Ask anyone: there’s almost no detail as daring on the red carpet than a dynamic slit. The sultry accent has stopped traffic on every red carpetfrom the Met Gala to the Oscars—after all, who could forget Angelina Jolie’s viral thigh-high slit from 2012? The latest star to step out with the bold detail is Penelope Cruz, who brought high-slit drama to this year’s Cannes Film Festival with a little help from Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel.

Today, Cruz wore a one-shouldered black gown for the festival’s screening of La Bola Negra. The gathered design prominently featured a thigh-high slit, ideal for spotlighting the actor’s sharp black pumps. Her look was complete with a flowing back sash, as well as dramatically flared, futuristic raffia flowers—one atop her thigh, the other on her right shoulder—that have become one of Blazy’s signature at Chanel.

Cruz’s look was the latest Chanel style to grace the Cannes red carpet this year. Since the festival began, numerous stars have continued to wear a wide range of designs from Blazy’s various viral collections. Newly announced brand ambassador Sandra Hüller stepped out in a bold, feather-covered hooded dress last week. Meanwhile, longtime global Chanel house ambassador Kristen Stewart broke multiple festival dress codes in a sheer skirt set and crocheted gown—complete with matching Chanel sneakers—within 24 hours. If there’s one designer who’s commanding the red carpet at Cannes this year, it certainly appears to be Blazy.

The black dress that Cruz wore on the festival’s red carpet also proved that the smallest details can make a big impact within the most subtle designs. Through its emphatic slit and surrealist florals, her outfit was elevated from a minimalist silhouette to a bold fashion statement—one that was literally blooming with character.

Buying a Birkin bag? Elite. Making a fashion homage to one of Jane Birkin’s most iconic looks on the Cannes red carpet itself? Well, that reserved for Bella Hadid only.

Last night, Hadid stepped out for a screening of La Battaille De Gaulle: L'Âge De Fer in a skintight Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown. Designed by Daniel Roseberry, the sweeping white lace number featured a long-sleeved silhouette with a bodycon fit, finished by a thin, ruffled mermaid train. A plunging neckline cinched by a dangling black crystal ornament, as well as a lace-up back topped by a large, flowing black bow, added a touch of Schiaparelli’s signature surrealism. In tandem with the festival’s high glamour, Hadid’s look was complete with sparkling diamond earrings and smooth black Gianvito Rossi pumps.

Though it was indeed glamorous, Hadid’s ensemble held far more detail than meets the eye. The star’s ensemble was actually an homage to a white lace dress that Birkin wore in 1969 to the Union of the Artists Gala in Paris. As history goes, Birkin opted to subvert fashion norms by wearing the Pucci dress backwards, creating a deep neckline that she cinched with a brooch. The same technique was used intentionally in the design of Hadid’s look, with a similar texture and shape creating a united thread.

The ensemble was also a strong example of the power of design. Hadid’s dress wasn’t composed of lace fabric, but rather an embroidery of anchor threads and chords, creating a tromp l’oeil effect. Ultimately, the custom piece was the result of 22,160 hours of work, according to a statement from Schiaparelli. That dedication to craft is one that’s made Roseberry an undeniable innovator in the fashion industry today, with his approach to the French house’s surrealism being especially intricate and immersive.

This year, her run has taken several days to spawn a look that’s a distinct hallmark of the event, compared to past viral appearances in looks ranging from a daring red Roberto Cavalli dress to a bust-less Schiaparelli gown accentuated by gold-dipped lungs. However, with a key reference that’s nostalgic and heartfelt, Hadid’s latest ensemble made a meaningful fashion statement—and simultaneously became one of the most powerful dresses to walk the Palais des Festivals steps this year.

* Gemini-6 * posted a photo:

Axel the miniature dachshund at the neighborhood park ~ Poughkeepsie, NY

Taylor Russell’s artisanal approach to the red carpet is in full force with a black Schiaparelli gown at the Cannes Film Festival. However, given Russell and creative director Daniel Roseberry’s flair for the dramatic, this monochrome look was far from basic.

During the photocall for her upcoming sci-fi thriller, Hope, Russell posed in an intricately pleated dress from Schiaparelli’s fall 2026 collection. The unexpected silhouette included a slit skirt, extended sleeves, and a turtleneck bodice. With its twists and folds enhancing the texture, the piece appeared to be flowing and engulfing Russell as if possessing a mind of its own—a theme that’s sure to be at play in the alien-focused Hope, in which the actor stars alongside Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Hoyeon Jung.

