Ah, the French Riviera! That dazzling Mediterranean stretch of coastline that extends from the glittery lights of St Tropez all the way to the Italian border. It has been depicted throughout literature, art and film as a place of embellished decadence, glamorous opulence and conspicuous consumption, immortalising its illustrious and glimmering exclusivity. That “diffused magic of the hot sweet South” that Fitzgerald speaks of in his novel ‘Tender Is the Night’ is as palpable today as it was back in the roaring twenties. Perhaps what epitomises this continental, nostalgic glamour of the glittering Côte d’Azur in modern day culture is that of Cannes film festival. Every year the celebrity Hollywood elite flock to the Riviera sun to review the latest artistic filmic endeavours, and most importantly, they so do in style. The fashion element of Cannes now is arguably one of the most lavish and ostentatious elements of the 12 day festival, and this year was no exception. We saw a number of key trends on the claret-red carpet, which all successfully characterised the sophistication, allure and undeniable charm of the French Riviera.

Duchess satin:

A champagne shower of silk flooded the red carpet this year, with the likes of Emily Ratajkowski, Bella Hadid and Elle Fanning gliding down the catwalk in sumptuous drapings of sensual silk and satin. This created a feminine and romantic look; sweetheart necklines were contrasted with daring slits which added a certain sophistication and edge.

You shall go to the ball:

Cinderella-esque couture vibes were very much present this year, the most iconic of all being that Michael Cinco dress worn by Aishwarya Rai Backchan. The periwinkle iced-blue off-the-shoulder dress was adorned with beaded and embroidered silver leaves and boasted a ball-worthy voluminous skirt. Other examples of this modern spin on traditional fairy-tale fashion included Elsa Holk’s azure-blue glossy Alberta Ferretti gown and furthermore Winnie Harlow’s cobalt number was dramatic as it was princess-worthy.

Dior Addict:

A reoccurring name that kept cropping up at the festival was that of Parisian fashion house Christian Dior. Ladylike bodices and fabrics consisting of tulle and chiffon were contrasted with harsh and distinct frameworks adding a new layer of edge and dominance to the classically feminine shapes associated with Dior. What else was to be expected from Maria Grazia Chiuru’s debut at Christian Dior: opulent and rich quilting in a shocking scarlet red added a rich extravagance to Bella Hadid’s look whilst we saw feminine simplicity and intricacy with Elle Fanning’s floral-embroiled nude tulle gown.

Tulle baby:

A style heavily seen on the runways of Fendi and Pucci from the recent Milan Fashion week, we saw further evidence of this trend from Gucci and also Ralph and Russo. A personal favourite of mine from Cannes, that of Gucci’s sea foam green gown worn by Elle Fanning. Bedecked with twinkling emerald palm-shaped gems and finished off with a tail skirt of ivory and lemon flowers that traced the floor gracefully this dress caught the attention of everyone. A seductive element was juxtaposed to the ultra-feminine ruffle-bunched chiffon layers by a barely-there back and v-cut neckline that plunged deep, giving way to a flowing, whimsical skirt. What really made it stand out though was the dainty and delicate tulle which contrasted the heavy and ostentatious embellishment of deep silver. Visually sensational, the combination of textures and colours made it elegant and seductive.

Highlights of the Cruise 2018 Collections

So there you have it, a round up of all the trends seen on the famous Cannes red carpet. The looks this year were wonderfully diverse and we saw a real shift in the artistic direction of various designers which allowed for a bevy of creativity on the red carpet, truly encapsulating the glamour and luxurious eccentricity associated with the golden strip of the Côte d’Azur. Oh, and the films were alright too I guess…