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Elle Fanning never fails to make a fashion statement at the Cannes Film Festival. Ever since she first walked the red carpet at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in 2016 to promote her film The Neon Demon, the actress has turned heads in designs that embrace her whimsical style, from Rodarte to Vivienne Westwood and Dior, with the help of her longtime stylist Samantha McMillen. Each time Fanning returned to promote films like How to Talk to Girls at Parties and The Beguiled, she always brought her red carpet best (with a hint of princess energy) to each premiere.
Now, the 2023 Cannes Film Festival has officially commenced and it’s delivering all the glitz, glam and couture looks we come to expect from the star-studded event, and of course, Fanning packed only the best for the French Riviera.
On opening night, she turned out in a resplendent Alexander McQueen gown to kick off the festivities and keeps bringing the wow-factor at each appearance.
To celebrate her stellar style, we compiled her best Cannes Film Festival fashion moments over the years.
Elle Fanning in Paco Rabanne
The brand beauty ambassador chose a piece from the Fall/Winter 2023 collection for a mini photoshoot on her terrace in Cannes wearing a surrealist design. Her chain-linked top featured three panels of cornflower blue fabric with chest cutouts, while the floor-length skirt illustrated Salvador Dalí’s 1944 painting, Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranate a Second Before Awakening.
On the print, two tigers lunge out of a fish’s mouth, towards a woman resting on rocks in the middle of the sea. Fish emerge from a pomegranate levitating in the sky, along with a floating elephant. The collection featured a myriad of gowns printed with surrealist artworks by Dalí, who once said, “There are only two geniuses in Spain: me and Paco Rabanne.”
Elle Fanning in Paco Rabanne
Fanning continued her string of style moments in the French Riviera, wearing a shining gold metallic frock from the Paco Rabanne Fall/Winter 2023 collection, designed by creative director Julien Dossena. Featuring a chain-lined scoop neckline and diamond-shaped linked gold discs, the dress was covered in fluid strands of metallic fringe.
Elle Fanning in Paco Rabanne
As the brand ambassador for Paco Rabanne’s FAME fragrance, Fanning clearly understood the assignment at an event for the fashion house in Cannes, wearing the ultimate party dress from the brand’s Fall/Winter 2023 collection, designed by creative director Julien Dossena.
More of a piece of art than simply a dress, Fanning adorned a metal collar with two snowflake-shaped pendants over her chest before the empire waist skirt transformed into a wave of silver metallic spiked paillettes that swung as the actress moved, giving off the message, “You can look, but can’t touch.” She paired the look with matching silver mule heels.
Elle Fanning in Rodarte
The Maleficent actress wore a breezy white Rodarte daisy lace embroidered tulle sundress tied with three ribbons along the waistline from the Pre-Fall 2023 collection, teamed with ivory Magda Butrym flower mule heels.
Elle Fanning in The Row
Epitomizing Parisian chic, Fanning walked through her hotel lobby in The Row’s Sisca striped silk button-down shirt with the brand’s slouchy Milla Bicolor wide-legged wool trousers and flip flops. The actress topped off her look with black shield sunglasses and the Bottega Veneta woven Sardine bag with a gold top handle.
Elle Fanning in Alexander McQueen
The Great actress kicked off the 2023 Cannes Film Festival on the Jeanne du Barry premiere red carpet wearing a custom pale pink Alexander McQueen orchid dress with Paris net and a silver bugle beaded strapless bodice with crystal embroidery.
“This creation by Sarah Burton is a work of art,” Fanning wrote on Instagram. “It’s femininity and strength combined in one deconstructed orchid. Getting to work with Sarah directly on my Cannes look was a highlight of my life. The time we shared and the artistry I witnessed from her in the McQueen London studio are a memory I will remember forever. There is no one more kind. I can’t thank Sarah and the McQueen team enough for making my dress of dreams. My jaw is still on the floor over each stone beaded by hand and the fact she did this for me! I love Queen Sarah and McQueen forever!”
Decked out in Cartier jewelry, Fanning added, “My Cartier jewels were the absolute perfect cherry on top and made me feel like a princess on the Croisette.”
Elle Fanning in Bottega Veneta
Embracing Old Hollywood glamour, Fanning chose a classic black Bottega Veneta draped twill dress with a sweetheart neckline and halter straps with a side slit, teamed with black slingback pumps embellished with bedazzled bows and an Alexander McQueen jeweled satchel clutch.
Elle Fanning in Khaite
Fanning waved from the terrace of the Hotel Martinez ahead of her 2023 Cannes Film Festival appearance, wearing a cornflower blue Khaite Candita dress with Cartier jewels.
Elle Fanning in The Row
Fanning kept things simple and chic off-duty in Cannes, wearing an ivory shift dress from The Row, a rust-colored suede Gucci Blondie handbag, and simple brown thong kitten heel sandals.
Elle Fanning in Giorgio Armani
Talk about a princess moment! Fanning attended the Top Gun: Maverick premiere during the 2022 Cannes Film Festival in a crystal-embroidered pale pink strapless tulle gown from Giorgio Armani.
Elle Fanning in Christian Dior
In 2019, Fanning embodied mid-century chic in a custom Christian Dior “New Look” inspired by the French fashion house’s history-making figure 8 silhouette. The actress wore a sheer white pussybow blouse tucked into a voluminous black tulle mid-length skirt with black pumps and a wide-brimmed black sunhat.
Elle Fanning in Gucci
Fanning attended the premiere for The Dead Don’t Die in a silky tiered caped peach-colored Gucci gown, with a plunging neckline and a wrapped bodice, topped with a purple flower appliqué with sequined greenery.
Elle Fanning in Valentino
Embodying a fairy or a forest nymph, Fanning wore a soft pink floral Valentino ballgown with a plunging neckline and flutter sleeves, with matching flowers pinned in her braided updo.
Elle Fanning in Gucci
Fanning celebrated the premiere of her film How to Talk to Girls at Parties in a sage green Gucci gown with a plunging halter neckline, embellished with silver sequined vines with yellow floral appliqué at the hem.
Elle Fanning in Rodarte
For the screening of her film The Beguiled, Fanning wore a custom Rodarte strapless lilac tulle gown to float down the red carpet, with Chanel jewels and a black ribbon to tie back her blonde strands into an elegant bun.
Elle Fanning in Vivienne Westwood
Fanning wore a custom Vivienne Westwood gown with a strapless corset bodice and a cascading hand-painted train for the opening ceremony of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.
Elle Fanning in Dior Couture
Fanning wore a Christian Dior couture creation to the Cannes 70th Anniversary event, embellished with multi-colored 3D feather flowers from head to toe.
Elle Fanning in Zuhair Murad
Fanning attended her first Cannes Film Festival in 2016 wearing a sheer Zuhair Murad strapless ballgown with the under-layer of boning and paneling visible beneath the sage green and pale pink floral embroidery.
