June 16, 2019

2019 Shanghai International Film Festival Opening Ceremony

Zhang Ziyi In Ralph & Russo Couture

A number of other stars joined Amanda Seyfried at the 2019 Shanghai International Film Festival Opening Ceremony on Saturday (June 15) in China.

Zhang Ziyi: The Asian actress took a slight departure from her signature princess ball gowns with this Ralph & Russo Spring 2017 Couture design. If I focus on the delicate charm of the floral embroidery, I can appreciate the dress. Otherwise, it just swallowed Zhang whole, between the oversize collar, pouf sleeves, and extravagant train. The diamond necklace, while gorgeously stellar, was too much here.

Ralph & Russo Spring 2017 Couture

Gwei Lun-Mei: I love the chic ladylike refinement of this Chanel Pre-Fall 2019 sequin and tulle gown that was still edgy in its classic appeal thanks to the leather accents.

Chanel Pre-Fall 2019
Shu Qi in Miu Miu & Louis Vuitton Resort 2020

Shu Qi: The actress showed us two very different looks, beginning with a Miu Miu lavender tulle gown, glinting with a constellation of crystals. It was fine, except I can’t stop focusing on that distracting black wristband. The Louis Vuitton Resort 2020 outfit was the exact opposite of her first, trading girly charm for menswear-inspired edge. I almost like the LV better simply because it’s a shift from the expected. Did you have a preference?

Louis Vuitton Resort 2020
Zhao Tao in Christian Dior Spring 2019 Haute Couture

Zhao Tao: As one of the festival judges, Zhao went for gold in this Christian Dior Spring 2019 Haute Couture design. The gold-leaf skirt was so elaborate that I could have done without the black wispy necktie on the sheer blouse.

Christian Dior Spring 2019 Haute Couture
Tong Liya in Celine

Tong Liya: Eschewing all the voluptuous fabric we’ve seen in previous looks, Tong took a more streamlined approach in this Celine gown that wasn’t anything revolutionary but still reigned with simple elegance.

Du Juan in Prada

Du Juan: My guess is that she wore this Prada Fall 2018 dress partly inside-out so that more of the green tulle would be the focal point. Were it left to me, I would have gotten rid of the overlay entirely as it made the whole design seem amateur and unfinished at best.

Prada Fall 2018

Zhang Jingchu: As much as I love this stunning magenta-and-green Etro gown, Karolina Kurkova wore it so splendidly at Cannes that it wouldn’t have much chance to live up to those high standards. Here, it’s just a bit too much dress for the petite Zhang, as it puddles around her feet.

Tang Wei: Brown is a tough colour on the red carpet, and while I think Tang holds her own in this sweeping Valentino Spring 2019 Haute Couture bold-sleeve, parachute gown, I was craving a bit more sparkle in a stronger earring or bangle rather than that black clutch.

Valentino Spring 2019 Haute Couture
Hannah Quinlivan in Valentino Pre-Fall 2019

Hannah Quinlivan: The boxiness of this Valentino Pre-Fall 2019 fluffy tulle gown makes it a challenging silhouette. I notice the awkwardness of it more here on Hannah than when Thandie Newton wore the same dress.

Valentino Pre-Fall 2019

Credit: Vogue.com, Gett & Sina

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