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22 of the most daring outfits celebrities have ever worn to the Cannes Film Festival

Amanda Krause   

22 of the most daring outfits celebrities have ever worn to the Cannes Film Festival
Irina Shayk at the Cannes Film Festival on May 24, 2017.Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Getty Images
  • Since 1946, celebrities have attended the Cannes Film Festival in showstopping attire.
  • Madonna and Bjork were some of the first celebrities to bring bold fashion to the event.
  • Stars like Bella Hadid and Winnie Harlow have experimented with cutouts, sheer panels, and more.

Vanessa Redgrave paired a volumized hairdo with a standout jumpsuit at the 1967 Cannes Film Festival.

Vanessa Redgrave paired a volumized hairdo with a standout jumpsuit at the 1967 Cannes Film Festival.
Franco Nero and Vanessa Redgrave at the Cannes Film Festival in 1967.      Gilbert Tourte/Getty Images

The singer's outfit included a long-sleeved, high-necked shirt worn over tights that covered her hips, legs, and feet.

Both pieces were made from the same circle-print fabric and small buttons.

Bianca Jagger helped pioneer the "naked" trend at the event almost a decade later.

Bianca Jagger helped pioneer the "naked" trend at the event almost a decade later.
Helmut Berger and Bianca Jagger at the Cannes Film Festival in 1975.      Gilbert TOURTE/Getty Images

For the 1975 festival, the Nicaraguan actress and human-rights advocate wore a long-sleeved dress that had a black skirt with a short slit. The garment also had a sheer bodice covered with a strategically placed leaf print.

Jagger completed the look with black sandals and a matching beret.

Madonna essentially turned undergarments into high fashion for the 1991 event.

Madonna essentially turned undergarments into high fashion for the 1991 event.
Madonna at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of her film in 1991.      Dave Hogan/Getty Images

She attended the premiere of her film "In Bed with Madonna" that year while wearing a white, cone-shaped bra above a high-waisted pair of form-fitting shorts.

Madonna accessorized with a pink coat, dangling gold earrings, and red lipstick.

Bjork stood out in 2000 while wearing a ruffled pink dress and blue kitten heels.

Bjork stood out in 2000 while wearing a ruffled pink dress and blue kitten heels.
Bjork at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2000.      Dave Hogan/Getty Images

The midi dress, which she wore to the "Dancer in the Dark" premiere, had sheer balloon sleeves and a ruffled skirt that pointed outwards.

The musician paired the unique garment with vibrant pink tights, blue kitten heels, and a shoulder bag shaped like a polar bear.

Jada Pinkett Smith's neon gown in 2012 had more than one daring detail.

Jada Pinkett Smith
Jada Pinkett Smith at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2012.      Mike Marsland/Getty Images

The strapless dress had a gold-plated neckline that almost reached her collarbone, and a thigh-high slit on the side of its semi-sheer skirt.

The latter part showed off her gold sandals, while her slicked-back hair highlighted the gown's bodice.

Li Yuchun, also known as Chris Lee, became one of the first to wear a suit-style ball gown during the 2016 festival.

Li Yuchun, also known as Chris Lee, became one of the first to wear a suit-style ball gown during the 2016 festival.
Li Yuchun at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2016.      Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Getty Images

The black gown — worn for "The BFG" premiere — had sleeves that doubled as fingerless gloves, and a sharp neckline that plunged to Yuchun's stomach.

And whereas most of the musician's gown was made from a shining, leather-like material, its lapels were seemingly created from velvet.

Irina Shayk paired a bold print with a leather corset for a 2017 Cannes screening of "The Beguiled."

Irina Shayk paired a bold print with a leather corset for a 2017 Cannes screening of "The Beguiled."
Irina Shayk at the Cannes Film Festival on May 24, 2017.      Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Getty Images

Her high-neck, long-sleeved dress was semi-sheer with a black striped pattern from top to bottom. Around her waist, the model covered up with a leather corset.

