening of François Ozon’s Tout s’est Bien Passé in a timeless white halter-neck gown by Etro. The perfect finishing touch? A modern take on diamonds jewels, courtesy of Messika.

Actor and former PORTER cover star Jodie Turner-Smith dazzled at the premiere of Stillwater in an exuberant gown and chunky gold jewels by fashion powerhouse Gucci. Her dress, complete with an exquisitely crafted corset and ombré feathered skirt, was an example of feel-good fashion at its finest.

Acting legend Tilda Swinton is known for her creative and personal approach to red-carpet dressing. This season, she worked with long-time collaborator Haider Ackermann on a Cannes capsule that was utterly distinct, including this directional ensemble that she wore to the screening of her latest release The French Dispatch, co-starring Timothée Chalamet. Combining tailoring with sequins and sherbet shades, it was a true sartorial triumph.

Musician and actor Soko attended the screening of A Good Man, the 2020 movie she starred in alongside Noémie Merlant and Vincent Dedienne, in a suitably playful sequin gown by Gucci. With no need for embellishment, the multi-hyphenate creative simply finished the look with sleek hair and fresh-faced makeup.

With a career spanning six decades, actor, director and recipient of this year’s Honorary Palme d’Or award Jodie Foster effortlessly owned the red carpet – and this directional Givenchy look did not disappoint. Striking the perfect balance between minimal and magnificent, the embellished gown chimed perfectly with Foster’s pared-back style.

Actor and icon Jane Birkin is synonymous with Cannes, having regularly attended the film festival since the late 1960s. However, this year marked a Cannes first for Birkin, as she appeared on the red carpet with her daughter, actor Charlotte Gainsbourg. Mother and daughter twinned in gamine tailoring by Celine and Saint Laurent, respectively, to celebrate the premiere of Gainsbourg’s directorial debut, Jane by Charlotte – a documentary about her mother, naturally.

Model Didi Stone brought high-octane drama (with a decidedly disco feel) to the red carpet for the Stillwater premiere in an iridescent pink pleated gown by Italian label Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini. She finished her enchanting dress with statement jewels comprised of diamonds, mother of pearl and white topaz, courtesy of Pomellato.

As part of the majority-female jury at this year’s festival, actor and producer Maggie Gyllenhaal wore a suite of chic outfits, including this standout scarlet gown by Atelier Versace, which she wore to the Benedetta premiere. Gyllenhaal paired the structured strapless dress with a jaw-dropping diamond necklace and ear cuff from Chopard’s sustainable Green Carpet Collection.

Model Anja Rubik is a lifelong friend and muse of Saint Laurent creative director Anthony Vaccarello, therefore it is no surprise that she opted for the French heritage house when selecting a gown for the Cannes red carpet. She paired black plumage with Boucheron jewels – a sultry look that stood out from the crowd.

Bona fide supermodel and former First Lady of France Carla Bruni-Sarkozy was the picture of elegance at the Annette premiere, in a pale blue, sequined one-shouldered gown by cult Parisian house Celine. Bruni-Sarkozy kept accessories minimal, accentuating her shimmering couture dress with a metallic clutch and diamond cuff.

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