The fashion fest that was the 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival went out with a big bang on Day 12, with the premiere of the French film Thérèse Desqueyroux and the Winners Dinner. FYI, Sonam Kapoor was seen in both these events. But it was quite the salivating showing for fashion watchers. Come, come, quick, let’s see!
Diane Kruger. At the premiere of Thérèse Desqueyroux. Words are failing me. For want of a better expression I’m going to say that she looked ah-may-zing! The checkered sleeveless ball gown with sporadic black lace embroidered details from Christian Dior Spring 2012 Couture was jaw-droppingly gorgeous. It harked back to Monsieur Dior’s ‘New Look’ era and like a screen siren from that age, she waltzed down that red carpet.
It’s not just Diane’s selection of this gown for the closing ceremony that amazed me, but also the way she styled it. She kept the look as bare as possible ‒ with just the ‘Envoutant Sillage’ earrings in white gold set with diamonds from Boucheron being the only accompaniments ‒ to let the über voluminous gown be the showstopper. And how it did. No?
She looked magnificent too at the Winners Dinner. She really is the epitome of elegance and beauty. It was a beige-and-black full-length Jenny Packham A/W’12 shift gown with matte hot-fix studs and Swarovski-embellished cuffs, which she accessorized with a mother-of-pearl striped Edie Parker clutch ‒ and a very dapper Joshua Jackson. Yep, he looked mighty fine, too, in a black tuxedo jacket with contrasting satin peak lapels, white dress shirt with black buttons (details, details, guys ‒ take note!!) and an interesting pair of patent black lace-ups. Needless to mention, the trouser length was just right (or else I wouldn’t have showered so much praises on his outfit!). Most definitely the best-dressed couple in the world, agree with me?
French actress Audrey Tautou looked oh-so-chic, in a way the French women only can, in a custom vintage-looking Prada dress at the red carpet of Thérèse Desqueyroux. The cream tea-length duchesse cotton and organza dress with hand-painted and embroidered pieces of wood, crystals and brass, was so girly yet feminine. Aww… love it!
Another French actress looking effortlessly chic (the French way!) at that red carpet was Melanie Datou. She made the decidedly trashy houndstooth print long-sleeved Emilio Pucci A/W’12 gown with a daring central split and nipped at the waist with a black belt look so sophisticatedly sexy ‒ ah, to be French! Oh, check out her black Sergio Rossi ‘Chloris’ sandals ‒ lust-at-first-sight-worthy, no?
Andie MacDowell and her daughter Sarah Margaret Qualley made for a delightful twosome at the red carpet of Thérèse Desqueyroux! Andie opted for a Giorgio Armani gown yet again, a baby pink strapless draped number with some folding on the bodice. She dressed it up with a chunky silver cuff and some delicate diamond earrings. Oh, gotta say Andie’s blush satin pumps were bit of an eyesore. Sarah wore a modified version of Elie Saab S/S’12 gown, a flowing forest green silk-chiffon number with a heavily embellished bodice, a thigh-high side split and accented at the waist with a thin green belt. I loved that Sarah didn’t go for any accessories to let the gorgeous gown shine through.
Kylie Minogue was at the premiere, too. It was an underwhelming Roberto Cavalli number for her. The baby blue chiffon gown with a plunging neckline and some diamante embellishment was just meh!
Wish she had gone for a bigger necklace because the white gold one set with pear-shaped diamonds (36.60 carats) she sported from Chopard’s ‘Red Carpet’ collection looked sparse and hence kinda needless. Jimmy Choo ‘Sierra’ metallic platform sandals were her footwear of choice on this occasion.
Singaporean actress Gong Li looked rather plain at the premiere. The white Christian Dior S/S’12 chiffon gown accented with a sparkly black belt, although beautiful, just didn’t have the drama or the glamour that the red carpet on the last day of Cannes demands.
Model Anja Rubik in a glossy black Roberto Cavalli number with serious cutwork detailing and sky-high slit was tacky through and through. Ugh. Then again we’re looking at the poor man’s Versace’s creations. She paired the excuse of a gown with a couple of rings from Chopard, a white gold one set with diamonds and a yellow gold hedgehog ring. Her twining Giuseppe Zanotti sandals were gorge, though!
Bérénice Bejo looked ethereal at the closing ceremony in a delicate white Christian Dior strapless chiffon gown with a sweetheart neckline that has been accented at the waist with a belt.
She kept the styling simple, with only a ring as accessory. That ring, though, was quite intriguing. It was from Chopard’s ‘Red Carpet’ collection, a white gold ring set with a heart-shaped emerald (31.34 carat) which was paved with even more emeralds and pear-shaped sapphires.
Right, Sonam Kapoor. I praised her when she did a good job for the Gucci–Vanity Fair party and when she was randomly photographed outside Hotel Martinez. But this time, sadly, I can’t muster up one single word of praise for her. The Alexander McQueen Pre Autumn (err, Pre Fall) 2012 tulle embroidered gown was too fussy for my liking to begin with. But I can imagine someone like Cate Blanchett, Florence Welch, Evan Rachel Wood, Kristen Stewart and a few more wearing it and actually making it work. Sonam, unfortunately, neither has the personality nor the face to pull off this gothic look. It’s no fault of Sonam’s though, McQueen creations are not for everyone, it takes a specific personality to pull them off. FYI, what you see on Kate Middleton is not your average McQueen, that’s them bending backwards to accommodate the future Queen’s style. The platinum gold diamond cluster earrings and a pear-shaped diamond ring (11.38ct) from Chopard were lost in that congested ensemble. Her L’Or Electric make-up too was not in the least wowser. And get me started on those pointy velvet pumps.
She fared infinitely better at the Winners Dinner. The deep red velvet strapless gown with a pouffy skirt by Dolce & Gabbana was more like Sonam. The bejewelled headband was just the right touch of whimsy. I wished though that she didn’t go for matching pumps, it was bordering on overload. She could’ve had more fun here by playing with the textures; say patent black pumps would’ve brought out the lovely dress even more.
That’s me finishing off with my tardy 2012 Cannes Film Festival coverage. Phew. Cheers for reading! Hope you enjoyed… 🙂
Here’s a recap!
Day 1 of Cannes Film Festival: The Fashion Round-up!
Day 2 of Cannes Film Festival: The Fashion Round-up!
Day 3 of Cannes Film Festival: The Fashion Round-up!
Day 4 of Cannes Film Festival: The Fashion Round-up!
Day 5 of Cannes Film Festival: The Fashion Round-Up!
Day 6 of Cannes Film Festival: The Fashion Round-up!
Day 7 of Cannes Film Festival: The Fashion Round-up!
Day 8 of Cannes Film Festival: The Fashion Round-up!
Day 9 of Cannes Film Festival: The Fashion Round-up!