Dave Benett/AmFAR; Andreas Rentz/AmFAR; Samir Hussein

The AmFAR gala is always the social highlight of the Festival de Cannes, though this year’s, the 27th, was far more low-key, with guest numbers at 400 rather than the usual 900, and strict COVID-19 protocols in place.
   Global campaign chair Sharon Stone (in custom Dolce & Gabbana) played host, while Alicia Keys (in Chanel prêt-à-porter and Chanel haute joaillerie) performed live, at the outdoor affair held at the Villa Eilenroc in Antibes.
   Carine Roitfeld curated a live fashion show as part of this year’s charity auction.
   Guests included Stella Maxwell (in Atelier Versace), Kat Graham (in Nicolas Jebran), Nina Dobrev (in Mônot), Regina King (in Schiaparelli), Bella Thorne (in Miu Miu), Nicolas Maury (in Chanel), Rachel Brosnahan (in Vivienne Westwood), Lyna Khoudri (in Chanel), Vicky Krieps (in Chanel), Marina Ruy Barbosa (in Mônot), Dylan Penn (in Chanel), Lola Nicon (in Chanel), and stylist Jenke Ahmed Tailly (in Chanel).
   Prior to the 2021 event, the Cannes gala had raised over US$235 million in the fight against Aids.
   Photocalls and premières as the 2021 Cannes Film Festival closed saw Jeanne Balibar and Vicky Krieps in Chanel on day 11; Sharon Stone in Dolce & Gabbana, Maggie Gyllenhaal in Gucci, Gemma Chan in Oscar de la Renta, Leila Bekhti in Dior, Rosamund Pike in Dior, Mati Diop and Lyna Khoudri in Chanel, Adèle Exarchopoulos in Jacquemus, and Tilda Swinton in Schiaparelli, on the final day.
   Julia Ducournau won the Palme d’Or for her movie Titane, and wore Chanel as she accepted the honour. She is only the second female director to take home the prize.

Dave Benett/AmFAR; Andreas Rentz/AmFAR; Samir Hussein; courtesy AmFAR

Andreas Rentz; Pascal le Segretain; courtesy labels

Vittorio Zunino Celotto; Dominique Charriau; Samir Hussein

On day 7 of the 74th Cannes Film Festival, Iris Law wore a memorable white Christian Dior dress with Bulgari jewellery at the première of Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch, while Denise Tantucci went metallic in a head-to-toe silver dress by Gucci. Jury member and French actress Mélanie Laurent wore a gunmetal strapless gown from Gucci. Lyna Khoudri wore Chanel, from its Métiers d’art Paris–Châteaux des dames collection, while Maggie Gyllenhaal went with Chanel haute couture spring–summer 2021. Elsa Zylberstein, who like Gyllenhaal is on the jury, chose a Chanel pleated silk dress from its autumn–winter 2018–19 haute couture collection.
   The photo call for The French Dispatch the following day saw more casual looks with Khoudri in Chanel prêt-à-porter spring–summer 2020. That evening’s première, for Arnaud Larrieu and Jean-Marie Larrieu’s Tralala, saw Maiwenn in Chanel Métiers d’art Paris–31 rue Cambon 2019–20, with Chanel shoes. Director Julia Ducournau also chose from this collection for the première of her film, Titane.

Virgile Guinard; Samir Hussein; Vittorio Zunino Celotto; Dominique Charriau; Pascal le Segretain; Daniele Venturelli; Kate Green; Stephane Cardinale/Corbis

Pascal le Segretain; Daniele Venturelli

Arguably, Bella Hadid stole the show in a Schiaparelli haute couture autumn–winter 2021–2 dress, designed by Daniel Roseberry, at the première of Tre Piani on day six of the Cannes Film Festival. The wool crêpe dress featured a low-cut neckline, and Hadid complemented it with a gilded brass necklace with trompe l’œil lungs, adorned with rhinestones.
   The Luxembourgeoise actress Vicky Krieps, star of Mia Hansen-Løve’s Bergman Island, is a fan of Chanel, wearing designs from the spring–summer 2021 haute couture collection at the film’s première. Krieps herself was wary of the front row but had been invited to a Chanel show with a handwritten note from Karl Lagerfeld, according to WWD. Lagerfeld, as it turned out, was a fan of Krieps, and the two met post-show.
   Krieps’s co-star Tim Roth wore a Prada dinner suit and brushed leather shoes; he similarly wore Prada at the photo call. Melissa George chose a gown from the Christian Dior haute couture spring–summer 2020 collection.
   During the day, Dylan Penn also chose from Chanel, wearing a pullover and trousers from the cruise 2021–2 collection at the photo call for Flag Day.

