We get ready for Cannes with Amy Jackson
This year's Cannes Film Festival saw a welcome return to the glitz and glamour we've all been missing for the past year, as the annual celebration of film took place on the French Riviera with plenty of parties, premieres, launches and lunches.
One guest who was lucky enough to enjoy the festivities this year was British model and actress Amy Jackson, who walked that iconic red carpet and attended the amfAR Gala as part of her ongoing work with luxury house Chopard - the official jewellery partner of the festival.
We went behind-the-scenes with Jackson as she got ready for the annual amfAR Gala; the biggest party on the final weekend of the festival, which raises vital funds for AIDS research.
"I’m incredibly excited; Cannes is the most magical place in the world and I couldn’t think of a better place to be after the awful year we’ve had," Jackson told us. "The fashion, the glamour, the creative energy makes it such a special place - especially around the festival. I also love the people, the beautiful restaurants and of course sunshine (I’m from London so it seems to be a rarity!)."
So how does one decide what to wear for an event as special as the amfAR Gala? This year was Great Gatsby themed, calling for a heavy dose of sparkle and some high-octane, Roaring Twenties-inspired glamour.
"I worked closely with my amazing stylist [Kirsty Stewart] to create a vision we both loved," Jackson explained. "It’s been a long time since I stepped on the red carpet and amfAR is my favourite event in the world, so I knew I wanted to work with a designer who really understood what I wanted to create. I went to a a number of fittings but fell in love with a black Ali Karoui gown, which was exactly what I envisioned for my look at the event. The Chopard necklace I wore with the dress was also my favourite from the collection, so it was a very special moment. I have also had the most incredible glam team while being in Cannes - it was just so exciting to be creative with looks."
Naturally, as a Chopard fan and ambassador, Jackson knows a thing or two about the power of a beautiful piece of jewellery - and how it has the ability to completely transform an outfit.
"Jewellery is everything!" she says. "I would feel naked on the red carpet without pieces of stunning jewellery. That’s why I was so excited to be working with Chopard in Cannes this year; I have always been such a fan of Caroline [Scheufele]’s creative vision and the Cannes red carpet collection transports me back to Hollywood’s golden era. While I’ve been in Cannes I have had a chance to wear some absolutely incredibly pieces from the collection, the necklace and earrings I wore to the amfAR gala were so classic and elegant."
So, with more than 15 films under her belt and an almighty Instagram following of nearly 10 million, you might imagine that Jackson is inundated with offers for brand partnerships; so how does she choose who to work with?
"It's extremely important to me that a designer or fashion brand has the same ethics around sustainability [as me], and I've always been so impressed by Chopard's efforts to lead the way in sustainable luxury," she explains. "This is my first time working with Chopard on a big project - I've always been such a huge fan of all their collections. Chopard is the epitome of glamour."
With the events of the past year having prompted all of us to reprioritise and recalibrate, Jackson says that she's made a concerted effort to be more sustainable with her fashion choices for everyday - not just for the big red carpet events.
"Sustainability has always been incredibly important to me," she tells us. "I try to work with and wear designers who have sustainability close to their brand ethos. I also adore second hand designer websites like Cudoni - you can find the most incredible vintage Chanel, Hermes, YSL on there, and last week I bought the most amazing second-hand pair of Isabel Marant boots. I also adore brands like Gaâla - they use material made from viscose and silk left over by Italian fashion houses, which is brilliant."
Follow Amy's lead by browsing more of our favourite designer resale stores here, and then catch up on all the red-carpet glamour from the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, below:
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