From The New 'LBD' To High-Shine Sequins, Here Are The Biggest Trends From Cannes

While the Cannes Film Festival is known for bringing together the stars to celebrate the most exciting cinematic releases, it has also become the red carpet of choice for showcasing the best in fashion—that and very (very) long standing ovations.

This year was no exception; in fact, it was a standout year. Usually, the festival takes second place as the most important sartorial moment in the month of May, typically eclipsed by the Met Gala. However, this year, arguably, Cannes took home the award for best performance in the fashion category.

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Reining queen of Cannes, Bella Hadid, noticeably absent from this year's Met, took a starring role, showing up in a mixture of high glamour and off-duty looks that have locked in the warm-weather mood for 2024. We've also found ourselves in the middle of a Demi-ssance of sorts, as actor Demi Moore showed she has serious style (along with her chihuahua, Pilaf) whilst promoting her new body-horror The Substance.

At the premiere of her latest film, Emilia Perez, Selena Gomez stunned in a monochromatic Saint Laurent gown, receiving a standing ovation for her role. She was joined by Jessica Wang in Harris Reed and Emma Stone in a belted blazer, channelling black and white drama for the red carpet.

Anya Taylor-Joy, the style 'It'-girl of the moment, also didn't disappoint. She led the pack for white-hot two pieces in her frayed hem set at the Furiosa photocall, which the actress paired with 1920s-style sparkling headwear. Actor Hunter Schafer joined her in a playful mini pinafore Prada ensemble and model Winnie Harlow in her pearl-adorned white suit and Fedora (apparently the hat of the season; see the Gucci Cruise 2025 show).

Admittedly, opera gloves and 15-foot trains might not be the most practical additions to one's wardrobe. However, the beauty of Cannes is in the breadth of looks to see. From daytime photocalls to beachside soirees, there's a sweeping wealth of wearable styles to take note of.

1) Connect The Dots

The polka dot is a tried-and-true pattern with serious timeless appeal—hello, Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. The key takeaway from the stars of this year's Cannes Film Festival is to opt for the monochromatic kind.

Diane Kruger was effortlessly chic in her one-shoulder breezy beach dress. The slightly sheer fabric is the perfect inspiration for beachside getaways. Moore did it well in her structured ankle-length dress; note the matching pumps for the finishing touches. Model Poppy Delevingne showed high-temperature dressing at its best with her strapless dotted mini, which she paired with barely there T-bar sandals, I-just-got-out-of-the-sea waves and a pair of black sunglasses. To make this work in your day-to-day life, think head to toe, match the shoes, and even match the bag, but remember the key lies in monochromatic textiles

2) Bright Stars

The prevailing trend of this year's festival was sequins. Though paillettes are to be expected, Cannes was particularly sparkling for 2025. Actor Lily Gladstone in a navy Gucci dress, actor Eva Green in a vintage 2016 Armani Privé and director Greta Gerwig in Saint Laurent were first to shine on the carpet. Lea Seydoux went mirror finish in her incredible Louis Vuitton, gown, and Naomi Campbell stunned in a sequin mesh panelled dress pulled from the iconic Chanel 1996 Haute Couture show, a piece she had modelled nearly 30 years prior. A floor-length sequin gown might not be the move for off-the-red-carpet warm-weather dressing, but high-shine inspiration is something to make a note of; try isolating to one item, like a great pair of boot-cut jeans and a sequin top or a sparkling skirt and a plain white tee.

3) White Hot

We are still pretty Game, Set, Match for Challengers right now, and the attendees of Cannes are playing ball too. Wimbledon whites are the go-to for Hollywood, and you can adopt this look for casual settings and evening wear. Julianne Moore chose a pencil skirt and tucked shirt for her take on the look. Moore's buttoned-up collar was fixed with a jewelled brooch, which she matched with her metallic silver slip-ons. Selena Gomez stepped out in a white crochet set with a frilled hem and sleeves, matching the look with gold jewellery and monochrome slingbacks. While Nathalie Emmanuel was ethereal in a Chanel caplet-style boucle two-piece. Work with what you have and try a crisp white shirt tucked into skirts; accessorise with silver-toned jewellery, and you'll have the perfect warm-weather look, on or off the court.