Pascal le Segretain; Daniele Venturelli

Stephane Cardinale/Corbis; Daniele Venturelli; courtesy labels

Day 3’s celebs at Cannes included Soo Joo Park, looking resplendent in Chanel Métiers d’art 2019–20 with accessories and jewellery from the brand; make-up by L’Oréal Paris. It’s one way to keep both brands that you are an ambassador for happy. Along with Brazilian model Luma Grothe in a gold Zuhair Murad haute couture spring–summer 2020 jumpsuit, they attended the première of Stillwater, which received a five-minute standing ovation. Grothe’s hair was by Stéphane Lancien and Val Garland was responsible for her make-up. Jodie Turner-Smith turned heads in a stunning Gucci gown.
   Tilda Swinton donned Chanel spring 2021 for the screening of The Souvenir Part 2.
   Earlier photocalls saw Elsa Zylberstein for Un certain regard, Rebecca Marder for Une jeune fille qui va bien and Naama Preis for Ahed’s Knee, all in Chanel.

Andreas Rentz; Daniele Venturelli; Pascal le Segretain

The Asian reality show Supermodel Me will be rebooted for a sixth season, Supermodel Me Revolution, this October, bringing together aspiring models from Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Filmed in Singapore in June with COVID-19 precautions, viewers can expect the new season to feature a fresh approach and new challenges for the contestants as they vie for the top prize comprising a Harper’s Bazaar cover shoot, a Subaru ambassadorship, and a Storm Model Management contract.
   Sponsored by Subaru Asia and promoted by Singapore Airlines, Refinery Media has brought back the award-winning multi-channel show for the 13 countries in which it is broadcast, typically earning over 30 million viewers.
   Contestants are expected to face intense challenges, with Refinery saying they will be tested to ‘the limits of mind, body and spirit,’ with sporting and fashion tasks.
   Already familiar to viewers of Asia’s Next Top Model, model and Miss Thailand World 1996 Cindy Bishop (Sirinya Winsiri) heads the judging panel. Joining her is American photographer Yu Tsai. Other celebrities in this season include MTV Asia VJ Hanli Hoefer, Singaporean actress Ase Wang, and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray. Asia’s Next Top Model alumni Monika Santa Maria and Dana Slosar serve as mentors to the contestants.
   The new season premières on AXN Asia on Monday, October 11, 2021 at 7.55 p.m. Singapore time, and on AXN Taiwan two days later at 10 p.m. Singapore time. The season comprises 10 episodes and airs weekly. Updates can be found on Supermodel Me’s website.

Chanel

The change to July for the 2021 Cannes Film Festival has helped with guaranteeing great weather, and some will celebrate Bastille Day during the period, but overall there has been less buzz with COVID-19 still being a reality—even if France attempts to downplay it as the event went ahead.
   The opening ceremony saw Carla Bruni in Céline, Marion Cotillard, Angèle, Sébastian Tellier and Mati Diop in Chanel, Mélanie Thierry in Dior, and Lou Doillon in Gucci on the red carpet.
   L’Oréal Paris continued with its ambassadors walking the red carpet as part of its ongoing sponsorship, with Helen Mirren, Andie MacDowell, Leila Bekhti, Nidhi Sunil and Baptiste Giabiconi.
   The July 7 dinner to celebrate Leos Carax’s Annette, starring Marion Cotillard, was hosted by Chanel, for whom Cotillard is an ambassador.
   It ties in perfectly with Chanel’s cinema theme this year as No. 5 celebrated its centenary.
   Sixty guests attended the dinner with Chanel’s Virginie Viard at Bijou Plage, including Carax and Cotillard, Charlotte Casiraghi, Angèle, Soo Joo Park, Simon Helberg, Sparks, Tilda Swinton, Sébastian Tellier, Mati Diop, Naama Preis, Nadav Lapid, Rebecca Marder, Anne Berest, Rianne van Rompaey, Mica Argañaraz, Tonya Lewis Lee, Molly Lewis, Lola Nicon, Nicolas Maury, and Jenke Ahmed Tailly.
   Earlier in the day, Preis had appeared on the red carpet for Nadav Lapid’s Ahed’s Knee, in Chanel haute couture spring–summer 2021 complemented by Chanel high jewellery and shoes. Géraldine Pailhas chose from Chanel’s ready-to-wear line for spring 2021 as she walked the red carpet for François Ozon’s Tout s’est bien passé. Didi Stone Olomide walked for L’Oréal Paris at the latter, and Giabiconi returned for the French beauty brand.

L’Oréal Paris; Chanel