Fashion from Cannes: Heidi Klum looked like a marzipan cake from a patisserie, Caroline Daur like a luxury floor mop
The Cannes Festival this year reminded attendees of stricter dress code rules. Organizers made it clear that they do not want overly revealing dresses, oversized trains, or extravagant fashion statements that complicate movement on the red carpet. The goal was to refocus attention primarily on the films, not viral fashion moments. But was it successful?
Móda proti proudu
Názor PROTI PROUDU: Denisa Zajíčková
Did Kelly Rutherford Break the Rules?
The charming Kelly Rutherford showed that bold fashion can also appear elegant. She arrived at the Cannes festival opening in a black semi-transparent Giorgio Armani gown with long sleeves and prominent sparkle. However, under the camera lights, the dress revealed more than the new festival dress code would allow. This year's code specifically bans overly sheer outfits and nudity on the red carpet.
The actress known from the series Gossip Girl did not come across as cheap. On the contrary, thanks to her sleek hairstyle, black shoes, and Damiani jewelry with diamonds, she looked like a lady who knows exactly what she's doing. Her outfit was provocative yet still elegant. That's why it was talked about as one of the most interesting outfits at this year's Cannes. Whether it gave the organizers any headaches, only they know.
Demi Moore was the star of the red carpet
Actress Demi Moore clearly showed at Cannes this year why she is still considered one of the most stylish women in Hollywood. As a jury member, she alternated one striking outfit after another, but her Jacquemus brand ensembles drew the most attention.
During the day, she literally shone in playful cream-colored dresses adorned with colorful polka dots and confetti-like appliqués. The model from the Jacquemus Fall 2026 collection featured a distinctively shaped waist, bare shoulders, and a dramatic silhouette. The entire outfit was complemented by white pumps, a mini handbag, and retro glasses in the style of old Hollywood. Social media immediately split into two camps.
Some loved the dress and called it the most entertaining look of the festival, while others claimed it resembled an art experiment that had no place in Cannes. However, no one can fault Demi Moore for maintaining her famed elegance, and considering she will turn 64 this year, she looked incredibly youthful on the red carpet. She is simply proof that age is just a number.
A Modern Fairy Tale by Kimberley Garner
This year, Kimberley Garner bet on romance straight out of a modern princess fairy tale in Cannes. A floral gown with a huge train resembled a blooming English garden in the middle of spring and appeared gentle and exceptional alongside the dramatic black outfits of other stars. The pastel shades, corset bodice, and layers of light fabric teetered on the edge of cotton candy, but Kimberley surprisingly carried off the entire outfit well.
On the other hand, it is clear why Cannes is fighting against giant trains this year. Her dress took up half of the red carpet, and at times it felt like photographers were capturing not an actress, but a luxurious curtain from a romantic castle. For a moment, she also struggled with the train and had trouble positioning herself in front of the photographers in a way that would fit her gown into the lens. Nevertheless, she was among the women who understood one important thing. Cannes is not only about fashion but mainly about the moment when everyone turns to look at you. And she achieved that perfectly.
Názor PROTI PROUDU: Anděla Vostrá
Caroline Daur from the Ostrich Cabaret
German model Caroline Daur definitely didn't opt for minimalism at Cannes this year. She appeared on the red carpet in a dramatic black, red, and white gown, whose lower part resembled something between a giant ostrich boa, a carnival costume, and a luxurious floor mop. While the corseted top looked elegant and clean, the extravagant furry skirt was a bit too much. We might call the outfit bold couture art, but it seemed as if Caroline had fled from a fashion version of Swan Lake after a minor feather explosion. Still, she can't be denied one thing. Among the classic gowns, she was absolutely unmistakable and achieved exactly what most stars aim for at Cannes today. For their outfits to be talked about long after they leave the red carpet. Negative publicity is still publicity.
Heidi Klum's Wild Side
This year in Cannes, Heidi Klum stayed true to her reputation as a woman who never just wants to "look pretty" on the red carpet. The peachy-gold gown by Elie Saab, featuring a giant flower on the chest, dramatic ruffles, and a long train, looked like a luxurious marzipan cake from a Parisian patisserie. It's exactly the sort of outfit some would call a couture dream, and others a fashion madness.
Foreign fashion critics mainly agreed that Heidi once again ignored Cannes' attempt for more subdued elegance and fiercely did her own thing. Still, it cannot be denied that she carried off the entire outfit perfectly. With Heidi Klum, everyone is simply used to her standing out from the crowd. Her famous carnival costumes at parties, which are talked about worldwide, likely play a part in this. So when she wears a somewhat "sweeter" dress at an event that almost rots your teeth, no one is surprised anymore.
Aristocrat Emma Thyn without a hint of nobility
With Emma Thynn, we were sometimes unsure if she was heading to a glamorous premiere in Cannes or for a luxurious seaside dinner in Saint Tropez. The satin dress in a wild yellow shade, deep neckline, and neon shawl looked more like a perfectly stylish outfit for a summer vacation than a model for one of the world's most prestigious red carpets.
Honestly, we hope she was just strolling around the streets of Cannes in this and not heading straight to the premiere. If she was, the couture queens around her must have completely overshadowed her. On the other hand, as inspiration for a summer vacation, this look is absolutely great. Light, sexy, effortless, and exactly the type of outfit in which one can imagine holding a glass of prosecco at sunset somewhere by the sea. Not much fabric was needed to create it. Yet usually, Emma is a fashion queen who makes no mistakes. This time, however, she definitely won't be getting an A grade!
Sources: author's text, commentary, Profimedia