To maintain focus on the piece’s surrealist, sculptural shape, Russell’s attire was simply finished with smooth black pointed-toe mules. A set of oval-shaped sunglasses brought her attire an air of cool nonchalance, as well—while also remaining practical against the bright Cannes sunshine.

Russell’s all-black look may have utilized a monochrome color palette, but it was far from basic. In fact, against the myriad of black gowns that have walked the red carpet during this year’s Cannes Film Festival, the piece was a true standout from its avant-garde silhouette. Of course, this being Russell, the look remained true to her focus on wearing innovative, unexpected pieces on the red carpet—from a wooden Loewe breastplate gown at the 2024 Met Gala to the flower-inspired white Dior dress she wore to the festival last night.

With a passion for surprising design, Russell’s appearance on this year’s Cannes circuit is a welcome sight. The star previously caught the fashion world’s eye while promoting her cannibal thriller, To the Bone, and has been a darling of designers from Jonathan Anderson to Sarah Burton ever since. In the grand tradition of defying standard red carpet glamour, Russell joins the ranks of stars including Cate Blanchett and Sandra Hüller by favoring unexpected pieces imbued with craftsmanship and intricate details.

Now that she’s back on the red carpet circuit, there’s no telling what Russell will wear next—but it’s all but certain that buzzy new designer appointments and a healthy dose of drama will play key roles.

Nobody can deliver a thoughtful, artistic fashion statement on the red carpet quite like Cate Blanchett. For her latest outing at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, the fashion-forward star continued that approach in blooming style thanks to Sarah Burton’s Givenchy.

At the festival’s Sunday premiere for Garance, Blanchett swished into the Palais des Festivals in an intricate gown from the French brand’s fall 2026 collection. Her backless style included a lightly wrapped neckline with a formal floor-length hem, all crafted from black silk. Embroidered red, pink, yellow, and blue flowers with swirling, shadowed green stems spread across the front of the piece, complete with subtle sheer paneling for added depth.

The dress’s intricate flowers were far from your average garden-variety blooms. Burton’s collection took direct inspiration from the Old Masters of European oil painting, with this particular gown echoing the overflowing still life portraits of Dutch artists like Jan Davidsz de Heem and Jan van Huysum. The same ornate florals covered a pair of sleek black leather gloves cinched at each end with a black silk bow, which smoothly matched Blanchett’s gown. However, her look’s most dramatic statement came from the thick layers of swishing color-coordinated fringe, making the flowers appear to be melting onto the red carpet.

That very same detail made the dress go instantly viral earlier this spring, when Mona Tougaard closed Givenchy’s runway in the design at Paris Fashion Week. The style’s intricate details, rich color palette, and experimental use of textures are all hallmarks of Burton’s, cementing her place as one of the most innovative designers to watch today. Blanchett, true to form, proved the perfect star to debut the dress on the red carpet—after all, it was an original work of art.

However, this wasn’t Blanchett’s only fashionable moment at Cannes. On Saturday, the actor stepped out for the screening of Paper Tiger in a black velvet Louis Vuitton gown. Her custom ensemble, elegantly paired with diamond earrings and pointed black pumps, prominently featured a squared neckline framed with large lacy ruffles. In addition to being a signature of creative director Nicolas Ghesquière, the detail also smartly referenced the costumes worn in the actor’s Oscar-winning portrayal of Queen Elizabeth 1 in 1998’s Elizabeth. Even Blanchett, it seems, isn’t afraid of a self-reference on the red carpet.

Blanchett’s arrival at the Cannes Film Festival makes her the latest stylish star to touch down for the cinematic occasion. This year’s event has been a particularly fashionable affair so far through eye-catching outings by jury members Demi Moore and Ruth Negga, as well as guests including Isabelle Huppert, Sandra Hüller, Simone Ashley, and more. With an impressive streak that’s ranged from reworn award show gowns to frothy feathers, zippered leather, and more artistic fringe, Blanchett has delivered plenty of fashion surprises. But there’s no telling what she still has in store for Cannes—one thing is sure, her choices will make a statement.