Bazaar Editors Pick the 24 Best Cannes Dresses of All Time

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When people complain that red carpets have lost their pizzazz, you can be nearly certain they’re not talking about Cannes. The annual film festival’s parade of dresses is notoriously the most glamorous of the season. Idyllically located on the French Riviera, with enough space to accommodate swanning around in billowing gowns, Cannes recalls a bygone era of glitz and glamour.

The festival’s carpet also has a strict set of unspoken rules: No shorts. High heels only. Short skirts not preferred. And most recently, no nudity or voluminous trains. Some of the most iconic looks in Cannes history have broken the code though, like Madonna stripping down to a Jean Paul Gaultier cone bra in 1991, or Kristen Stewart taking off her Christian Louboutin stilettos to walk the carpet barefoot in 2018. But others—such as Princess Diana’s icy-blue Catherine Walker gown in 1987, or Hunter Schafer’s liquefied silk Armani dress from 2024—perfectly encapsulate what people envision when they think of unadulterated elegance.

The 23 best looks, according to Harper’s Bazaar’s editors, run the gamut from risk-taking to perfectly poised. But what they all have in common is an unapologetic air of opulence. See every single one below.

1) Jane Birkin, 1974

I love Jane Birkin’s 1970s-does-the-1920s tiered, sequined dress for Cannes in 1974. The ribbon sash, the long necklace, and the transparent tights make it so her. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Birkin ensemble without her basket—this time wrapped with a silk scarf at the handle. —Camille Freestone, senior digital fashion writer

2) Pamela Anderson, 1995

Pam Anderson in a chic black leather corset and black pants was such a moment at Cannes in the early ’90s. I love the silliness and rebelliousness of it all: her getting off a Barb Wire–branded sailboat and standing on a dock doing full S&M, bombshell fashion camp in the French Riviera. Parfaite! —Brooke Bobb, fashion news director

3) Yseult in Dior, 2024

When Yseult attended the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival, she completely stole the show with a recreation of Dior’s iconic “New Look” silhouette from 1947. This wink to fashion history was particularly special here at Bazaar, given that the “New Look” term was coined by former editor in chief Carmel Snow, and Yseult totally killed it. As she later said in an interview: “I went through Dior’s archives, and for this first collaboration, it was important to me to wear the house’s most iconic cut. It turns out my stylist was doing his research, and that was the look he had in mind for me. We instantly knew this was the look for Cannes.” They were both right. –Joel Calfee, assistant editor

4) Sharon Stone in Valentino, 1995

For the premiere of Isaac Mizrahi’s documentary Unzipped, Sharon Stone wore a silver Valentino skirt that was buttoned only once, revealing a pair of hand-beaded hot pants underneath. Stone set a new precedent, proving that Cannes looks don’t have to be entirely serious to ooze the glamour the red carpet is famous for. —CF

5) Kate Moss in Jean Dessès, 1998

Vintage fashion queen Kate Moss looked amazing in a black feathered 1950s Jean Dessès dress she wore to Cannes in 1998—long before wearing archival dresses on the red carpet was popular. —Nicole Fritton, executive fashion director

6) Madonna in Jean Paul Gaultier, 1991

When Madonna went to Cannes in 1991 to promote Madonna: Truth or Dare, which documented the controversial Blond Ambition tour, she re-created her Jean Paul Gaultier cone bra look set against all the black tuxedos. For this version, she wore a voluminous pink taffeta jacket by Gaultier, a white satin cone bra, high-waisted knickers, and garter belt. —CF

7) Princess Diana in Catherine Walker, 1987

Her Royal Highness Diana’s 1987 ice-blue draped custom Catherine Walker gown was inspired by the one worn by Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief—an homage from one fashionably glamorous princess to another. —Miguel Enamorado, accessories director

8) Parker Posey, 2015

I’ve always been a Parker Posey superfan—she brings that kind of “What’s she going to do next?” energy to everything she touches, and this Cannes look is no exception. I still remember when these photos came out, and I’m just as charmed today by how fully committed she is to the look—from the sequins to the turban to the shades to the posing. She is a constant delight! —Leah Chernikoff, executive editor

9) Bella Hadid in Hushidar Mortezaie, 2024

Pretty and purposeful, Bella Hadid’s 2024 dress made up of red keffiyehs was a beautiful display of her heritage—and came at a time when the world needed to see more bold displays of Palestinian pride. Easily one of fashion’s most memorable political messages in recent history. It’s also just plain fab. —Zizi Strater, social media manager

10) Natalie Portman in Dior, 2023

In 2023, Natalie Portman referenced the famous Junon dress originally debuted in Christian Dior’s Fall/Winter 1949–50 runway collection. Her recreation featured an ivory strapless bodice, a skirt made up of petal-like tiers, and flecks of ocean-blue sequins and beads embroidered throughout. —CF

