Best Dressed at amfAR 2017

The annual amfAR party held during Cannes Film Festival is probably one of the most glitziest nights of the year. It's where the faces of fashion, film and music all come together in their red carpet finery for dinner and a very salubrious auction all in the name of charity - this year they raised $20 million to help fight against Aids. Performances by Rita Ora and Nicki Minaj kept the a-list audience entertained while Diana Ross belted out classic 'I will Survive.' What a night!

And of course, the fashion stakes were high with this year being the most daring when it came to what to wear for the high profile event. Bella Hadid left little to the imagination with her Ralph & Russo gown, Shanina Shaik showed off some serious side boob while models Elsa Hosk, Winnie Harlow, Lara Stone and Natasha Poly all flaunted their amazing legs (Leonardo DiCaprio must have been in his element.) More tasteful dressing came in the form of Nicole Kidman who looked styligh in a black dress and Diane Kruger who also opted for a dress worn over trousers - believe me it sounds weird but looks good. Irina Shayk wore a shimmery empire line gown, Uma Thurman looked radiant in gold, Jessica Chastian wore Prada with Piaget jewellery and even Paris Hilton looked pretty sophisticated in her encrusted gown. Carine Roitfeld wore her trademark uniform of all black everything and Rita Ora really went for it with her glamorous 60s beehive.

See some of the best dressed stars below at amfAR 2017...

Irina Shayk, Izabel Goulart and Bella Hadid on the red carpet.

Nicki Minaj, Nicole Kidman, Biana Balti and Diane Kruger all opted for black outfits.

Lara Stone, Doutzen Kroes and Irina Shayk.

Shanina Shaik, Eva Longoria and Rita Ora.

Paris Hilton smiles for the camera.

Marion Cotillard: Red Carpet Style

Whether she's walking the Golden Globe red carpet in Dior Couture, or showing off a Chopard necklace at Cannes, Marion Cotillard always looks the part of the classic, Hollywood actress. Very rarely can someone pull off every colour of the rainbow, but Marion seems to just suit practically every shade out there. From the canary column dress she wore to the BAFTA's in 2013 which she paired with a dash of red lipstick, to the acid green Jean Paul Gaultier gown she wore to AmfAR, Cinema Against AIDS Gala in 2015, Marion Cotillard seems to just light up the red carpet wherever she goes. So let's take a look at some of her best red carpet moments of all time. 

As the face of Christian Dior, Marion tends to wear Dior a lot on the red carpet, and I do mean a lot. She is the poster girl for Dior and has been so for many years.  Red is a good colour for Marion, which she wore at the 2013 Golden Globes, bravely opting for a shorter hem line when most actresses go for sweeping, floor length dresses. At the Cannes Film Festival she regularly donnes a Dior frock with splashes of colour, an a-symmetric detail somewhere and a pair of pointy stiletto heels. I really loved the nude, empire dress she wore at the Met Gala a few years back, with a simple clutch bag and her hair pinned back. Again, that was a Dior look. The actress is a perfect fit for Dior, chiefly because she carries their clothes very well and always looks nothing short of perfect.

Marion Cotillard, 41, has starred in some of the biggest movies over the past 10 years. From 'Inception', 'Midnight in Paris' and 'Nine' to, 'The Dark Knight', 'Rust and Bone' and 'Public Enemies,' she certainly has had her fair share of box office movies. But it is her upcoming movie with Brad Pitt which has caused the biggest stir, following the actor's split from Angelina Jolie. 'Allied' which will be released later this year, had the world talking about whether the two actors had an affair while filming, a statement which Cotillard has strongly denied. I do think the way Marion was dragged into the reason for Brangelia's divorce was unnecessary and damaging for her reputation but it's good promotion for the movie though.

Anyway, back to Marion's red carpet fashion. Her style is never boring, but is very French in that she looks like she's not even trying with her wardrobe choices, managing to look elegant and classy every time. She likes her couture too, with Giambattista Valli and Dior Haute Couture as go to designers, with luxury jewellery and immaculate hair an added bonus. She is rarely without her diamond necklace or earrings on the red carpet.

