Day 2 of Cannes had an even bigger frock-off than in Day 1, thanks to the red carpet premiere of De rouille et d’os (Rust and Bone), the Trophée Chopard bash, L’Oréal Paris 15thAnniversary dinner and Calvin Klein’s ‘Women In Film’ celebration. Here’s what we thought of it!
The best-dressed of the day? It was Marion Cotillard all the way ‒ for me. The Dior Haute Couture ballgown she wore to the premeire of her film De Rouille et d’Os was simply divine! The strapless black bodice with sweetheart neckline, the navy tulle skirt nipped in at the waist with a metallic band… so simple yet so dramatic… It has Raf Simons written all over it! I had a look at Dior’s couture archives, starting from John Galliano’s time, and none of the gowns resembled this, which is why I think it’s the first sighting of #RafSimonsforDior!!
And the clever little product shilling she did for Chopard nicely rounded off this magnifique look: she did her hair in a voluminous bun and accessorized it with Chopard jewels.
I was knocked off by her day look, too! Again in Dior, but this time it was a lovely ready-to-wear S/S’12 number: a peach short-sleeved dress with a textured bodice and a floaty chiffon skirt. She teamed it up with a proper cute lemon Versus S/S’12 patent slingbacks. Très, très chic, in a way only those French lasses can… *sigh*
Freida Pinto was WOWSERS for the second night in a row at the red carpet. Okay, I’ll hold my hands up and say that I’m not at all a fan of the in-your-face Versace aesthetic, but Freida, made Versace look classy ‒ and that’s quite a feat, in my books. She looked every inch the Hollywood screen siren in this lime Atelier Versace Spring 2012 gown that had a lace top, thigh-high split Swarovski-encrusted skirt with double gold-lined sculptured detail on the hip. And, it looks like, Angie’s right leg has some competition! Ferragamo’s gold box clutch and satin peep-toes glamourously completed this look. A word, again, on her L’Or Electric make-up… I still like!
But it was her appearance later on, at the L’Oréal dinner, that got me all excited. She was wearing a Paco Rabanne A/W’12 piece!! Yep, it was from Manish Arora’s last collection for this messed-up fashion house (a
rant
blog post on this coming soon). I always felt Manish was criminally underappreciated so it’s good to see one of his creations get a high-profile outing, that too on a fellow Indian. This white silk-and-gold chainmail dress is not exactly my favourite from this supremely accomplished collection, but I’ll take anything! She paired the dress with Jimmy Choo ‘Linda’ sandals and white-and-gold Ferragamo clutch. If I’m going to nitpick, it’s going to be with the shoes; gold sandals would have brought out the stunning chainmail detail ever better.
Eva Longoria again disappointed me in the red carpet with the Emilio Pucci white silk plunging gown with a
manageable
train. The gripe I have is with the sheer geometric inserts, which looks kinda odd, no? Also, the Damaini Belle Epoque Collection earrings, I felt, were crying out for some company, in the neckline area. Neck up, though, she did look “electric”. The waves on her hair and the L’Or Electric make-up… Radiating!
At the L’Oréal dinner, again she cocked up! It was a Pucci (again!) A/W’12 number for her. I love this black cocktail dress; actually it was one on my faves from that collection. The strategically placed sheer inserts in this case vis-à-vis the white dress, made the simple LBD intriguing. But this ravishing dress has been let down by those Brian Atwood ‘Maniac’ black pumps (nice shoes, though!). They don’t scream sultry cocktail party, do they? If she had her hair done up in a bun, the shoes would’ve just about worked. She needed to slip on some strappy sandals, this time.
That Fan Bingbing is a right little princess! How regal did she look in that nude lace Elie Saab Spring 2012 Couture gown at the red carpet? As beautiful as this ensemble was by Elie Saab, I felt the cape was unnecessary, no? Or, it could be my Tom Ford
obsession
fascination talking: he set the bar
unattainably
so high for capes with that Gwynie’s Oscar number that everything else to me seems meh! Chopard jewels and jewelled Ferragamo box clutch added to the majestic vibe.
But I’ve nothing to pick on her ensemble to the Trophée Chopard bash. Clad in yet another embellished Elie Saab creation, a forest-green number most possibly from the ready-to-wear line, she was simply stunning. I’m not much of a jewellery person but those emerald Chopard jewels caught my eye. A Ferragamo black clutch completed the flawless look.
Being a L’Oréal gal, she had to be there at its anniversary soiree, and boy did she bring out her A-game one again! It was floral chiffon gown with bow accent from Valentino Spring 2012 Couture. I found that collection from Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli a little too precious for my liking. It’s tricky to pull off the numbers from that line, just look at Sarah Jessica Parker at the Met Gala, who looked like she nicked off granny’s much treasured table cloth and wrapped herself in it. Which is why I was so impressed by Fan. She looked ethereal. The top knot, that Ferragamo clutch, the coral lips, the natural make-up… It was flawless all around.
Right, she’s not wearing a frock but she still stood out ‒ in the nicest way possible. Lana Del Rey tootled off to the Trophée Chopard bash wearing an ivory single-breasted Moschino suit and, how lovely she looked! I liked how she kept everything neutral to let the serious Chopard bling ‒ 18K white gold necklace and earrings in heart-shaped rubellite tourmalines ‒ she had on be the focal point of her ensemble.
Oozing elegance at the red carpet was another L’Oréal (and Roger Vivier!!!) girl Inès de la Fressange. The white one-shouldered Grecian gown was simply otherworldly ‒ because of the greenery around the waist.
Okay, this one’s for the menfolk. Joshua Jackson’s Calvin Klein suit is ill-fitting, but what I’d like you to look at are the Lanvin trainers. I’m in love with them ever since I clocked my eyes at them at Mr P. Get them, get them!
P.S. De Rouille et d’Os has got killer whale/orca in it ‒ I’m so watching!