OSCARS // CANNES SCENE STEALERS

For every film festival there’s the usual array of red carpets and subsequent “best dressed” round-ups. But considering the underlying theme behind the Cannes Film Festival (currently underway on the French Riviera and running until May 22) we’re more focused on what grabs our attention. We’d like to call these confections scene stealers, in no small part because they’re meant for turning heads, for better or worse. From over the top bridal-inspired ensembles (Fan Bing Bing), emerald jewels (Uma Thurman and Bianca Balti) to columns of shimmering gold (Diane Kruger), Cannes has been one dose of eye candy after another. Here are some of the notables to catch our eye:

Midnight Train

Deep midnight blue cropped up on not one but two stunning looks. Model Karolina Kurkova wowed in an Armani Privé mermaid gown with organza and Swarovski crystal detail on opening night, while Penelope Cruz showed off her post-baby figure later in the week in a sleek Stella McCartney cocktail dress for the Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides press conference.

We’re A Fan

Actress Fan Bing Bing is a bonafide mega star in her native China, but she’s still a relatively new face on the international scene. We suspect with her array of sparkling Cartier jewels and daring succession of fashions – a red aviary-inspired number on opening night, controversial lace bedecked gown for the Polisse premiere to the stunning Atelier Versace purple haze dress for The Artist screening – Fan will be fielding off global fans soon enough.

Cat’s Meow

New York native Rosario Dawson has been making the Cannes rounds, including a stop at the Calvin Klein Euphoria fete with womenswear designer Francisco Costa earlier in the week.  We like this leopard print maxi she wore to catch a performance by Duran Duran at the Belvedere (RED) launch party.

Leather Mama

Salma Hayek’s Gucci leather dress with chiffon flower shrug wasn’t our favorite look on the Cannes red carpet, but the pint-sized actress and producer does earn kudos for trying a daring look. That said, the fashion forward outfit would probably have been more successful on a less curvaceous frame and it doesn’t help that her Puss in Boots co-star Antonio Banderas is ready for a rodeo in denim on denim.

Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek in Gucci at "Puss in Boots" photo call. Photo: Getty Images

Emerald Eyes

Not quite an A-lister? Not a problem if you’re dripping in million dollar jewels. Italian model and sometimes actress Bianca Balti was one of the lesser known names gracing the red carpet but she turned plenty of heads with her emerald jewels by De Grisogono. The necklace plus earrings plus knockout ring was a bit matchy-matchy, but with baubles this precious we could hardly blame her. Paired with a cream, tiered silk chiffon Alberta Ferretti gown with black ribbon tie, Balti was quite the seaside vision.

Sculpture Garden

Indian beauty Aishwarya Rai took the architectural route in this Armani Privé gown. The two-tone gown featured a bustier-style dress in navy blue silk cady and asymmetrical white bodice in mirror-effect silk organza. The dress was splendid. The apparently matching asymmetrical updo? Not so much.

Going For The Gold

When you have a face and figure like Diane Kruger, sometimes the simplest cuts are best. The Inglorious Basterds actress channeled the famed Oscar statue in a custom “liquid” gold beaded Calvin Klein column. The loose waves and screen siren red lips added the perfect contrast.

White Hot

Sarah Jessica Parker wasn’t the only star in white, but the actress nailed the luxurious boho look in a Dolce & Gabbana belted frock at the Weinstein brothers-hosted Montblanc party. We could have skipped the multi-strand pearls, but considering her track record of fashion hits, we won’t hold it against her.  At the same fete, Chinese actress Tang Wei of Lust, Caution was also white hot. Tang chose a delicate, frilled version by Valentino. Meanwhile, Angelina Jolie was elegant in a three-quarter sleeve cream dress and monogram Louis Vuitton bag as she grabbed dinner (and was mobbed by paparazzi) at Tetou with husband Brad Pitt.

Seeing Red

Rachel McAdams gave red a new look in an embroidered Marchesa number with nude tulle. The Veronica Lake waves upped the glamour quotient.

Pinking Shears

While most starlets opted for floor-length gowns, Lea Seydoux played the fresh ingenue in a Louis Vuitton pink cap-sleeved, below-the-knee frock with ruched bodice for the Midnight in Paris opening.
By: Bee-Shyuan Chang