Balenciaga at the ‘Nouvelle Vague’ & ‘Die, My Love’ Cannes Film Festival Premieres

It was a full-on Balenciaga blitz for the Cannes Film Festival premieres for at the Nouvelle Vague and Die, My Love, where five stars strutted down the red carpet, each offering a different take on the label’s dramatic, couture-tinged vision.

Scarlet sireN. chiffon dreams

Everything we thought we knew about Rosie Huntington-Whiteley being loyal to her soft taupes and earthy tones was delightfully disrupted. Rosie dialled things all the way up in a ravishing red chiffon strapless Balenciaga gown, made all the more tantalising with asymmetrical ruched detailing. A rare venture into such a bold hue, but one she absolutely owned. Finished with Tiffany & Co. jewels, this was colour confidence at its finest.

Styled by Emma Jade Morrison.

Déjà dress

Naomi Ackie, a glowing L’Oréal ambassador, took to the carpet in a Balenciaga Fall 2024 Haute Couture gown—the same silhouette Lindsay Lohan wore to the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, only this time in black. Thankfully, both women were spared the limp look book version and instead were treated to these beautifully refined reworks. Consider this Demna’s parting gift: one last hurrah of high drama done right.

Styled by Nicky Yates.

Pantashoes with a purpose

Director Coralie Fargeat resurrected Balenciaga’s iconic Pantashoes, which admittedly reached oversaturation point during Kim Kardashian’s reign. But paired with a sharply tailored blazer, they felt less “Instagram uniform” and more like a chic power play.

When Alexa met architecture

Alexa Chung continues her black dress era, and I have to say—I’m loving it. She served up statuesque elegance in a strapless Balenciaga gown with dramatic, sculpted hips (slightly lost against the tuxedo clad photographers behind her). The look was all about silhouette and poise, elevated by Boucheron jewels. This was classic, but with a Balenciaga twist.

Styled by Jonathan Huguet.

Creased and confused

Then there’s Barbara Palvin, who sadly drew the shortest of short straws. Her off-the-shoulder pink Balenciaga gown looked like it had been tucked in a carry-on and forgotten about. The fabric looked rumpled beyond reason, and next to the razor-sharp execution of the others, it felt completely out of sync. A shame, because with better construction, this could’ve been a winner.

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