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Cannes Film Festival In Cannes Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg© GIRIBALDI

Cannes Film Festival: 25 best dresses of all time

From Margot Robbie to Grace Kelly, here are the gowns that will go down in history

Lauren Ramsay
Fashion and Lifestyle Writer
Updated: May 28, 2024
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There are not many occasions more sartorially exquisite than the annual Cannes Film Festival. And narrowing down the number of iconic fashion moments is virtually impossible, for an event that has been as much about the red carpet glam as the film premieres since the 1950s. 

It may be one of the ‘Big Three’ of the European film festivals (alongside Venice and Berlin), and one of the ‘Big Five’ international film festivals (Venice, Berlin, Toronto and Sundance in Salt Lake City), but Cannes undoubtedly brings a fashion agenda that captures the glamorous, luxurious landscape of the French Riviera. 

Zoe Saldana cannes © Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock
Zoe Saldana proves more is more when it comes to la Croisette

From Sofia Loren in the 1950s, to Diana Ross in the 1970s, Princess Diana in the 1980s, the supermodels of the 1990s and the naughties It-girls who started the beloved Y2K trend, all the way up to Anne Hathaway stealing the show in Armani Prive in 2022. There has never ever been a dull fashion moment.

What is the Cannes Film Festival dress code?

"To attend the Gala screenings, a dinner jacket (tuxedo) with a bow tie or evening dress is required. In the absence of this, you may wear a cocktail dress, a dark trouser suit, a dressy top with black trousers, a black dress, a black or midnight blue suit with a bow tie," explains the official 'Festival de Cannes' guide, "Elegant shoes, with or without heels, are required. Trainers are forbidden. We ask our attendees to avoid bringing backpacks, tote-bags or large bags." During day events the dress code is much more relaxed however, "For other screenings, proper attire is sufficient."

Cannes Film Festival's 25 best fashion moments of all time:

1/24

Naomi Campbell attends the "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" at  77th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 15, 2024 © Getty

Naomi Campbell - 2024

Naomi Campbell rocked the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, showing us all that true style is timeless. The legendary supermodel wowed the crowd as she sashayed down the red carpet for the screening of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Her stunning Chanel couture dress from 1996 was a total showstopper.

2/24

Coco Rocha - 2024© Daniele Venturelli

Coco Rocha - 2024

Coco Rocha turned heads on the La Plus Precieuse Des Marchandises red carpet, dazzling in a stunning Cheney Chan dress. Channeling the beauty of a calla lily, her gown featured delicate petals with a sparkling bedazzled border, adding the perfect touch of floral magic to Cannes.

3/24

Natalie Portman during the "May December" red carpet during the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 20, 2023 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Gisela Schober/Getty Images)© Getty

Natalie Portman, 2023

Natalie revived one of Dior's most iconic dresses in 2023. The actress stunned in a custom strapless gown that was inspired by the Junon dress that Christian Dior himself created for his AW collection in 1949/50. Iconic.

4/24

Alessandra Ambrosio attends the "Jeanne du Barry" Screening & opening ceremony red carpet at the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 16, 2023 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)© Getty

Alessandra Ambrosio, 2023

There is no flex more major than wearing vintage on the red carpet, and Alessandra stunned in a sheer burgundy gown from Elie Saab's Fall/Winter 2005 collection, featuring a glitzy hood.


5/24

Viola Davis  at the "Monster" Screening & Red Carpet at the 76th Cannes Film Festival held at the Palais des Festivals on May 17, 2023 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)© Getty

Viola Davis, 2023

Viola looked ethereal in a dramatic dress and matching textured cape designed by Valentino.

6/24

Iris Law attends the "Monster" red carpet during the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 17, 2023 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage)© Getty

Iris Law, 2023

This moment lives rent-free in our heads. Jude Law's model daughter wore an outfit that was as appropriate for Cannes as it was for a night out in Mayfair - and that's what we love about it. Her ensemble was a Saint Laurent masterpiece.

7/24

Anne Hathaway at Cannes, 2022

Anne Hathaway, 2022

The devil wears Prada, but Anne Hathaway wore Armani Prive for her Cannes red carpet debut, and stole the show whilst doing so.

8/24

Deepika Padukone at Cannes, 2022

Deepika Padukone, 2022

The actress stole the red carpet in 2022, hands down. For the closing ceremony, she took the traditional saree and gave it the most exquisite contemporary twist. She wore a custom off-white ruffled gown by Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla, paired with an equally as scintillating pearl necklace that draped across her entire neckline.

