Along with the Met Gala, the annual amfAR event during the Cannes Film Festival is one of the biggest events on the calendar. Unlike some of the big award ceremonies that can often be a bit hit and miss, amfAR always attracts a good red carpet and last night, with the exception of Kate Upton, was no exception.
Diane Kruger continued her reign as one of the best dressed women at this year's event, sporting a dress from the Chanel Resort 2013 collection that was unveilved recently. Karolina Kurkova continued her love of all things gold in a beautiful Roberto Cavalli sheer sequin dress with a matching jacket but you'll pleased to know that it came sans gold blingy hat.
Kylie Minogue had a good day yesterday in Cannes. Earlier on in the day she arrived at the 'Holy Motors' photo call looking the best we've seen of her in a long time sporting a great green version of a black dress from the Fall 2012 Emilio Pucci collection. To attend the film's premiere, though, she upped the ante in this gold sequin Dolce & Gabbana dress.
I can't remember the last time I really loved something that Kylie Minogue wore but that changed today as she stepped out in Cannes to promote her new project, 'Holy Motors'. At the film's photocall at the Palais des Festivals, the singer sported a green more conservative version of a black dress from the Fall 2012 Emilio Pucci collection.
Regular readers will know just how much of a fan I am of Nicole Richie. Over the years her red carpet appearances have become as strong as her much-loved off-duty style and yesterday was a case in point.
To attend the 4th annual FiFi Awards held at the Lincoln Center in New York, the designer chose this S/S12 Emilio Pucci dress and everything about it works. The only thing that let the look down was the heavy shoes and the overly formal hair style.
Her off-duty style has never inspired me but there's no denying that Eva Longoria has red carpet dressing down. After that dramatic dress that she wore at the opening of the Cannes Film Festival earlier on this week, she opted for something a lot more simple last night.
To attend the L'Oreal and Cannes Film Festival 15th Anniversary Dinner she opted for this black sheer paneled Emilio Pucci Fall 2012 dress teamed with a pair of black 'Maniac' heels from Brian Attwood.
It's hard to remember a time where Lea Michele has got it wrong on the red carpet and last night was another example of her getting it right. The 'Glee' star wore this feminine form-enhancing pre-fall Emilio Pucci dress to attend the Fox Upfront 2012 presentation in New York.
When Rihanna stepped out in this blue Emilio Pucci pyjama suit at a press call for her debut movie, 'Battlefield', she made a statement in two ways. Firstly, the singer's decision to sport the style on the red carpet showed that the trend that has been gaining pace and resonance over the past season has officially moved in the consciousness of the mainstream. More than anything else it proved that dressing, particularly for the red carpet, doesn't need to mean that comfort must go out of the window.
It's this feeling that Stella McCartney developed last season at her S/S12 show. After all, it was her relaxed silk pyjama styles that started the current fascination with the style. Since showing that collection brands like Balmain and Celine have tapped into it with their respective pre-fall collections and according to the Guardian, the high street are lapping it up too. Whistles, H&M and Topshop have all reported that the trousers are proving a hit in their stores and are selling out fast.
As someone who spends the majority of my writing time in comfortable clothes sat in my home office, the idea of working in something that felt as comfortable as pyjamas without being the real thing, was an instant draw. But the big question is how did this new found love for comfort happen especially in an industry where most women are glutton for punishment when it comes to their sartorial choices? After all, there is a reason why people are touting it as the most unlikely trend of the season. In my noble opinion I think it is a sign of big changes. A few years ago we were all in the thick of Balmain fever where everything was about the bling, the sequins, the shoulders and the equally garish and ultra mini dresses but over the past few season things have changed. With the economy as it is, our clothes are one thing that we can't afford to be restricted by or worry about and as McCartney continues to prove, comfort and fashion are not diametrically opposing notions. But that's not it. As many retailers have noticed, the great thing about them is that transcend generations. Unlike season past where the pieces would look strange on anyone above a size 10 and on beyond the tender 20s bracket, this look is resonating with women of all shapes and sizes.
So the only question now is will you sport the style this season?
The charm of Peter Dundas' work at Emilio Pucci is that he takes risks - big ones - but where he goes the rest of us follow. Last season was all about sexy gypsies and while I vowed to give up all things peasant several years ago, he instantly had me convinced. This season though was less about taking risks. Following from the more toned down aesthetic we've seen in Milan this week at brands like Gucci and Versace, the Pucci girl was a lot more covered up and refined this season and it worked.
Menswear features were apparent throughout especially on the outwerwear, which often came in the scaled over oversized shapes that have dominated this season. A fur collared duffle coat was particularly good as was a boxy peacoat and beaver coat, which all came in black. The more statement outerwear pieces were the patent leather and alligator skin styles that reminded me of something Alexander Wang would do and a black tuxedo worn by Aymeline Valade that is making me want to go on the hunt for a trouser suit now.
But it wasn't all masculine. It is the Pucci girl we're talking about after all so naturally there was a bit of skin on show. This season the thigh high slits that we expect from the brand were there but on the whole any flash of skin came under sheer black transparencies on sleeves or cut outs on dresses in a way that was more seductive than overtly sexual.
This week has been a busy one in Hollywood. Earlier on this week we had the People's Choice Awards and last night was the turn of the Critics Choice Awards.
Outfits on the night that realy stood out came from Charlize Theron in Azzedine Alaia, Michelle Williams in Chanel, Kristen Dunst in Christian Dior, Jessica Chastian in Balenciaga and Shailene Woodley in Calvin Klein. I was really excited to see what Elizabeth Olsen would wear over the next week but her yellow Emilio Pucci dress that she wore to last night's event hasn't got me excited about what is yet to come.
Cast your mind back to the summer of 2008. If you're anything like me you wanted to wear just about every outfit sported by Sienna Miller and due to Gucci's popular S/S08/09 collection, you were also channeling all things gypsy and peasant. On hitting my twenties I swore that the trend would stay in my teens but Peter Dundas just might have changed my mind.
The theme dominated his S/S12 collection at Emilio Pucci and while it won't be to everyone's taste, it was definitely a lot more luxurious and sexy than it has been presented elsewhere. 'I find it easy and laid back for summer and that's how I think girls want to look and I like girls that look like that certainly,' Dundas told Tim Blanks when asked why he decided to feature the theme so heavily in the collection.
Will you bare your midriff and succumb to round two of all things gypsy?
