The 2025 Cannes Film Festival unfolded as a breathtaking ode to the past, with the world’s most glamorous stars trading fleeting trends for the enduring elegance of vintage fashion.

At the French Riviera, the Croisette became a stage for fashion history, as archival treasures and meticulously recreated couture pieces took center stage. Even with Bella Hadid’s early departure for the UK launch of Orebella—her absence felt, given her penchant for show-stopping archival looks in recent years—there was no shortage of sartorial nostalgia.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by GIVENCHY (@givenchy)

Amal Clooney, ever the queen of the archives, commanded attention in a black off-shoulder John Galliano for Dior gown at the Bono: Stories of Surrender premiere, while Rooney Mara channeled timeless grace in a strapless white masterpiece from Hubert de Givenchy’s Spring 1956 haute couture collection.

Meanwhile, Natalie Portman—who famously resurrected the legendary 1949 Junon gown at Cannes in 2023—paid homage to Dior once more in a black-and-silver stunner from the Fall 1951 collection. From Jennifer Lawrence’s 1949 Poulenc dress to Zoey Deutsch’s bow-adorned Chanel dream—remade from the Spring 1956 archives for her film Nouvelle Vague—the festival proved that true style is eternal.

Here are our favorite vintage dresses from the Cannes Film Festival

1/10

Natalie Portman Sporting a recreation of a Dior fall 1951 haute couture gown

2/10

Amal Clooney Wearing a Dior by John Galliano gown

3/10

Rooney Mara In a strapless white gown from Givenchy’s spring 1956 haute couture collection

4/10

Lux Pascal In an archival Georges Chakra gown

5/10

Zoey Deutch Wearing a recreation of a Chanel spring 1956 haute couture dress

6/10

Jennifer Lawrence Wearing a recreation of Dior’s Poulenc dress

7/10

Irina Shayk Wearing an archival Armani Privé fall 2019 gown

8/10

Irina Shayk In a vintage Yves Saint Laurent gown

9/10

Alessandra Ambrosio Wearing a Balmain 1987 haute couture gown

10/10

Ariana Greenblatt In an archival Chanel spring 1993 look

As the final curtain fell on Cannes 2025, one truth became undeniable: vintage fashion isn’t just a trend—it’s a legacy. The festival’s red carpet was a masterclass in timeless elegance, where every stitch and silhouette whispered tales of couture’s golden age.

Whether it was Amal Clooney’s Galliano drama, Rooney Mara’s Givenchy purity, or Natalie Portman’s Dior revival, these looks transcended mere clothing—they were wearable art, each with a story to tell. Even the absence of Hadid, a modern muse of archival fashion, couldn’t dim the glow of these resurrected treasures.

Cannes Film Festival’s best-kept secret: Where do the stars dine beyond the red carpet?

Beyond the glitz, Cannes 2025 sparked a deeper conversation about preservation, reinvention, and the enduring power of craftsmanship in an era of disposability. As the stars bid adieu to the Croisette, one question lingered: How will next year’s festival top this celebration of fashion’s rich history?

– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram

Images: Instagram Feature Image: Instagram