64th Annual Cannes Film Festival Red Carpet Report: Le Divas-- A Fashion Report Card!

64th Annual Cannes Film Festival Red Carpet Report: Le Divas-- A Fashion Report Card!

Cannes Queens:


Penelope Cruz in Marchesa Fall 2011: Attending the Premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" in a lavender colored embroidered silk tulle Marchesa gown from one of my favorite collections from that design firm. We saw actress Rachel McAdams, during the Opening Ceremonies and "Midnight In Paris" Premiere, also wearing a gown from the same collection. Penelope looked stunning--as usual. Her hair, pulled-back with only bangs showing was perfect for "topping off" this gown. She loves a "Mermaid/Flamenco" silhouette and this was a new way of showing this. The simple drop earrings and small clutch finish the look impeccably. Olé!
Grade: A

Soonam Kapoor in Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2009 Haute Couture: Attending "The Artist" Premiere at the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival. Indian Bollywood actress Soonam Kapoor became an instant COUTURE DIVA at the Cannes Film Festival, wearing this silk organza with MAJAH Horsehair hem detailed ivory-and-black gown from Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring 2009 Haute Couture Collection--from two years ago. Since probably no one actually ordered this hand-made gown--it makes sense to get it out of the Gaultier Couture Archives and have it be worn...One word: WORK!
Grade: A.

Li Bingbing in Georges Chakra Spring 2011 Haute Couture: The beautiful Chinese-born actress wore an Haute Couture (one-of-a-kind/hand-made) creation from Lebanese fashion designer Georges Chakra attending "The Artist" Premiere. It was a strapless "Princess Ball Gown" in baby-blue tulle with original torso and bustier applique. This gown could easily have gone into Disney and Quinceañera mode, but it still somehow, did not.
Grade: B.

Fan Bingbing in Elie Saab Haute Couture Fall 2009: Attending the "Polisse" Premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Chinese-born actress and singer Fan Bingbing has quickly positioned herself to be the Cannes Red Carpet DIVA!!! Here, she wore a white Elie Saab Fall 2009 Haute Couture Gown from one of my favorite collections from this Lebanese fashion designer. The elongated and VERY exaggerated lace re-embroidered sleeves are FABU-licious!!! No need to eat with this gown (can you imagine getting one of those sleeves in your mushroom soup!), it's all about stepping onto the Red Carpet, posing and SERVING IT to them!!! The only thing she--and/or her stylist--did wrong: The earrings and necklace. They were SO not needed. Therefore...
Grade: A-

Fan Bingbing in Atelier Versace Spring 2011: Oh Fan, you are my new Red Carpet Obsession! Either you have a FAB stylist with LOTS of connections, or your PR Department is working OVERTIME, but seriously, you have become a COUTURE DESIGNER'S new "Wet Dream". Here is Chinese-born actress/singer Fan Bingbing (and new-found fashionista muse!) attending the "Wu Xia" Premiere in a Versace Atelier Spring 2011 ombre silk "Mermaid" gown. It's a GORGEOUS gown but something happened from her hotel limo ride to the red carpet--and the wrinkles show it! It's very difficult to keep silk Habotai pressed darlings. Hand-held steamer anyone?
Grade: B-

Fan Bingbing in Versace Atelier Spring 2011: Attending "The Artist" Premiere, my new favorite girl, Fan Bingbing wore a Versace Atelier Spring 2011 purple ombre strapless bustier and crinkled organza ruffle gown. Since the gown itself--estimated at about $50,000 if she were actually to buy it--is so "Costume-y" and reminiscent of the late 19th/early 20th Century, I would have advised her to do a more modern hairstyle (like in the Look Book Photo above). But she didn't, and therefore , it sort of threw her entire look off, and made her look almost--dowdy.
Grade: B-

Fan Bingbing in Chris Bu Kewen: Finally, during the Opening Ceremony Red Carpet earlier in the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival, Miss Fan Bingbing wore a red silk printed strapless gown with a Watteau back designed by her stylist, Chris Bu Kewen. It's very Christian Dior by John Galliano "Madama Butterfly" Spring 2007 Haute Couture Collection, and therefore: I LOVE it! This is the first "Cannes Red Carpet Impression" lots of "Who-is-Fan-Bingbing" folk got of her, and well, WOW: That's a great First Impression!
Grade: A.

64th Annual Cannes Film Festival Red Carpet Fashion Report Card: Who Gets an "A"?

64th Annual Cannes Film Festival Red Carpet Fashion Report Card: Who Gets an "A"?

Grading the Cannes Girls...

