The Festival De Cannes

The Festival De Cannes is the ultimate in the expression of style, beauty, and creative imagination. Escaping our prison of hoodies, sweatpants, and yoga clothes, we finally emerge from world-historic misery and arrive at a festival of fashion, color, and imagination.

It is the 75th year for the international film on the Côte d’Azur. Since 1946, the 12-day film competition has been the hallmark of world cinema and top-notch fashion.

Fashion is not random, frivolous, or vain. It can change and shape lives. It is the second biggest worldwide economic industry and is valued at 3 trillion dollars US. It is an expression of style and a reflection of our times. Each creation should transport us through the vision of the designer and move us beyond ourselves so we must dream. What we wear tells the story of who we are, or who we want to be. Diana Vreeland said, “You can see the world in clothes,” and she was right, the world comes alive in each garment, thread, and fold of the fabric.

While the festival is a magnet for camera lenses, paparazzi and eyeballs, the red carpet is L’air du Temps (“the air of time”) for fashion designers. It a feast for the eyes: the Academy Awards, the BAFTAs, and the Met Gala all rolled into one. It is a pivotal moment for brands to globally market collections and strategically launch current ideas. As onlookers, we see the haute couture, runway, and custom-made creations that are majestic displays of dreams made into wearable fashion.

The legendary red carpet was the center stage for designers such as Versace, Valentino, Armani Privé, Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, Gaurav Gupta, and Tony Ward. What we observe at In Step Beauty is fashion as a whole.
This is how fashion contributes to Beauty as Wellness, not just the popularity of the designer and their garment, or the fame of the celebrity.

It is the total package of dress, style, brand, and wow factor that made us create the list that follows.

Our Iconic Looks at Festival De Cannes 2022

Deepika Padukone

A Bollywood knockout with a glowing million-dollar smile, Deepika Padukone shines in a luxurious creation from Ashi studio. The deep orange hues are highlighted with a red vermillion tone. The dress is a magnificent structural creation that is as statuesque and beautiful as Deepika herself.

Sharon Stone

Sharon Stone turned heads in this emerald green strapless gown custom made by Dolce & Gabbana. The dress featured a velvet leopard print pattern with Swarovski crystals and a daring a thigh-high split. Smart, chic, and elegant, this dress makes her look triumphant on the carpet by accentuating her figure and the power of being a woman.

Catrinel Marlon

This Romanian-Italian athlete turned model turned actress is a true definition of a Renaissance woman. She expresses her brand, personality, and talent through cinema, theater, television, photography, fashion, and art. She looks like a celebration of life in this emerald, green sculpture dress by Gaurav Gupta. Crafted into a tight-fitting bodice and open neck, the dress becomes a botanical creation comprised of simultaneously of nature, art, and beauty. Via this tight waist and flowing gown with glistening crystals, she presents a glittering celebration of beauty and art.

Viola Davis

A Triple Crown recipient with a passion for life, Viola Davis reigned on the red carpet with a custom-made dress by Alexander McQueen. This vivid yellow dress with ruffled neckline complemented her skin tones and was a testimony to her powerful spirit. The dress with open neckline accentuates her collar bone, shoulders, and deep, rich, beautiful skin tone. Her natural and free flowing hair made a bold statement that she is living authentically and celebrating her best life. She embodies the strength, truth, and power that are inherent in beauty.

Helen Mirren

A Triple Crown recipient, Dame Helen Mirren looked like a newly lit flame on the red carpet thanks to her gown by Dolce and Gabbana. Her marigold yellow dress with form fitting waistline and flowing skirt illuminated the carpet. The dress was pure sunshine and showed off Dame Helen’s radiant spirit.

Sara Sampaio

Victoria’s Secret model and Giorgio Armani ambassador Sara floated over the red carpet in a sheer dress with tulle trim. The translucent fabric showed off her silhouette, while keeping a bit of mystery and intrigue. This Victoria’s Secret Angel embodied a truly elegant look.

Tang Wei

Award-winning, international movie star Tang Wei represented refined elegance on the red carpet via Fendi’s couture runway collection. This soft-hued elegant dress was a vision of sophistication and romance.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Bollywood actress, supermodel, and brand ambassador Aishwarya Rai Bachchan embodied a vision of Botticelli’s Venus on the red carpet with a custom-made sculptural creation by Gaurav Gupta. This was pure magic, imagination, and art. Inspired by the birth of Venus, Ashwarya looked incandescent in this architectural masterpiece.

