Ah, it’s that time again. Time for films’ own fashion week (or fortnight!) that is the Cannes Film Festival! Yeah, this twelve-day long film festival is less about the films and more to do with the nonstop parade of frocks ‒ for me. It’s by invite-only for the purpose of previewing films. That is, you wouldn’t be able to watch those films anywhere for weeks or months
or never
from now, which ‒ don’t you think? ‒ renders this festival futile for us mere mortals. But what is accessible to us, right away, is the fashion we see on its red carpets ‒ and off it, too. It has, after all, Marilyn Monroe, the perennial fashion inspiration, as its official icon, so we could do half-badly by taking pointers from here. Y’day the
Pavlov’s bell sounded
festival kick-started with the premiere of Wes Anderson‘s Moonrise Kingdom ‒ and here’s what we at Team MissMalini made of the frock-off 🙂
Right on top of the “heart” list is Freida Pinto, for… pulling off three major S/S’12 trends of pastels, peplums and prints at once. The more I look at that multi-coloured crystallized bodice and the draping to create the peplum effect of the Michael Angel number, the more I am in love with the gown, which, I felt, beautifully brought out her warm/dusky skin tone.
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Heck, she even makes a thigh-high slit look classy, unlike, *cough*, the soon-to-be Mrs Brad Pitt. When sporting a thigh-high slit number, you’ve to ensure your shoes are fab, and that’s where Freida falters, slightly. Not much liking the silver Louis Vuitton platform sandals, I’m afraid. But the bejeweled Louis Vuitton lizard minaudière and Chopard jewels ‒ oh yes! Another thing I liked from this look was…
…the make-up! I’m not at all a make-up person but this, by L’Oréal Paris, really caught my fancy. The new L’Or Electric range was used to achieve this “bolder and stronger make-up look”. Have you used it? Do you really get this effect… ? I’m waiting for your feedback!! L’Oréal Paris is one of the two headline sponsors of the festival, so Freida along with fellow brand ambassadors Eva Longoria, Jane Fonda and Fan Bingbing were product shilling the new range at that red carpet. Expect Sonam and Aishwarya in similar make-up looks later on in the festival…
Speaking of Fan Bingbing, I was swept away by her strapless ivory dress by Christopher Bu. It had Ting dynasty stories embroidered on it ‒ can you believe! Amaze. Her hair too was done up like the noble women of the Ting dynasty. To compliment the green accents on her gown, she had green-and-gold Elie Saab clutch and emerald Chopard (yep, the other headline sponsor of Cannes) jewels.
I’m a sucker for ice cream (mmmmmm) shades right now, so of course, I had to love this mint/aqua/icy blue silk draped one-shouldered Grecian gown by the rising star of haute couture, Giambattista Valli on Diane Kruger. She completed the look with a sleek updo, a few delicate jewels from Boucheron, and a Judith Leiber streamline frosted Lucite clutch. Didn’t she, just, look, the epitome of, elegance?
Jessica Chastain’s A/W’12 Alexander McQueen gown, erm, too, had me with its colour! The baby pink colour aside, I’m also loving the pockets on the dress, which added just the right amount of quirk. She paired the dress with Louis Vuitton haute joaillerie. As much as I loved the number by McQueen, I felt the look could do with a little more accessorizing by way of a belt or a statement necklace, or just a pop of colour via the lipstick. Anyways, it was still nice enough, for me, at least.
Eva Longoria and her Marchesa gown sure grabbed all the headlines with its two-metre train of frou-frou frills but… I. Did. Not. Like. It. This gown, like all Marchesa gowns, has too much going on them, and just gives me a sense of déjà vu. On top of that, it seems to be swallowing up her petite frame; on a six-foot bombshell, this might have worked. (Before you throw bricks at me, I’m the exact same height and similar build to Eva, so no discrimination there…) Her make-up, though, was… STUNNING, just like Freida’s.
Lana Del Rey’s A/W’12 Alberta Ferretti strapless gown with a draped tiered detail on the hip was… nice but… yawn-tastic. LANA, you’re only 25, aye, this is your time to take fashion risks! She finished off the look with a silver Chopard necklace and a black box clutch.
Jane Fonda’s Atelier Versace metallic lattice gown, erm, is not my cup of tea. I wouldn’t call it a monstrosity or anything like it; in fact, she’s working the beJesus out of that gown. It’s just that Versace doesn’t float my boat at all. She completed the look with metallic Versace clutch and of course, some Chopard jewels. Her make-up was, noice, like her fellow brand ambassadors.
Eva Herzigova’s shimmering custom-made Dolce & Gabbana was another gown that didn’t knock me off. It, too, gave me a sense of déjà vu. But, you gotta check out the Chopard bling she had on… WOH!
Diane Kruger in burgundy laced mini dress from A/W’12 Versus, from earlier in the day, was cute, no? Or, it’s the burgundy effect on me talking?!! She wore it with Jimmy Choo ‘Katrina’ sandals and some Boucheron bling.
Okay, this one’s not wearing a frock but Ewan McGregor in Marni… well spiffy! Simple tailored look made all the more eye-catching by a funky tie and sand suede oxfords ‒ and the right trouser length (!!!). And this colour combo of Tilda Swinton’s ensemble was… divine… !