4) Warm Weather Leather

We wouldn't recommend this for the few days of the year in the UK that reach the 30-degree mark, but some of Hollywood's biggest names made a pretty strong case for summer leather. Isabelle Huppert looked fantastic in her gothic high neck floor-length gown (we won't be hopping on the tube in this one anytime soon), and this year's Trophée Chopard winner, Sophie Wilde, cut a dramatic figure at the premiere of Horizon: An American Saga in her leather bodice dress. Michelle Yeoh also cosigned warm weather leather in her ss 24 Bottega separates, which featured a red strapless bodice and textured mint blue skirt.

Enduring style icon Cate Blanchett offers the most wearable iteration in her black leather trousers and sparkling gold long-sleeve top. To make this more wearable, make it like Blanchett and opt for separates. Leather will always look good with a slinkier top, but a tucked white T-shirt will become your Friday night go-to for those transitional weeks come September.

5) The 'Long' Black Dress

We've all heard of the little black dress, but if Cannes is anything to go by, there's nothing little about the black dress anymore, think floor length—though the train is optional. Alexa Chung, an eternal source of style inspiration, packed decided cool-girl energy in her Cannes carry-on. Her column-length v-neck gown makes for a surprisingly wearable occasion dress for those who won't soon be taking a turn on the red carpet.

The supermodels have also cosigned the look. Model Eva Herzigova went backless with hers, and Elsa Hosk went all out glamour in her sheer body-hugging gown paired with a waved ponytail and wrist full of gold bangles. Liu Wen brought a chic, understated energy to the Parthenope red carpet with her asymmetric black jersey gown.

6) Top Hats

Another key trend for this year's Cannes festival is one of the accessories kind. That's right, the big hat is back. Taylor-Joy got the ball rolling with her (super) oversized Jacquemus version and again in her sheer white dress (also from the French label), completing that look with a matching straw style with a bow fixture. Harlow did it well in white, and actress Margaret Qualley went very Kristen Scott Thomas circa Four Weddings and a Funeral in her floppy white version, complete with a hat pin and black slip dress. It's all over the runways, too; Big Hat Energy took a central role in the Louis Vuitton Cruise 2025 collection.

6) Time Trippers

Another key trend on this year's carpet was looks pulled from the past. Yseult's Dior set was unforgettable and created custom for the French singer and model; the ensemble replicates the iconic 'New Look' that launched the French label as a household name—featuring a white 'Bar Jacket,' full pleated skirt and straw hat by Stephen Jones. Aubrey Plaza looked to the 1930s in her Loewe silky drop waist gown, and Qualley went 1980s ballerina in a full tulle skirt and sparkling leotard from Chanel. Here, the takeaway is playing with vintage styling and cuts. See 1980s shoulder pad detailing with denim, or look at 1920s-style low-waisted silhouettes for a new take on summer dresses.

7) The New Naked Dress

Is it even Cannes if Bella Hadid doesn't show up? Once again, the model and entrepreneur stunned with a series of looks. A standout was a barely-there custom Saint Laurent cocktail dress with twisted tulle detail and a sheer bodice. All eyes were on Bella as she set the tone for the new naked dress.

8) Texture Please

There were a lot of tactile fabrics on this year's carpet, and off it, Isabelle Huppert's Balenciaga dress looked a lot like a dressing gown, albeit a very chic one, and bared a similar texture to the bedtime staple. Narah Baptista was elegant in her strapless 3D sequinned dress, while model Amelia Gray wore an oil-slick texture in her sweeping black gown. Diane Kruger brought major texture not once but three times. First, her high-shine crease sculpted blue gown, then on stage in a light green crinkled dress with bow detail train and 20s style wet-set pin curls. However, pay attention to her blue silk number for a more wearable source of inspiration. Think of crinkle, pleated, and high-shine textiles for this look. It doesn't have to be head to toe, but a textured top and summer skirting can be a great day-to-night staple.

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