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

Marc Piasecki/Getty Images; Dominique Charriau

Vicky Krieps dialled up the glamour as she walked the red carpet for Mathieu Amalric’s Serre moi fort, wearing a black silk dress from Chanel’s haute couture spring–summer 2018 collection.
   Scots actress Honor Swinton Byrne also wore Chanel, from the cruise 2021–2 collection, at the première of Jacques Audiard’s Les Olympiades, Paris 13e (Paris, 13th District), while her mother Tilda Swinton chose a white shirt dress with oversized sleeves and navy blue wool pleated trousers from the Schiaparelli prêt-à-porter spring–summer 2021 collection. Mélanie Laurent wore custom Balmain, namely a white crop top with skirt, with a Cartier necklace, to the première. The film’s star Lucie Zhang wore a navy A-line dress from the Lanvin spring–summer 2021 collection, and her co-star Noémie Merlant wore Louis Vuitton, from its resort 2022 collection.
   On day 10, Tilda Swinton was back in Chanel as she was spotted in Cannes, and changed into a white silk dress from the house for the première of Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Memoria. Jeanne Balibar also wore Chanel, from the both the cruise 2021–2 and Métiers d’art 2020–1 collections. Honor Swinton Byrne wore a Gucci organza pleated embroidered gown.

Dominique Charriau; Pascal le Segretain; Virgile Guinard

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

Dominique Charriau/WireImage; Stéphane Cardinale/Corbis; Daniele Venturelli

Day four of the 74th Cannes Film Festival, for the Benedetta première, saw Izabel Goulart in a custom white Etro gown, in contrast to the black Saint Laurent gown with cut-outs worn by Anja Rubik. Miss France 2018 Maeva Coucke chose from Ziad Nakad’s spring 2021 haute couture collection, with jewellery by Messika. In Chanel were Zita Hanrot and Irène Jacob, choosing from the Métiers d’art Paris-Château des Dames 2020–1 collection, and Rebecca Marder in Chanel haute couture spring 2020. Virginie Efira wore a Lurex dress by Dior by Maria Grazia Chiuri, from its haute couture collection.
   At events, Hanrot and Joséphine Japy both wore Chanel prêt-à-porter spring–summer 2021.

Samir Hussein/WireImage; Kate Green; Dominique Charriau

   On day five, premières included Sean Penn’s Flag Day, with the director’s daughter Dylan Penn choosing a Chanel Métiers d’art Paris-Château des Dames 2020–1 bustier satin dress. Mélanie Laurent wore a red Dior haute couture silk dress, and Katheryn Winnick went eco-friendly with a Stella McCartney custom dress made from forest-friendly viscose.
   At the première of Cette musique ne joue pour personne, Vanessa Paradis went with Chanel prêt-à-porter spring–summer 2021.
   Marion Cotillard wore a denim jacket with matching skirt from the Chanel Métiers d’art Paris-Château des Dames 2020–1 collection to the première of Bigger Than Us, which she also produced.

Courtesy labels

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