Lebanese designers made a fashion statement on the red carpet at the 66th Cannes Film Festival in France over the past week. The festival’s buzz is as much about its star-studded audience and what they’re wearing as it is the films. Actresses wore creations by Lebanese designers ranging from newbies on the Paris scene to those who have long graced the red carpet, such as Elie Saab.
“The Great Gatsby” – based on the 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald and starring Leonardo DiCaprio as the war veteran Jay Gatsby – opened the festival Wednesday and drew a lineup of stars in haute couture by Georges Hobeika and Elie Saab.
International supermodel Tanya Dziahileva – who has walked the runway for nearly every top designer from Chanel to Alexander McQueen – wore an ivory, beaded gown from Hobeika’s spring-summer 2013 haute couture collection.
Hobeika showed the dress in January during Paris Fashion Week among a lineup of gowns featuring laser-cut floral applique on dresses in a range of pastels. Dziahileva spiced up the floor-length gown with statement deep burgundy lipstick.
French actress and Princess of Savoy Clotilde Courau wore a dress from Elie Saab’s spring-summer 2013 haute couture collection.
Courau’s dress was the epitome of Saab’s spring-summer couture collection, which was steeped in dramatic cutouts, beadwork and dark colors. She chose a trailing, long-sleeved gown in translucent black silk, decorated with floral applique and beadwork.
Another French actress, Vahina Giocante, also wore Saab to “The Great Gatsby” screening. The buxom star chose a cobalt blue dress from Saab’s pre-fall 2013 collection. In stark contrast to the dark, regal look of Courau’s dress, Saab’s pre-fall gown was a simpler, unembellished design with sheer sleeves and collar that revealed a plunging neckline.
Saab’s designs featured on several other stars at the festival, including American actress Ahna O’Reilly, from “The Help,” Chinese actress Fan Bingbing and Hong-Kong based actress Carina Lau.
American actress Eva Longoria, best known for TV drama “Desperate Housewives,” wore a beige, backless gown by Zuhair Murad. She looked regal, with silver baroque embroidery trailing down the floor-length gown.
Rising designers also got a small nod at the Cannes Film Festival. French actress Shirley Bousquet wore on the red carpet Saturday a black gown by rising designer Dina Jsr. The mermaid-style dress layered sheer chiffon over gold brocade, and accentuated the waist with a diamond pattern across the navel.
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