While the judges at the 62nd Cannes film festival are still deliberating which film will take home the prized Palme d'Or award today, the fashion votes have already been cast. The five key trends from the 2009 festival are …
Risk Cannes is well known for being the industry event where followers of fashion push the boundaries. Whereas the Oscars have become safer each year as actresses aim to avoid the worst-dressed list, they still feel free to let rip on the Côte d'Azur. Perhaps it's being on European soil; perhaps it's the sea air. Instead of actress after actress walking the red carpet in safe gowns we had Sophie Marceau in a daring daytime strapless silver Missoni jumpsuit, Asia Argento in a complicated and frothy colourful confection from Armani Privé and the ever-experimental Tilda Swinton championing Haider Ackerman in maroon separates. This year was not about playing it safe.
Colour The festival's colour palette took in everything from red-carpet red, as seen on both Monica Bellucci in Dior and Sophie Marceau in YSL at the premiere of Don't Look Back, to Rachel Weisz's addiction to green (she managed to wear an emerald Valentino gown and olive Dior shift in one day). But it was the lavender ladies that looked best. No longer the preserve of beleaguered bridesmaids everywhere, Cannes has shown a pastel purple can be surprisingly sexy and fresh. Step forward model Devon Aoki, who teamed her Alberta Ferretti one-shoulder gown with a classic updo setting the Croisette alight, Penélope Cruz, who wowed (despite a bout of food poisoning) in a low-cut Marchesa Grecian number with a sweeping train, and Abbie Cornish, who wore asymmetric lilac by Australian designer Toni Maticevski. Showing us how not to do it was Victoria Silvstedt, who got it all wrong in a rather violent shade of violet.
Legs Angelina ensured the only split on anyone's mind was the one in her nude chiffon Versace gown, exposing acres of thigh as she nailed this look. Exposed legs were a big hit at the Met Ball in New York a couple of weeks ago for the opening of the Model as Muse exhibition and it seems to have inspired many at Cannes. Sharon Stone (pictured) went for a dual-length hem in black Balmain which from the back was a to-the-floor dress but from the front was a very-short mini, and Diane Kruger wore a sweet black thigh-skimmer at the photocall for Inglourious Basterds .
Sparkle Doing their best to bring some glamour to these troubled times, there was a glut of dresses out-sparkling the stars wearing them. Elizabeth Banks was keen to make a statement in her black and blue beaded Andrew Gn dress with capped sleeves and a slinky train, while Georgina Chapman wore black and gold Marchesa that balanced the demure with the showgirl. Whether seen as detailing on Juliet Binoche's cream Dior dress or as full-on glitterballs like Francesca Versace, this trend screamed fun.
Individuality This was the year to put the personal stamp on the male uniform of tux and bow tie. Brad Pitt's classic old Hollywood look – Tom Ford pale peach suit, open-neck crisp white shirt and charcoal-grey scarf worn as cravat – aped Cary Grant in his heyday and ensured he stood out, although it did leave people questioning the need for a scarf. Teenage heartthrob Robert Pattinson eschewed a formal dickie-bow in favour of a black tie with his trademark scruffy hair proving it was possible to keep some individuality amidst the formality.
