From Slip Dresses to Sheer Couture: The Trends That Shaped the Croisette in 2026
Every May, the same ritual unfolds on the French Riviera. Arrivals at Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, meetings on the terraces of the Hôtel Martinez, strolls along the Croisette and, ultimately, the ascent of the iconic Montée des Marches. For nearly two weeks, Cannes becomes much more than a film festival: it transforms into one of fashion's most closely watched stages, where every appearance is scrutinised and every red-carpet look has the potential to define the season ahead.
The 2026 edition once again proved that glamour can thrive within limits. While the festival maintained a reinforced dress code discouraging excessive trains, oversized volumes and overt displays of nudity, creativity was far from restrained. Instead, stars and their stylists responded with a sophisticated wardrobe of fluid silhouettes, impeccable tailoring, bold colour choices and masterfully executed transparencies.
The Return of the Slip Dress
Sometimes the strongest fashion statement is also the simplest one. This year, the slip dress reaffirmed its place as one of the most enduring staples of eveningwear, proving that minimalism can still dominate the red carpet.
Irina Shayk embraced the trend in a luminous silk design by The Row, elevated by dazzling jewellery, while Spanish actress Victoria Luengo opted for a softer Fendi interpretation with delicate gathers across the bodice. Their looks demonstrated how today's luxury often lies in subtraction rather than excess, allowing fabrics and silhouettes to speak for themselves.
More than a nostalgic reference to the 1990s, the slip dress emerged as a contemporary expression of effortless femininity: fluid, elegant and quietly confident.
Tailoring Takes Centre Stage
If slip dresses celebrated softness, tailoring brought structure and precision. Suits became one of the strongest style statements of the festival, offering a compelling alternative to traditional gowns.
Malgosia Bela opted for a shimmering Tom Ford ensemble, Anja Rubik reaffirmed her affinity with Saint Laurent in a flawless tuxedo, while Ruth Negga embraced bespoke elegance in Ami Paris. Odessa A'zion brought a more relaxed approach in Dior, pairing oversized proportions with an undone shirt.
Collectively, these looks highlighted a growing shift towards contemporary tailoring, where masculine codes are reinterpreted through a modern and increasingly fluid perspective.
Ph: Daniele Venturelli
Seeing Red
Alongside timeless black, red emerged as one of the dominant colours of the festival. Bold yet sophisticated, it became a visual language in its own right.
Isabelle Huppert delivered a lesson in understated drama in Gucci, while Tilda Swinton transformed the shade into an intellectual exercise through an anti-diva Chanel look that felt both unconventional and elegant. Simone Ashley also embraced the colour, confirming red as one of the season's strongest statements.
Whether vibrant or restrained, red proved capable of conveying both confidence and timeless glamour.
ph: Gigi Iorio
Transparency, Reimagined
If there was one trend that truly defined Cannes 2026, it was transparency. Yet rather than relying on provocation, designers explored the concept through craftsmanship, illusion and lightness.
Bella Hadid led the conversation in a Schiaparelli couture creation built around intricate lacework and the maison's signature trompe-l'œil techniques, creating the illusion of a sculpted second skin. The look also paid tribute to Jane Birkin's liberated approach to dressing, whose crochet and sheer silhouettes from the late 1960s continue to inspire contemporary fashion.
Elsewhere, Riley Keough embraced a sheer Chanel Haute Couture suit, while Daisy Edgar-Jones opted for a delicate Balenciaga creation. Jury member Demi Moore also explored the trend through soft draping and ethereal fabrics, proving that sensuality can be conveyed through refinement rather than exposure.
ph: Mateusz Pielesz
The Enduring Magic of Cannes
Beyond the trends that emerge each year, Cannes continues to occupy a unique place in the fashion imagination. It is one of the few events where old-Hollywood glamour still feels relevant, where couture and fantasy coexist, and where dressing up remains an essential part of the spectacle.
ph: Mateusz Pielesz
Among the most memorable presences of this edition was jury member Demi Moore, who moved effortlessly between emerald green, luminous neutrals and elegantly structured silhouettes. Her wardrobe reflected the enduring appeal of timeless glamour, demonstrating how classic elegance continues to thrive alongside contemporary fashion.
ph: Mateusz Pielesz
This year, we were also part of the Cannes story. Our creations made their way onto the red carpet, with pieces such as the Alice Slip Dress, the Rose Body in Nude and the Sparkling Sequins Set naturally fitting into this year's dialogue between contemporary glamour and timeless elegance.
ph: Mateusz Pielesz
ph: Daniele Venturelli
ph: Myko
And perhaps that is the true essence of Cannes. Beyond premieres and awards, it remains a celebration of beauty, craftsmanship and imagination — a place where fashion still tells stories and where, for a few days each year, the Croisette becomes the closest thing to a modern-day dreamscape.