9/24

Bella Hadid at Cannes, 2021

Bella Hadid, 2021

The supermodel has had many-an-iconic Cannes red carpet moment, but this gold Schiaparelli bra was sensational.

10/24

Margot Robbie at Cannes, 2019

Margot Robbie, 2019

Margot Robbie was the moment in this Chanel ensemble. Black-sequinned cigarette pants paired with a pink baby-doll top was truly sensational.

11/24

Kristen Stewart  at Cannes, 2018

Kristen Stewart, 2018

Though we loved Kristen's custom Chanel couture mini dress, this moment was even more memorable because she took off her Christian Louboutins and walked barefoot across the red carpet in protest. Women were reportedly denied access to certain premiere's wearing flat shoes.

12/24

Blake Lively at Cannes, 2016

Blake Lively, 2016

For the premiere of The BFG Movie, Blake stunned in a bright blue Atelier Versace gown that we were unsure she'd ever be able to top. Cue: her Met Gala appearance six years later...

13/24

Angelina Jolie at Cannes, 2011

Angelina Jolie, 2011

Queen of the red carpet Angelina Jolie stopped the audience in their tracks as she walked down the stairs in 2011. The silk custom Atelier Versace gown with a thigh-high split is one of her best of all time.

14/24

Naomi Campbell at Cannes, 2010

Naomi Campbell, 2010

Naomi glimmered in a slinky custom Roberto Cavalli dress.

15/24

Jennifer Aniston at Cannes, 2004

Jennifer Aniston, 2004

One of the most iconic Cannes photos ever? Jennifer Aniston stepped out with former husband Brad Pitt wearing a slinky white beaded number by Versace.

16/24

Kate Moss at Cannes, 1998

Kate Moss, 1998

Kate and Johnny Depp were the undisputed King and Queen of Cannes style. in 1998 Kate wore a black vintage feather-trimmed dress to the Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas premiere. Almost ten years later she replicated the dress for her first ever design collaboration with Topshop.

17/24

Johnny Depp and Sharon Stone, 1992© Getty

Sharon Stone, 1992

This dress became a moment for the actress, solidifying her status as a red carpet daredevil. Her monochromatic dress with a major plunge became arguably her most memorable look in history. 

18/24

Madonna at Cannes, 1991

Madonna, 1991

An iconic outfit, an iconic photo. Madonna stole the show when she arrived wearing nothing but a Jean Paul Gaultier cone bra, with high-waisted briefs and a satin cape. The cone bra went on to become one of her signature outfits.

19/24

Princess Diana at Cannes, 1973

Diana, Princess of Wales, 1987

In one of her most iconic fashion moments, the late princess wore a powder blue chiffon gown by one of her favourite designers, Catherine Walker. Elizabeth Debicki then paid homage to Diana and this outfit for the premiere of The Crown, in which Elizabeth plays the character of Lady Di.

20/24

Diana Ross  at Cannes, 1973© Gilles GIRIBALDI

Diana Ross, 1973

Diana made headlines in 1973 by wearing a three-piece tuxedo suit to the Academy Awards. She wore a stunning embellished gown with an oversized collar to Cannes later that year.

21/24

Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin at Cannes film festivals, France On May 15, 1974.  (Photo by GIRIBALDI/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)© GIRIBALDI

Jane Birkin - 1974

Jane Birkin wore a 1920's style dark blue mini dress adorned with shimmering gold sequins to attend Cannes with her partner Serge Gainsbourg. She paired it with sheer navy tights and silver strappy heels. She carried her signature wicker basket and completed the look with natural, loose hair. Tres chic.

22/24

Elizabeth Taylor - 1957© Express Newspapers

Elizabeth Taylor - 1957

When Elizabeth Taylor attended Cannes with her husband, producer Mike Todd in 1957 she donned an elegant, off-the-shoulder white gown with a draped shawl accentuated by a sparkling brooch. The notorious magpie accessorised with a tiara, drop earrings, and white gloves.

23/24

Sophia Loren at Cannes, 1955

Sophie Loren, 1955

Italian actress Sophia personified old Hollywood Glamour in a strapless broderie anglaise and tulle ball gown, paired with an elegant fur stole, contrasting opera gloves and a statement necklace

24/24

Brigitte Bardot at Cannes, 1953

Brigitte Bardot, 1953

Brigitte was the ultimate bombshell in Cannes this year, posing at the beach in bikinis which was scandalous at the time. She then stole the red carpet in a tulle ball gown and a fur stole. Iconic.

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