Shayk also wore an updo hairstyle, neutral makeup, and heels with statement gold straps.

The next day, Bella Hadid attended the event's amfAR Gala in nude underwear and a sheer, sparkling overlay.

The next day, Bella Hadid attended the event
Bella Hadid at the Cannes Film Festival on May 25, 2017.      David M. Benett/Getty Images

Her daring dress was asymmetrical, with a strap across one shoulder and another strap hanging across her other arm. The gown's bodice was also sheer and decorated with rows of crystals, while its skirt was see-through and had a thigh-high slit.

To complete the glamorous outfit, Hadid wore a tall bun and silver sandals with straps that wrapped around her ankles and shins.

Shanina Shaik was at the same event in a metallic, loose-fitting gown.

Shanina Shaik was at the same event in a metallic, loose-fitting gown.
Shanina at the Cannes Film Festival on May 25, 2017.      Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images

Her dress was sleeveless, and its bodice was cut thin to reveal the sides of her chest and waist. It also had hip-high slits across its skirt, which extended to the floor past her silver heels.

To complement the dress, the model wore a silver cuff and geometric diamond earrings.

In 2018, Cate Blanchett wore a dress that almost looked like it wasn't finished being made.

In 2018, Cate Blanchett wore a dress that almost looked like it wasn
Cate Blanchett at the Cannes Film Festival on May 10, 2018.      George Pimentel/Getty Images

She arrived at that year's screening of "Cold War" in a sleeveless A-line dress with a high neckline and bubbled high-low skirt.

But whereas the bottom of her gown was covered in a colorful floral print and sequins, the rest was black and white with numbers in between each illustration — just like a color-by-number painting.

Deepika Padukone looked stunning in a bold fuchsia gown at that year's screening of "Ash Is Purest White."

Deepika Padukone looked stunning in a bold fuchsia gown at that year
Deepika Padukone at the Cannes Film Festival on May 11, 2018.      George Pimentel/Getty Images

Her ruffled dress had sky-high sleeves that extended up toward her head, and a high-low skirt that extended into a train behind her. The gown also had a plunging neckline.

The Indian actress also wore shining purple pumps, aqua earrings, and a bun hairstyle.

Kendall Jenner wore one of her most daring looks to date at the Chopard Secret Night during the 2018 Cannes festivities.

Kendall Jenner wore one of her most daring looks to date at the Chopard Secret Night during the 2018 Cannes festivities.
Kendall Jenner at the Cannes Film Festival on May 11, 2018.      Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Jenner wore her green, chain-mail minidress, which was entirely sheer, with only nude underwear beneath it. The model also donned pointed pumps from Christian Louboutin and gold earrings.

The next day, she hit the red carpet in another see-through dress for the "Girls of the Sun" screening.

The next day, she hit the red carpet in another see-through dress for the "Girls of the Sun" screening.
Kendall Jenner at the Cannes Film Festival on May 12, 2018.      Venturelli/WireImage

This time around, she opted for a white, ruffled gown with a plunging neckline, sheer straps that covered her chest, a tiered skirt, and a bedazzled white belt around her waist.

Jenner wore the Schiaparelli Haute Couture design with a seahorse broach made from diamonds and seafoam-green crystal earrings.

Aishwarya Rai looked like a butterfly in her purple gown on that same red carpet.

Aishwarya Rai looked like a butterfly in her purple gown on that same red carpet.
Aishwarya Rai at the Cannes Film Festival on May 12, 2018.      Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

The Indian actress wore a multicolored sleeveless gown with a print that mirrored butterfly wings. The mermaid-style dress also had a train made from the same fabric attached to her hips, and it fanned out behind her.

Equally bold were Rai's drop earrings and fuchsia lipstick.

Though Kristen Stewart opted for a more classic look at the 2018 festival, she took the daring approach of ditching her heels halfway through the red carpet.

