Cannes spends every May insisting it’s about the films, then proves over twelve days that it’s the toughest red carpet of the year. The 79th edition leaned into sculptural couture, archival pulls, and silhouettes built more like architecture than clothing. Last year’s nudity ban stayed in place, which pushed the focus onto construction and tailoring instead of skin. Here are the ten looks I’d put at the top, plus the honorable mentions worth a scroll.
1. Chloé Zhao in Schiaparelli
Embed from Getty ImagesFor the Paper Tiger premiere, Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao wore Daniel Roseberry’s Schiaparelli Spring 2026 Haute Couture, a transparent peplum jacket and skirt inspired by deep-sea creatures, with spikes of resin-coated organza and spotted crystal embellishment scattered across it. The internet instantly dubbed it the blowfish, and it’s proof couture can be funny and devastating at once. A massive swing for someone usually this understated. Nobody came close. Gold medal.
2. Bella Hadid in Schiaparelli
Embed from Getty ImagesBella Hadid had two of the festival’s biggest looks. The one that took over the internet was a custom Schiaparelli by Daniel Roseberry at the La Bataille de Gaulle premiere, an ivory trompe l’œil lace gown with a plunging neckline and a big black bow at the laced-up back, a tribute to a dress Jane Birkin wore backwards in 1969. Earlier, at the Garance screening, she wore a pale silver Prada gown with a draped cape and Chopard diamonds.
3. Hoyeon in Louis Vuitton
Embed from Getty ImagesSquid Game breakout Hoyeon made her Cannes debut at the Hope premiere in a custom silver Louis Vuitton gown with a draped cowl neckline, oversize beaded florals, and an asymmetric skirt. She wore it with Vuitton High Jewellery and kept the rest minimal. A great first Cannes red carpet.
4. Salma Hayek in Gucci
Embed from Getty ImagesHayek wore a custom white one-shouldered Gucci gown by Demna to the Kering Women in Motion Awards, feathers bursting from the left shoulder over a sculpted column. She kept her hair in a high updo and added Boucheron diamonds and emeralds. The plain styling is the only reason the feathers landed as couture instead of costume. One of the strongest pieces out of Demna’s Gucci so far.
5. Simone Ashley in archival Alexander McQueen
Embed from Getty ImagesBridgerton’s Simone Ashley wore an Alexander McQueen red strapless gown from the Autumn/Winter 2005 collection, the same dress Gisele Bündchen wore to the 2011 Met Gala. She updated it with Chaumet jewellery and a clean beauty look. Twenty years on and it still works, which is rare for archival.
6. Demi Moore in Gucci
Embed from Getty ImagesMoore was on the jury and had two of the festival’s biggest looks. For the opening ceremony she wore a beaded silver Jacquemus gown, strapless with a structured peplum waist falling into a fitted mermaid skirt. For the La Vie d’Une Femme screening she switched to a custom lavender Gucci gown by Demna, a ruched bodice with sheer sleeves and a flowing skirt slit high on one side, trailing into a long train with matching purple heels.
7. Taylor Russell in custom Dior
Embed from Getty ImagesActress Taylor Russell wore custom Dior by Jonathan Anderson to the Hope screening, a creamy gown with a wraparound floral skirt and a burst of greenery at the bustle. The floral detail keeps it from reading plain. Another solid entry in a very consistent red-carpet run.
8. Léa Seydoux in Louis Vuitton
Embed from Getty ImagesSeydoux had one of the most varied runs of the festival, all in Louis Vuitton. The standout was a custom off-the-shoulder black satin plissé gown with a sculptural neckline and dramatic sleeves, worn with a red lip and a waved bob for full Old Hollywood. She mixed it up elsewhere with LV suiting and a white crinkled-vinyl jacket with a matching mini skirt.
9. Dame Joan Collins in Stéphane Rolland
Embed from Getty ImagesCollins, 92, hit opening night in a custom white Stéphane Rolland Haute Couture gown, its sculptural ruffles shaped to mimic unfurling orchid petals, with black opera gloves and diamond chandelier earrings. Full old-school drama, no irony. Next to a lot of younger guests in concept looks, hers was the most theatrical of the night.
10. Natasha Poly in Ferragamo
Supermodel Natasha Poly wore a Ferragamo Fall 2026 gown by Maximilian Davis in sheer georgette and pleated satin, shaped into a bell-jar silhouette that holds its own form. Swarovski-embellished Ferragamo shoes and Chaumet jewels to finish. One of the few genuinely sculptural looks of the festival.
Embed from Getty ImagesHonorable Mentions
Cate Blanchett wore two strong looks, a backless floral Givenchy by Sarah Burton and a separate custom Louis Vuitton. Ruth Negga, also on the jury, switched it up daily, going from an all-white Celine satin look with a scarf-tie detail to an Ami tuxedo suit.
Embed from Getty ImagesAlexa Chung wore Dior Haute Couture by Jonathan Anderson to the The Man I Love premiere, a light-blue hammered-satin bodice with a big black bow at the front over a sheer navy chiffon skirt embroidered with organza flowers.
Embed from Getty ImagesAlexa Chung wore Dior Haute Couture by Jonathan Anderson to the The Man I Love premiere, a light-blue hammered-satin bodice with a big black bow at the front over a sheer navy chiffon skirt embroidered with organza flowers.
Embed from Getty ImagesKristine Froseth wore a sleek Armani Privé Spring 2026 gown in a pink-and-black contrast with sparkle running through the skirt to the Her Private Hell premiere. Colman Domingo turned out a caped purple custom Valentino, one of the few menswear looks with a real point of view, and Maika Monroe closed out opening night in full-length Ashi Studio sequins.
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