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24 of the Most Memorable Style Moments in Cannes Film Festival History

24 of the Most Memorable Style Moments in Cannes Film Festival History

From old school icons (Grace Kelly, Sophia Loren) to modern day style muses (Lupita Nyong’o, Blake Lively) see the all-time best gowns to ever hit the Cannes red carpet

By Colleen Kratofil

May 11, 2016 08:10 PM

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GRACE KELLY — 1955

Credit: Getty

The future princess of Monaco met the prince she'd marry one year later during her first outing on the French Riviera — and who can blame him for falling in love with her in this full-skirted ball gown, luxe fur stole, elegant bucket bag and sparkling earrings.

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SOPHIA LOREN — 1955

Credit: Getty

The Italian actress's corseted ball gown could be in the dictionary next to “classic movie star style” with its sweetheart neckline, elbow-high gloves, statement and fur wrap.

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NATALIE WOOD — 1962

Credit: Getty

The perfect accessory for the movie star's elegant styled updo and chic circle coat with white gloves? A date as good-looking as Warren Beatty.

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CATHERINE DENEUVE — 1966

Credit: Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty

If you couldn't tell by the column glittery striped gown, large hoop earrings and flippy hairstyle tied off with a bow headband, it was the height of '60s mod (and she was the very French standard-bearer for the look).

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PRINCESS DIANA — 1987

Credit: Anwar Hussein/Getty

Her pleated strapless gown with elegant scarf and matching drop earrings was so timeless, you'd never know she wore it in 1987.

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ELIZABETH TAYLOR — 1987

Credit: Getty

Elizabeth on the other hand, went full-out “Joan Collins on Dynasty” (no, seriously: Alexis Carrington Colby wore a nearly identical gown on the show) with a puffy-sleeve ball gown, spiky teased do and chandelier earrings.

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MADONNA — 1991

Credit: Dave Hogan/Getty

The singer arrived to the premiere of her film, In Bed with Madonna, in a cone-shaped bra, high-waisted underwear and a cover-up that very fittingly gave off bedsheet vibes.

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SANDRA BULLOCK — 2002

Credit: Corbis

The only thing more attention-grabbing than her ruffled, floral-print dress with sheer bodice was her date for the screening of Murder by Numbers — her then-boyfriend Ryan Gosling!

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JENNIFER ANISTON & BRAD PITT — 2004

Credit: Lionel Cironneau/AP

The then-couple were equally chic (Jennifer in a halter body-skimming Versace gown and Brad in a dapper tux) and equally gorgeous-looking at the Troy premiere.

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NATALIE PORTMAN — 2005

Credit: Phil Loftus / Capital Pictures / Retna

Her standard black dress may qualify as “most memorable,” but her hair (or lack thereof!) at the Kiss Kiss Bang Bang premiere was an unforgettable style statement.

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CATE BLANCHETT — 2006

Credit: Lily Palmberger/Celebrity Photo

Cate's kimono-style gown at the Babel premiere in 2006 was so unexpected and cool, it served as a great precursor of more Cannes hits to come.

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BEYONCÉ — 2006

Credit: Richard Lewis/WireImage

Post-Destiny's Child and pre-Sasha Fierce, Bey channeled her movie star side in a sweetheart-neckline print gown at the Dreamgirls screening.

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ANGELINA JOLIE & BRAD PITT — 2009

Credit: Dominique Charriau/WireImage

The couple's Inglourious Basterds premiere looks were both sexy and classic, making them the reigning Cannes couple.

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JENNIFER LOPEZ — 2010

Credit: Le Segretain/Getty

J.Lo doesn't often go fully covered-up, but her head-to-toe feathered look at amfAR's Cinema Against AIDS Gala proves that she still manages to look crazy-sexy regardless of how much material she's wearing.

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PENÉLOPE CRUZ — 2011

Credit: Bauer-Griffin

She's the unofficial princess of the Cannes red carpet – she goes nearly every year and always wears something bold, like this sheer, pouffy, beaded gown at the Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides premiere.

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DIANE KRUGER — 2012

Credit: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty

Diane's closing ceremony Dior Haute Couture gown is actually more memorable for what happened behind the scenes. She told PeopleStyle she had to remove the huge bodice every time she went to the bathroom and after eating dinner it became so tight she couldn't breathe. “Josh [Joshua Jackson] had to come with me to the ladies' room and cut me out of it. It was crazy!”

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BLAKE LIVELY — 2014

Credit: Tony Barson/FilmMagic

We voted Blake's Gucci Première gown at The Captive premiere one of her best Cannes moments yet, and she agreed, telling PeopleStyle, “It might be my favorite look I've ever worn. I just love that old school glamour.”

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JESSICA CHASTAIN — 2014

Credit: EPA

With a little help from a Mother Nature, Jessica's violet Elie Saab gown's wind-blown cape took the look to the next level.

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JANE FONDA — 2015

Credit: George Pimentel/WireImage

The then-77-year-old pulled off cutouts — cutouts! – on her sexy royal blue gown at The Sea Of Trees screening. Enough said.

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CHARLIZE THERON — 2015

Credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

With two attention-grabbing features (that sunshine yellow hue and long, flowy train) there's no way her Dior gown to the Mad Max: Fury Road premiere could be missed — or forgotten.

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LUPITA NYONG'O — 2015

Credit: George Pimentel/WireImage

No one has mastered the red carpet twirl quite like Lupita (see every spin here), but one that still tops them all is her “grasshopper green” Gucci gown at the opening ceremony premiere of La Tête Haute.

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KENDALL JENNER — 2015

Credit: Gisela Schober/amfAR15/Getty

Who could ever forget Kendall's amfAR Cinema Against AIDS Gala Calvin Klein Collection gown that sparked the twirl-off of the decade?

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JULIA ROBERTS - 2016

Credit: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock

Yes, Julia looks stunning in her black Giorgio Armani Privé gown and sparkling 52-carat emerald pendant by Chopard. But what we'll never forget is the fact that she walked the carpet sans shoes. At an event that is known to turn women away for wearing flats, this was very revolutionary. Bravo.

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BLAKE LIVELY - 2016

Credit: Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment/PA Images/Startraks

It's almost impossible to pick a favorite red carpet moment from Blake's 2016 visit to Cannes. She dressed up like Cinderella (and nailed it!) then wore a cutout skin-tight gown while pregnant (and looked amazing!) but it was her bright blue Atelier Versace gown that stunned the most because of its jaw-dropping high slit and dramatic train.

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24 of the Most Memorable Style Moments in Cannes Film Festival History

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GRACE KELLY — 1955

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SOPHIA LOREN — 1955

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NATALIE WOOD — 1962

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CATHERINE DENEUVE — 1966

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PRINCESS DIANA — 1987

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ELIZABETH TAYLOR — 1987

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MADONNA — 1991

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SANDRA BULLOCK — 2002

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JENNIFER ANISTON & BRAD PITT — 2004

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NATALIE PORTMAN — 2005

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CATE BLANCHETT — 2006

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BEYONCÉ — 2006

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ANGELINA JOLIE & BRAD PITT — 2009

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JENNIFER LOPEZ — 2010

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PENÉLOPE CRUZ — 2011

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DIANE KRUGER — 2012

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BLAKE LIVELY — 2014

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JESSICA CHASTAIN — 2014

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JANE FONDA — 2015

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CHARLIZE THERON — 2015

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LUPITA NYONG'O — 2015

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KENDALL JENNER — 2015

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JULIA ROBERTS - 2016

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BLAKE LIVELY - 2016

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