WHO WORE WHAT?.....66th Annual Cannes Film Festival Opening Ceremonies

Queen of the Night: Nicole Kidman Opening Night Ceremony 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival--Kidman wore Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring 2013

The 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival officially kicked off last night in (you guessed it!) Cannes France. Last night was the Opening Ceremonies with the festival opening up with Baz Luhrman's new film "The Great Gatsby".  Superstars Nicole Kidman and "Amelie" star Audrey Tautou kicked off 12-days of red carpet fashion at the opening night festivities. The prestigious Riviera movie event provides both big fashion houses and (rarely, but sometimes as in Audrey Tautou's case--see below) up-and-coming designers with unparalleled opportunities to showcase their work before a global audience.

Fashion Princesses: Nicole Kidman and French actress Audrey Tautou--Tautou wore a design by young French designer Yiqing Yin who incidentally spent 400 hours creating her frosted mint organza and chiffon silk gown. 

At the fashion house of Lebanese couturier Elie Saab, a favorite with award ceremony regulars--according to france24.com--the Designer (or at least, their PR dept.) never make the first move. "We don't contact them: they have to want to wear our robes," said Elie Saab's Emilie Legendre, adding that a large number of fittings were done this year in Los Angeles, London and Paris. I somehow doubt that the PR companies of the designer brands do not contact the actresses' pr agents to offer a gown or two, especially for such a high-profile event like Cannes. This, I do not believe. But irregardless, Cannes has become a BIG Red Carpet "Fashion Show". Speaking of, let's discuss the Red Carpet so far:

 Nicole Kidman: First, I want to talk about Nicole's AMAZING hairstyle! This is, hands down, one of the best up-do/faux hawk ponytail looks EVAH! I really hope that hairstylist received A HUGE Hairstylist paycheck from this: One of the BEST!

The Fashion: For the Opening Night Ceremony, actress--and 2013 Cannes Film Festival Jury Member--Nicole Kidman wore Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring 2013, a strapless ivory silk organza tea-length dress with fitted bustier and gathered attached skirt featuring hand-applied multicolored sequined applique

2013 Cannes Film Festival Jury Members include (left to right) "Django Unchained" star Christoph Waltz, Indian actress Vidya Balan, directors Ang Lee, Steven Spielberg (jury president), Lynne Ramsay,  Naomi Kawase (director of "The Mourning Forest"), Nicole Kidman, actor-director Daniel Auteuil and  "Beyond The Hills" director Cristian Mungiu

At the Jury Photo Call...

Nicole Kidman and Director Steven Spielberg--Nicole wore a black sheath dress with semi-scooped neckline and fitted-to-puffy sleeved dress from Alexander McQueen Fall 2013; it was a black version of a dress style (shown in white at right, above) in the Alexander McQueen Fall 2013 Look Book

Jury Call Fab--Actor Christophe Waltz, actress Vidya Balan (STUNNING Sari!) , actor-director Daniel Auteuil, Nicole Kidman, jury president Steven Spielberg and director Ang Lee

Here's More Red Carpet from the Opening Night:

Julianne Moore: Moore wore a strapless black and lilac silk dress from Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring 2013, modified (Custom) for her from the runway sample shown (right photo above). I thought she looked great. Not sure this is her type of silhouette and maybe not one of her best red carpet ensembles but it was modern, still somewhat classic and very Francais-chic!

Carey Mulligan: "The Great Gatsby" actress Carey Mulligan wore a light pink duchesse satin gown form Christian Dior Couture. It was a custom design, very fitted and similar (in silhouette and simplicity) to...

 ...what Gwyneth Paltrow wore back at the 1999 Academy Awards

Cara Delevingue: Questionable white powder concealer/English supermodel Cara Delevingue, who just returned from Singapore modeling in Chanel's Resort 2014 Fashion Show, did the 2013 Opening Ceremonies red carpet, in a black lace gown from Burberry. Love the fitted gown, the see-through lace and especially that red lipstick'ed "Don't EVEN try-and-ask-me-about-the-white-powder look"!

Cindy Crawford: Speaking of Supermodels...The one-and-only Cindy Crawford also walked the 2013 Cannes Opening Night Ceremonies red carpet---she wore a white sweetheart neckline fitted gown with gold sequined neckline detail from Italian designer Roberto Cavalli. Can we just discuss how FABULOUS Cindy Crawford looks!? She gets major "Nick At-a-Girl" points!

Solange Knowles: Solange wore a coppery silk chiffon gown from French Couturier Stephane Rolland and his Stephane Rolland Haute Couture Fall 2012 collection. Solange--and the gown--were both EXQUISITE! This is a $100,000+ costing (if she were to even buy it!) Couture gown, and kids, she did it "DRAMA justice" at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival red carpet!

Lana Del Rey: Singer Lana Del Rey wore a strapless black and white lace applique gown. She was very much in "the Great Gatsby" spirit in this gown as well as her "modified 1920's"-like hairstyle.

Isla Fisher: Fisher wore a strapless red gown from Oscar de la Renta. The gown featured a gathered bustier and tiered cascade ruffled full skirt. The gown style was a little Prom but, " 'Tis the Season"....I did like the necklace, hairstyle and bright color!

Florence Welch: Welch wore a pink and black polka dotted custom Miu Miu gown based on a below-the-knee style featured in the Miu Miu Fall 2013 collection. Saucy and Sassy. Gotta luv Miss Welch!

Last, But Not Least...(for now)

Fan Bingbing: Actress and Fashion Glam Diva Fan Bingbing wore a rose pink silk ziberline strapless gown with sequined bust section. In case you want to know, it was from Louis Vuitton. Miss Fan Bingbing has been really bringing on the COUTURE in the last couple of years at Cannes, so I hope she delivers this year as well!