Cannes 2023; the Best and Worst Dressed from opening night, including Blake Lively and Princess Diana

In a previous life (I will share more of that another time) I did spend a lot of time flying around the world interviewing A-list stars at premieres and glamorous events. However, as yet (yet being the operative time), I haven’t had the chance to cover the Cannes Film Festival. 

Although I of course am obsessed with the Oscars and less so with the Met Gala, I have to admit that the Cannes Film Festival is pretty much up there for me in terms of fashion and A-list celebrity events. Putting the films aside just for a moment (sorry Benjamin Jackson), fashion is of course equally (if not more) important. 

Looking back on the Cannes Film Festival from over the years, I have picked out some stars who have made my Best Dressed and Worst Dressed List.

Best Dressed List

Elizabeth Taylor in 1957

For me, it is impossible to write about the Best Dressed stars at the Cannes Film Festival without looking back to Old Hollywood and in particular, Elizabeth Taylor. Although she looked very elegant in her dress, it was all about the accessories. According to Tatler, Elizabeth Taylor wore a tiara which was “a gift from Taylor’s third husband, the film producer Mike Todd, was an antique diamond tiara featuring nine round brilliant stones set atop a fleur-de-lis and lattice motif.” Mike Todd died a year later in a plane crash and Tatler revealed that the tiara was “sold at Christie’s for over $4 million, sixty times the estimate.”

Princess Diana in Catherine Walker in 1987

Although this is definitely not one of my favourite Princess Diana looks, she still looked incredibly elegant in an ice blue (very 2023) strapless Catherine Walker dress. It was reportedly inspired by the gown that Grace Kelly wore in the film To Catch A Thief.

Nicole Kidman in Dior, 2013

Nicole Kidman and Dior are a fashion match made in heaven. Nicole looked so ladylike in a strapless floral Dior dress that she accessorised with coral shoes, a high ponytail and a pop of colour o her lips. 

Blake Lively in Gucci, 2014 

Blake Lively should offer masterclasses in dressing for red carpet events, and always looks particularly elegant at the Cannes Film Festival. I loved the black and white Gucci Premiere tuxedo dress she chose for the Cannes Film Festival back in 2014. With a slick of red lipstick and with Ryan Reynolds on her arm, she had the perfect accessories!

Lupita Nyong’ o in Gucci, 2015

I can assure you that it is pure coincidence that I have chosen another Gucci dress, but the dress that Lupita Nyong’ o wore to the Cannes Film Festival in 2015, just had to feature on as part of my Best Dressed List. Truth be known, I love everything about the dress, and generally I just adore Luptia’s style in general. Aside from the vibrant green, I adore the intricate embroidery and judging by her twirling around in the dress, Lupita clearly enjoyed wearing it too.

Avid fashion observers may have noticed that two years later, Beyonce wore exactly the same dress when she was pregnant. She of course, looked equally as fabulous in it.

Bella Hadid in vintage Jean Paul Gaultier, 2021

I LOVE colour, so to choose a black and white dress shows you that it has to be something truly special. Bella Hadid looked incredible in the vintage Jean Paul Gaultier dress she chose to wear to the festival’s opening ceremony and Annette premiere back in 2021. The halter-neck gown featured a sheer black train and was dramatic, yet incredibly chic at the same time.

Anne Hathaway in Armani Privé in 2022

Anne Hathaway looked like the perfect Princess in a white sequin column dress by Armani Privé. The jewellery of course helped- Anne wore Bulgari’s Mediterranean Reverie necklace, which features 10.715 carats of royal blue sapphire from Sri Lanka. 

Worst Dressed List

Larisa Katz in 2013

Unfortunately, or fortunately for all our sakes, I cannot find any information about this dress. However, I think it might be from one of Larisa’s own designs. It is certainly eye-catching but not for the right reasons. 

Laetitia Casta in Dior (with gold feathered bolero) 2013

You would have to ask Laetitia Casta why she decided to throw this rather strange gold feathered bolero over her Christian Dior dress. Perhaps she thought the gown was too simple on its own. Whatever the reason behind her decision, unfortunately for her, the overall look did not work at all!

Karlie Kloss in Valentino, 2014

If you think its enough to be a model to make it onto PeopleWorld’s Cannes Best Dressed List, you can think again. Unfortunately for Karlie Kloss, she has made it onto our worst dressed. Everything about this dress is WRONG. The burgundy colour is wrong, the lace is wrong (and that takes a lot for someone who loves lace) and the see through element is wrong. Even her messy up-do is wrong…. 

Meredith Mickelson in a sheer wrap dress, 2019

Oh dear, oh dear Meredith. There is sheer and then there is sheer! If Meredith thought this dress was edgy, I am afraid she made a terrible mistake. Not only did it barely protect her modesty (in other words) it didn’t, it is just tacky….