Skip to Content

28 best Cannes Film Festival dresses ever

From Brigitte Bardot and Grace Kelly to Nicole Kidman and Helen Mirren, here are 28 super stars showing off the most beautiful dresses ever to grace the Cannes Film Festival's red carpet.
By Penny Travers
Red, Formal wear, Dress, Pink, Fashion, One-piece garment, Waist, Public event, Day dress, Costume design,
1

Brigitte Bardot

Clothing, Dress, Shoulder, Photograph, Joint, Floor, Standing, Shoe, White, Formal wear,
Created in the 1940s, the Cannes Film Festival became a truly glamourous affair when celebrities started attending in the '50s. Hollywood favourite Brigitte Bardot set the tone in this gown with floral sash and white gloves, worn in 1954.

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
2

Sophia Loren

Trousers, Dress, Coat, Bridal clothing, Photograph, Outerwear, Standing, Formal wear, Gown, Suit,
It doesn't get much fancier than this lace ballgown, seen on Sophia Loren in 1955.

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3

Grace Kelly

Coat, Trousers, Event, Shirt, Suit, Dress, Outerwear, Formal wear, Style, Dress shirt,
Posing here with Alfred Hitchcock, Grace Kelly fully embraced the flowing dresses of the '70s with this sheer number from 1972.

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
4

Catherine Deneuve

Trousers, Dress, Standing, Photograph, Coat, Formal wear, Suit, Style, Vintage clothing, Blazer,
French actress Catherine Deneuve looked stunning at the 1966 festival in a shimmery striped dress, complete with white gloves.

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5

Mia Farrow

Style, Formal wear, Blazer, Monochrome, Monochrome photography, Black-and-white, Vintage clothing, One-piece garment, Day dress, Fashion design,
Never one to conform to trends, Mia Farrow lit up the red carpet for the premiere of Rosemary's Baby in Cannes in 1968 in an Oriental-inspired metallic dress with statement necklace.

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
6

Princess Diana

Clothing, People, Coat, Event, Trousers, Dress, Shirt, Suit, Photograph, Outerwear,
Princess Diana attended the Cannes Film Festival in 1987 in a dreamy pastel blue silk chiffon gown with matching scarf.

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

Kate Moss

Clothing, Coat, Trousers, Shirt, Red, Outerwear, Formal wear, Suit, Dress, Style,
Was there ever a cooler couple than Johnny Depp and Kate Moss? Note how Ms Moss matched her black feather dress to his tux in this 1998 appearance.

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
8

Claudia Schiffer

Dress, Formal wear, Gown, Fashion model, Fashion, Neck, Blazer, Haute couture, Long hair, Blond,
Claudia Schiffer is a Cannes regular, and we love this gold number she wore in 2000.

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9

Nicole Kidman

Clothing, Dress, Flooring, Event, Trousers, Coat, Shoulder, Joint, Outerwear, Carpet,
Nicole Kidman has worn many a beautiful dress on the Cannes red carpet, and this zesty Dior number from 2013 is one of our favourites.

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
10

Juliette Binoche

Event, Flooring, Shoulder, Carpet, Outerwear, Coat, Suit, Style, Formal wear, Dress,
In 2002, Juliette Binoche's black slip number inspired us all to embrace minimalist dresses.

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11

Jennifer Aniston

Clothing, Coat, Event, Trousers, Hat, Dress, Flooring, Suit, Shirt, Outerwear,
How fab did Jen look in her fitted cream dress in 2004?

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
12

Diane Kruger

Clothing, Face, Coat, Dress, Event, Trousers, Shirt, Textile, Photograph, Suit,
Oh we do love a feather dress!

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13

Penélope Cruz

Clothing, Coat, Dress, Trousers, Event, Shirt, Suit, Outerwear, Formal wear, Style,
From the luxurious embellished ballgown to the huge jade necklace and tight chignon, Penélope Cruz absolutely nailed this red carpet look in 2003.

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
14

Marion Cotillard

Event, Flooring, Carpet, Premiere, Formal wear, Dress, Gown, Public event, Red carpet, Haute couture,
Marion Cotillard's black and navy gown at the festival in 2012 is pure perfection, as is her impeccable chignon.

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
15

Angelina Jolie

Clothing, Event, Yellow, Flooring, Trousers, Dress, Coat, Outerwear, Carpet, Suit,
Angelina wore yellow in 2007 while accompanying Brad Pitt to the premiere of Ocean's Thirteen.

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
16

Charlize Theron

Clothing, Outerwear, Flooring, Dress, Carpet, Style, Fashion model, Fashion, Waist, Gown,
Charlize Theron looked majestic in mint green at the 2004 festival.

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
17

Cate Blanchett

Clothing, Flooring, Event, Dress, Trousers, Carpet, Outerwear, Coat, Suit, Premiere,
Another winning red carpet dress by Cate Blanchett in 2008.

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
18

Emmanuelle Beart

Clothing, Flooring, Event, Dress, Outerwear, Carpet, Premiere, Formal wear, Style, Coat,
French actress Emmanuelle Beart opted for pink in 2006.

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19

Helen Mirren

Flooring, Event, Dress, Premiere, Carpet, Formal wear, Style, Suit, Fashion, Gown,
Helen Mirren looked the picture of happiness in 2007 in a bright yellow dress.

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
20

Julianne Moore

Shoulder, Red, Textile, Joint, Flooring, Style, Pink, Dress, Formal wear, Strapless dress,
Simple yet elegant.

Like this? You'll love…
31 stunning Oscars dresses
The best celebrity lace dresses
More fashion from GH
Watch Next 
Red, Formal wear, Dress, Pink, Fashion, One-piece garment, Waist, Public event, Day dress, Costume design,
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Style advice

radley handbag

My new favourite bag is by.. Radley. Yes, really

uniqlo swing jacket

This transitional swing jacket works on everyone

getty, marks and spencer

The M&S barrel jean just got an irresistible tweak

& other stories, next, marks & spencer

Affordable fashion buys for now and next season.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
boden autumn

10 brilliant buys from Boden's autumn collection

crochet tops

We've found the best crochet tops

skirt suits

This laid-back skirt suit changed my summer style

boden sale

Boden's sale is bursting with summer style staples

sweatshirts, reinvented! sweatshirts just got smarter, and more chic.

Sweatshirts, reinvented! Here's the best, from £25

m&s midi skirts

Why M&S new midi skirts are perfect for now & next

jazz shoes

Will you get into jazz shoes before they go viral?

monsoon denim dress

The best denim dresses to wear now and in autumn

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below