As we gear up for this year’s celebration of the French riviera and film, let’s take a look back.
Some people plan their year out around the seasons, some by sporting events. Here at Emirates Woman we think of it in terms of red carpets, and the Cannes Film Festival is one of the big ones.
Running from May 8 to 19 this year, Cannes has that south-of-France glamour, and major star power both in terms of the stars on the red carpet and the designers who them.
Read:
Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki is up for the top award at Cannes
Jessica Chastain had a bow-down moment in an Arab gown
We thought we’d take a look back at some of our favourite Middle Eastern style moments from the festival in recent years.
Aishwarya Rai
Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco set Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai up for the ultimate princess moment at Cannes in 2017.
In soft blue with a sweetheart neckline and a voluminous skirt, it’s a dream ball gown. Rai wore it well.
The same year, Rai opted for an elegantly ruched number from Lebanese house Ashi Studio. Outstanding.
Winnie Harlow
Sticking with ball gowns for a moment, this electric blue silk number on model Winnie Harlow is a triumph.
Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad created the look in 2017.
Jessica Chastain
Molly’s Game star Jessica Chastain also teamed up with Murad last year to bring us one of our favourite looks of the year.
The beading, the cutout back, the sweeping train—there’s a lot to love. An absolute classic.
Izabel Goulart
Murad was really in charge of the Cannes red carpet last year. This look, on Victoria’s Secret model Izabel Goulart, is stunning.
We love the firework embroidery and the body-conscious silhouette.
Fan Bingbing
That’s not to say Elie Saab didn’t also have a strong showing. This powder-blue caped gown, complete with gold belt, is timeless and elegant in the extreme.
It might be one of our favourite ever red carpet looks, not just from Cannes. Beautiful.
Amal Clooney
Lebanese human rights lawyer (and our perennial style icon) Amal Clooney wore this swoon-worthy pale yellow Atelier Versace in 2016.
Fingers crossed she makes an appearance or two this year. We need more of this in our lives.
Jessica Kahawaty
Lebanese-Australian lawyer, model and beauty queen Jessica Kahawaty donned these Saab designs back in 2016, and we think you’ll agree they were both very successful.
From the look of Kahawaty’s Instagram story, she’s in Cannes already. Fingers crossed there are some local designs in her suitcase…
Sara Sampaio
Last up is Portuguese supermodel Sara Sampaio in another show-stopping Murad design. We love the drama, and the return of that firework pattern also seen on Goulart above.
Here’s hoping we can expect more of the same over the coming days…
Images: Getty, Instagram