Remember at the 2008 Academy Awards when Marion turned heads in a mermaid like Jean Paul Gaultier gown, complete with matching sparkly eye shadow? That was the year she won the award of Best Actress for her stunning performance in 'Le vie en Rose.' Or perhaps the time at the Oscars when she donned her white, spotty Dior gown, which really shouldn't have worked but did. In 2009 again she wore Dior, but this time a dramatic black and blue tulle gown, in that classic 1950s 'New Look' Dior shape. Tres magnifique!

It's fair to say Marion Cotillard is a red carpet favourite and one of the most stylish women in the world. Here are a few of her best red carpet moments over the years... 

The actress always looks amazing in Christian Dior

Marion can rock every colour under the sun, particularly yellow

Looking radiant in white

The 69th Cannes Film Festival: Red Carpet

Oh how I do love the Cannes Film Festival. Every year, anyone who's anyone descends upon the south of France complete with make up artist, stylist, camera crews and more in tow. With the beautiful French Riviera location, luxury hotels, massive yachts and of course, the red carpet, its quite easy to forget that the whole point of the Cannes Film Festival is to actually watch up and coming movies. But with stars like Blake Lively, George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Eva Longoria stalking the red carpet it's easy to get carried away with the red carpet action.

This year we have seen some beautiful gowns grace the red carpet. From Blake Lively's stunning nude Versace dress and her giant Cinderella-esque blue gown, to Kristen Stewart's Chanel tweed outfit, there have been some great fashion moments. Both Stewart and Julia Roberts who attended the festivals 'Money Monster' premiere, opted for comfort instead of glamour, posing for pictures barefoot. Victoria Beckham and best friend Eva Longoria had a great time catching up before jetting out of Cannes on their private planes, while Anna Kendrick opted for a bright yellow gown for her new movie with Justin Timberlake. Yellow was also worn by the beautiful Christina Hendricks and Amal Clooney, who wore an a-symmetric Versace gown while accompanying her husband to the festival.

Cannes always draws in the rich, famous and beautiful, with no festival complete without at least one appearance from Aishwarya Rai. The Indian actress dazzled on the red carpet in a draped gold gown complete with beautifully embellished sleeves, before donning a bright red gown for a photo-call the next day. Cheryl also made her yearly Cannes appearance as a Loreal ambassador, in a printed pink Naeem Khan show stopper, while fellow Lorealista Doutzen Kroes opted for a sexy black number. Kendall Jenner was in town for the Magnum party as was Bella Hadid who looked sensational with her hair slicked back in a gold Roberto Cavalli dress by Peter Dundas. Kirsten Dunst opted for a floral pink gown, similar to Cheryl, whereas Julianne Moore and Jodie Foster both went for simple yet striking looks.

With the glamorous Amfar gala set to draw in a host of models and fashion royalty, we will be seeing a lot more wonderful red carpet moments from the French Rivera over the next week. Keep checking back to theFASHIONbox and our social media pages for all the Cannes action.


Cheryl, Aishwarya Rai and Kirsten Dunst on the red carpet

Naomi Watts and Susan Sarandan share a laugh

Kendall Jenner, Amal Clooney and Blake Lively all opted for striking looks



Julia Roberts, Kristen Stewart and Anna Kendrick at the 69th Cannes Film Festival

Riviera Chic with Brigitte Bardot

I'm sure you're probably aware that the Cannes Film Festival is currently taking place in France. Every actress, model and celerity under the sun has descended upon the gorgeous French Riviera for one reason and one reason alone - to flaunt their style to the waiting paparazzi, eager to catch a glimpse into the super luxury lifestyle of Cannes.