Naomi Campbell

International supermodel actress, singer, and fashion icon Naomi Campbell was astounding on the red carpet with two glamorous looks by Valentino. The dramatic black haute couture gown with a plunging neckline covered in feathers, and a sheer pink gown embellished with iridescent pink feathers show the strength, power, and beauty of fashion.

Tilda Swinton

A Scottish noble, eclectic acclaimed actress, and avant-garde fashionista Tilda Swinton wowed us on the red carpet with an eye-catching white shirt dress by Alaîa. She was born to wear this classically styled collared shirt with impeccable tailoring in a full-length sleek design. Paired with optional men’s tuxedo jacket and free flowing mermaid style bottom, the garment is true to Tilda’s bold red carpet choices. This comfortable, wearable, avant-garde fashion defines fashion + art.

Fala Chen

Actress, director, martial artist, and member of the Marvel Universe Fala Chen glistened on the red carpet in a sleek shimmering sequined tile dress by Armani Privé. The column design was mesmerizing as the blue and red tiles glistened and gleamed a purple light. Its construction was impeccable, creating an elegant sophistication. Confident, beautiful, and elegant, Fala will continue to create magic as she enjoys life’s adventures and leaves no stone unturned.

Isabelle Huppert

Critically acclaimed, award-winning actress, and risk taker Isabelle Huppert posed a variety of looks on the red carpet by Balenciaga. While the innovative design of a head-to-toe green fitted dress, complete with gloves and leggings was a showstopper, our favorite was the black ball gown. It exemplified the qualities of a timeless classic: old world glamour, beauty, and charm.

Eva Longoria

Actress, producer, and beauty ambassador Eva Longoria electrified the red carpet in Alberta Ferretti. Wearing a mesmerizing sheer black gown with ruffled skirt embellished with sequins, the flowing fabric, exaggerated ruffles and thin straps made her sex appeal appear effortless. This dress is the ultimate luxurious roll in the hay.

Léa Seydoux

Award-winning actress and model Léa Seydoux glistened on the red carpet in custom Louis Vuitton: a black patent leather mesh gown embroidered with silver paillettes and crystals. As though they were strolling in Paris during the summer at midnight, the audience was seduced by the combination of leather & lace, exquisite detail, and refined elegance.

Rebecca Hall

Award-winning actress, director and Cannes juror, Rebecca Hall was breathtaking on the red carpet in a custom made pink and red gown embellished with crystals from Gucci. Everything was done right in this celebration of a dress, all the way down to the organza ruffled cuffs. A winning combination of vibrant colors, vintage appeal, and expert tailoring, it fits Rebecca’s shape, style, and mood. Seeing her makes you feel rejuvenated, alive, and carefree, like a bouquet of flowers waking you up saying, “Get out of bed; it’s going to be a great day.”

Anne Hathaway

Acclaimed actress, Academy Award winner, producer, and singer Anne Hathaway was resplendent on the red carpet, wearing Armani Privé. The soft pastel hues enhanced by the iridescent sequined fabric were like a soft, cooling, summer breeze that brought an atmosphere of peace. A column dress with a matching wrap, cascading down into a train, bearing exquisite tailoring and luxurious fabric contributed to a timeless and effortless look.

Grace Elizabeth

Model, actor, and brand ambassador Grace Elizabeth glittered on the red carpet. The silhouette-shaping gown and flowing train were like waves of sunshine that made her appear as a goddess atop Mount Olympus, or a crowning jewel on the Palace of Versailles. Effervescent and statuesque, this was a sensual bask in the rays of liquid gold.

Elle Fanning

Actress, brand ambassador, and international spokesperson, Elle Fanning was a vision from a Renaissance painting, floating down the red carpet wearing a blush-toned custom Armani Privé. Wearing a gown adorned in crystals with a fishtail train, Elle’s long blond hair and cherubic face helped to bring romance and drama. She looked like she walked out of a Caravaggio painting.

Diane Kruger

International actress, brand ambassador, model and style award recipient, Diane Kruger was breathtaking on the red carpet. Wearing a fitted strapless gown and long train dress by AMI Alexandre Mattiussi, it was a fun fashion moment to end the festival “fashion show” at Cannes.

Fashion is more than putting clothes on our bodies: it is the art of uniting beauty, creativity, vision, and style, resulting in a total package. When we celebrate this totality, fashion becomes an art that is healing, uplifting, and often soul satisfying. When we continually use this to uplift ourselves and others, it becomes beautiful and healing, and this is the definition of Fashion as Wellness.

Stay tuned for a follow up to this with the top 5 beauty looks from Cannes 2022!