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Armani Prive Spring 2011: Well, well well, Miss Aishwarya, you are really trying to BRING IT my dear! First Elie Saab Haute Couture, and now Armani Prive Spring 2011. Both of these gowns--if she were to actually pay for them--would cost in the vicinity of $30,000-$40,000. And the former Miss World just gets them for free darlings, because she (the Armani reps hope) will say OVER and OVER again, when interviewed, that she's wearing ARMANI Prive and millions upon millions in her country will see that and hopefully buy his perfume...But besides this, she looks pretty spectacular. Simple, geometric and a great silhouette. One complaint is I think the higher part of the bustier might be a tad bit too short and I also like the original metallic fabric of the bustier better. Grade: A-

Rachel McAdams in Monique Lhuillier Spring 2011: Sporty and elegant. Rachel began Cannes in an over-the-top Marchesa gown fit for a Gallery Exhibition, but now she's in a very wearable wide-legged pant ensemble with strapless bustier top. Although pants might seem an unusual choice for the RC, Rachel clearly has decided to mix it up at the festival and although she might not be getting it completely right, she certainly is getting noticed. What's also nice is seeing the NATURAL WAIST of a woman. So OVER low-slung pants. That's so 2003. I would have loved that same skinny gold belt used on the runway look. There's just "something" missing. Grade: B+

Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson: I'm in LOVE with Diane and Joshua. In. Love. Love that she's all-out Glamour and he's like "Are these the MTV-France Awards?" I'm not usually a fan of men--at big red carpet award events--trying to give "high-low". The tux and sneakers thang should stay within the "Nickelodeon Awards" circles. But with that being said, I will give cutie Joshua a pass. I couldn't find who designed Diane's gown but I will take a wild guess and say (maybe) Ralph Lauren, (maybe) Michael Kors, only because of its "Pattern 101" simplicity and clean lines. But I may be wrong. I like 'em both. Grade: A-

Bryce Dallas Howard in Reem Acra: OK, before you say anything: No, she is not pregnant! So, with that disclaimer, WHY oh WHY would she chose a MATERNITY DRESS??? No. No. And No. The Empire line is way to high and should be dropped 2 inches--at least. I usually love Reem Acra and she has a BIG strong pr team backing her to show gown after gown on the red carpet. But, this one was a miss. Grade: C-

Jane Fonda in Emilio Pucci: Seriously Jane. Stop It! And when I say "Stop It!", I mean KEEP GOING!!!! This woman is 73 years old. I'm sorry but I don't know many 73 year old woman who can bust out a column, form-fitting Emilio Pucci gown like this. Truth be told, I don't know many 23 year old women who could do this!!! Grade: A

The 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival Red Carpet- Opening Ceremony and "Midnight In Paris" Premiere

The 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival Red Carpet- Opening Ceremony and "Midnight In Paris" Premiere

Le Tapis Rouge...

The 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival just began and well, as expected it's a COUTURE Runway-worthy Red Carpet, when it comes to the Glammed-Up Divas. This is NOT "Kid's Stuff" when it comes to the clothes. And what's also a bit more fun about Cannes is that both actresses and designers feel a bit more fearless about showing those usually-Runway Only creations on the Red Carpet, whereas if this was America, well, maybe not so much...

Let's take a look at some of last night's Red Carpet Ladies:

Rachel McAdams in Marchesa Fall 2011: This is a STUNNER of a gown. It really just belongs up on a podium to be seen and admired. Actress Rachel McAdams looks beautiful but she sort of gets swallowed up by the gown. Maybe too much gown for her. What do guys think? (I am sooooo afraid of what that silk tulle train looked like afterward by the way!!)

Uma Thurman in Versace Fall 2011: Uma is breathtaking in this ivory strapless Versace feathered gown from Donatella's Fall 2011 Collection. Love that she kept it simple with little-to-no jewelry and clean swept-back hair. Let the fact that you are like SEVEN FEET TALL and that gorgeous gown do its magic!

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Elie Saab Couture Spring 2011: The "Most Beautiful Woman In The World" , Indian-born actress, and former "Miss World 1994" Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wore an Elie Saab light periwinkle all-over hand-beaded one shoulder gown from the House's Haute Couture Spring 2011 Collection. She is SERVING it up darlings! Give it to them Aishwarya!

Ines de la Fressange: French Supermodel, entrepreneur, fashion designer--and one time Chanel/Karl Lagerfeld Muse--Ines de la Fressange, is THE definition of French Effortless Chic. One shoulder black gown with twisted/knot drapes, and on her feet: Beaded "thong" sandals: J'adore!!

Gong Li: Chinese born Singaporean actress Gong Li wore a purple strapless "Mermaid" silhouette gown for the Opening Ceremonies of the Cannes Film Festival. The gown is pretty. Where she failed was in adding the diamond earrings, the necklace and that hair! She looks like the Mother of a Bride here at some lavish wedding in Dubai. Slick the hair back in a ponytail or modern chignon, remove the jewelry and voila...better (I think).

Bianca Balti and Fawaz Gruosi: Fawaz Gruosi, in case you didn't know, is the owner and founder of de Grisogono, one of the most sought-after jewelry and watch makers of his generation. Apparently Bianca is married (and not to him!) so I am assuming she is a model in this situation. Or maybe there might be trouble waiting back at his palazzo when he returns...Her jewelry is STUNNING by the way. What BILLONAIRE Russian Arms Dealer does someone have to marry to get these???

Faye Dunaway: Three Words: Caftan and Faye Dunaway. Done and done!