11) Bella Hadid in Schiaparelli, 2021

Bella is the modern-day queen of Cannes. My favorite look of hers is this Schiaparelli with the gold jewelry piece across the bust that she wore with the asymmetric updo. It’s fantasy and hot and really directional for Cannes. —Lynette Nylander, executive digital director

12) Hunter Schafer in Armani Privé, 2024

Hunter Schafer is truly in a league of her own when it comes to red carpet dressing. When she and her stylist Dara get together, they’re pretty unstoppable. It should come as no surprise that Schafer’s Cannes red-carpet debut was a memorable one. For the premiere of Kinds of Kindness, the actor wore a steel blue design from the Armani Privé Spring 2011 collection, which was composed of silk organza that looked like liquefied metal. It was a remarkable fashion sight to behold. –JC

13) Catherine Deneuve in Yves Saint Laurent, 1966

A muse to many—including designer Yves Saint Laurent—Catherine Deneuve may as well have written the handbook on how to wear a classic wardrobe staple but make it glamorous. She looked so elegant in her sparkling short-sleeved YSL dress on the 1966 carpet. —Jaclyn Alexandra Cohen, senior fashion and accessories editor

14) Gemma Chan in Oscar de la Renta, 2021

I was absolutely gobsmacked when I saw Gemma Chan in this custom Oscar de la Renta dress at Cannes in 2021. It just does such cool things to the idea of the red carpet “naked” dress. I love the interplay of the gold flowers and the cutout parts, especially the giant bloom by her neck, and it fits her like a dream. —Izzy Grinspan, digital director

15) Meg Ryan, 1994

This to me is the epitome of ’90s cool: a satin baby tee-dress worn with chunky black clogs. Meg Ryan always had the best short tousled cuts of the decade. I would wear this today. —Laia Garcia-Furtado, deputy culture director

16) Alex Consani in Schiaparelli, 2025

It is nearly impossible for Alex Consani to not look fab—but she outdid herself with this 2025 red carpet moment. Wearing an all-black custom Schiaparelli set, this was quite the way to make a Cannes debut.—ZS

17) Tilda Swinton in Alaïa, 2022

It’s hard to make red carpet dresses feel personal, but Tilda Swinton always manages to deliver a look that feels so her. I’m obsessed with this gown version of a crispy white Alaïa tuxedo shirt. —CF

18) Gwyneth Paltrow in Chanel, 2008

Gwyneth Paltrow can do no wrong in my book, and her flawless red carpet appearances speak for themselves. I would love to see her bring back this Chanel gown from the resort 2009 collection that she wore to the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. The midnight blue satin, black trim, and plunging neckline tempered with a black bow made the perfect storm of fashion-forward glam. The slender silhouette balanced out coquettish silk ribbons tied along her shoulders. And the choice to forego a predictable pair of evening sandals for Roger Vivier platforms? Genius. There’s something a little Y2K about the floating hemline with the sky-high heel, but the millennial in me is here for it. —Jennifer Jenkins, assistant accessories editor

19) Faye Dunaway, 1976

I watched Chinatown the other day and have since been in a Faye Dunaway style rabbit hole. She does ’70s glamour in such a cool, distinctive way. I love this relaxed skirt suit she wore to Cannes in 1976. The jacket in particular is perfectly nonchalant, especially with that easy tied belt. Extra points for the lacy camisole and ladylike heels. —CF

20) Chloë Sevigny in Chanel, 2018

Selecting a favorite Chloë Sevigny Cannes moment is difficult, but her 2018 look for the screening of Everybody Knows (Todos Lo Saben) is hard to beat. Pulled from Karl Lagerfeld’s Fall 2016 couture collection for Chanel, the gown oozed effortless It girl glamour—that perfect balance of classic femininity and rockstar edge. —Sophie Wang, weekend editor

21) Björk in Alexandre Matthieu, 2000

Early aughts fashion will always make me think of asymmetric lines, and the very electroclash color combination of pink and black. This is a perfect look down to the neon green accessories and Björk’s hair. —LGF

22) Charlize Theron in Dior, 2015

I’ve always loved how simple this Dior couture gown seems at first glance, but when taking a closer look, you can see how much detail is incorporated. Between the curved neckline, the squared-off seam running across the bust, and the exaggerated draping pouring down the back, this dress is pure elegance and a match made in heaven with Charlize Theron at the Cannes red carpet.—Erin Turner, assistant fashion editor

23) Margaret Qualley in Chanel, 2025

I love everything about this look — the baby soft chiffon, the black bow, the camellia, and the neckline — it’s a Chanel dream come true. As an ambassador of the house, Margaret Qualley has worn enough Chanel to fill a few closets, but this haute couture gown she wore to the 2025 Cannes Film Festival is a standout. Inspired by a similar version from the house’s 1990 haute couture collection, it was blissfully nostalgic and timeless.—JJ

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