Yes you can be glamorous these days with the help of an excellent stylist and beauty team or with the aid of a dedicated personal trainer and a bucket loads of cash. But true style, and real superb fashion has somewhat declined over years as these things often do. Brigitte Bardot for me is one of the best dressed and stylish women who has ever graced this earth. Now living a quiet life in the French countryside, surrounded by her animals and expansive farm, Bardot is no longer a part of the celebrity lifestyle and attender of big events such as the Cannes Film Festival. However, back in her hey day, she was everything being French embodied. Care free attitude, big blonde hair, cheeky grin, amazing tanned body and natural charm - Bardot had it all and her style was quintessentially chic and original.

The amount of stars these days who have copied her style is astounding. Everyone from Kate Moss, Lara Stone and Claudia Schiffer to Rita Ora, Angelina Jolie and Pixie Lott have taken a leaf out of Bardot's book, whether it be the voluminous hair or sexy black eye make up. It's fair to say that Bardot's style has stood the test of time and is consistently referenced by stylists, artists and singers today as a source of fashion inspiration.

In the 1960's Brigitte Bardot burst onto the movie scene with her erotic and somewhat saucy films which were famously banned in some countries! She was young, beautiful and French with a relaxed attitude and heart warming personality. The photos taken of a teenage Bardot while frolicking on the beach in Cannes wearing a black bathing suit were so controversial at the time (seeing as a swimming costume was new territory for women and extremely revealing) that she was looked down upon by the fashion elite and society in general. But Bardot didn't care! One of my favourite photographs of all time is a monochrome picture of Brigitte running along the beach in 1956 in a black dress, her hair flowing in the wind with a big smile on her face. It's such a fun photo and shows off the way in which Bardot could carry something as simple as a black dress with ease and elegance. These photos are now iconic.

Her tiny waist was accentuated with the tiny denim shorts she so loved paired with a simple cotton t-shirt. Polka dot shirts tucked into a pair of washed jeans and some canvas shoes were another style staple of Bardot's as well as the preppy bow in her hair and nautical sailor outfits. In the 70's she was never without her huge fedora hat and sunglasses while her love of simple, French classics elevated her as a style staple amongst many fashion magazines and circles.

I absolutely adore Bardot's effortless style and the way she dressed for herself, without the help of a stylist and fashion team. She had her own spirit and was comfortable in her own body to give anything a try. Tres chic!

 

Cannes Film Festival 2015

Li Bing Bing in Elie Saab, Cheryl Cole and Aishwarya Rai in Elie Saab

 Sun, sea, private yachts and luxury fashion. The annual Cannes Film Festival brings together the most glamorous in movies, fashion and music to celebrate and discover the upcoming films soon to hit cinemas world wide. the South of France is the most perfect location for this prestigious festival and the fashion as always, is amazing. Take a look at some of the best dressed stars who have graced the red carpet so far in Cannes. From Charlize Theron who wore a beautiful canary dress for her Mad Max premiere to Cate Blanchett in stunning Giles Deacon, everything from painted toe nails and immaculate hair; it all is spell binding. I loved Aishwarya Rai who always attends the festival as a Loreal ambassador as well as Cheryl Cole who turned up at the airport in Fendi, only to change into a beige Ralph and Russo couture gown. Elie Saab was a huge hit with actresses Michelle Rodriguez and Li Bing Bing, while Rachel Weisz looked stunning in Louis Vuitton.

For me the best dressed had to got to Russian model Natasha Poly who wowed the paparazzi in a pastel pink and black Atelier Versace gown. It highlighted her tiny waist and amazing legs, while the dazzling gold dress she also wore looked fabulous. Diane Kruger was also another fav of mine. The German actress always looks impeccable, and I especially loved the baby blue Dolce and Gabbana mini dress she wore on the first photo call of the festival. Very chic!

Stay tuned for more red carpet fashion straight from the Cannes Film Festival...

Rachel in Louis Vuitton, Diane Kruger in Prada & Emma Stone in Dior

Cate Blanchett in Giles Deacon

Natasha Poly, Andie Macdowell and Sienna Miller

Natasha Poly in Atelier Versace

Diane Kruger in Dolce and Gabbana