Though Kristen Stewart opted for a more classic look at the 2018 festival, she took the daring approach of ditching her heels halfway through the red carpet.
Kristen Stewart at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2018.      Eric Gaillard/Reuters

While attending a screening of "BlacKkKlansman," Stewart walked the red carpet in a silver minidress with long sleeves and sharp embellishments, and a pair of black Louboutin heels with pointed toes.

Stewart seemingly removed the shoes to make a statement against the Cannes policy that requires women to wear heels on the red carpet.

Winnie Harlow wore an edgy dress for the "Solo: A Star Wars Story" screening that year.

Winnie Harlow wore an edgy dress for the "Solo: A Star Wars Story" screening that year.
Winnie Harlow at the Cannes Film Festival on May 15, 2018.      George Pimentel/Getty Images

Her dark gown was sleeveless and made from a metallic material that wrapped around her neck to form two cutouts across her chest and waist. It also had a wrap-style skirt that had a slit in the front and extended to the floor in the back.

For accessories, the model wore strappy sandals, a silver cuff, and maroon lipstick.

Alessandra Ambrosio also embraced cutouts and skirt slits that day at the 2018 Cannes De Grisogono party.

Alessandra Ambrosio also embraced cutouts and skirt slits that day at the 2018 Cannes De Grisogono party.
Alessandra Ambrosio at the Cannes Film Festival on May 15, 2018.      John Phillips/Stringer/Getty Images

She walked the red carpet in a black gown that had long, sheer sleeves, a deep V-shaped neckline, and a floor-length skirt with a long slit across the front.

The dress also stood out thanks to its diamond-shaped cutouts, which were encrusted with crystals and placed around the waist like a belt.

In 2019, Ngoc Trinh arrived at the festival in a showstopping black dress with daring details.

In 2019, Ngoc Trinh arrived at the festival in a showstopping black dress with daring details.
Nhoc Trinh at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2019.      Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images

Not only was the model's halter dress made from sheer black fabric, but it also had a diamond-shaped cutout. The gown's skirt was also sheer, and only covered her front and back — not her sides.

Soo Joo Park wore a scarf as a shirt for the 2019 "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" screening.

Soo Joo Park wore a scarf as a shirt for the 2019 "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" screening.
Soo Joo Park at the Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2019.      Marc Piasecki/Getty Images

Her white top perfectly matched her high-waisted pants, platform heels, and blonde bob. The actress also wore silver jewelry, red lipstick, and a studded belt with her outfit.

Leomie Anderson sparkled in gold-flecked shorts on the same red carpet.

Leomie Anderson sparkled in gold-flecked shorts on the same red carpet.
Leomie Anderson at the Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2019.      George Pimentel/Getty Images

Extra fabric was added to the back of her shorts, creating a long train and ruffles at her waist. Speaking to The Guardian, Anderson revealed that she helped create her outfit with designer Rami Kadi.

Meredith Mickelson wore a unique wrap over an edgy bodysuit for the "Rambo: Last Blood" screening.

Meredith Mickelson wore a unique wrap over an edgy bodysuit for the "Rambo: Last Blood" screening.
Meredith Mickelson at the Cannes Film Festival on May 24, 2019.      Dominique Charriau/Getty Images

The asymmetrical overlay was made from a transparent black material that looked a bit like latex.

Underneath the top layer, which had cutouts across her waist and a thigh-high slit on its skirt, the model wore a beige bustier-style bodysuit and strappy heels.

In 2021, Noemie Merlant attended the Cannes opening ceremony in an unconventional pantsuit.

In 2021, Noemie Merlant attended the Cannes opening ceremony in an unconventional pantsuit.
Noemie Merlant at the Cannes Film Festival on July 6, 2021.      Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Not only did the French actress wear her blazer with no shirt underneath, but she also didn't put her arms through its sleeves. Instead, her arms poked through slits created between the jacket's bodice and sleeves.

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