Today was the first day of the 65th Festival de Cannes, the international playground of topless starlets, experimental directors, and film-world power players. Many stars have made their debuts there, and the lucky ones — Sophia Loren, Ingrid Bergman, Monica Vitti, Brigitte Bardot, et al — have returned year after year. The combination of yachting, frolicking on the beach, and black tie galas has always provided plenty of opportunities for low-key chic (think Jane Birkin, Charlotte Rampling, or Anita Pallenberg), as well as red carpet glamour (Grace Kelly, Vanessa Redgrave, and Natalie Wood).  Diane Kruger, Eva Longoria and Freida Pinto dazzled on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival’s opening event.

This photo of Grace Kelly was taken on the very same 1955 trip to Cannes where she met her eventual husband, Prince Rainier III, for the first time. She looks elegant and gorgeous–is it any wonder that she nabbed a prince on the trip?

Jean-Pierre Aumont and Grace Kelly, 1955

David Bowie, 1978

Jane Birkin, 1974

German actress Diane Kruger wowed the crowds in this pastel creation.

Brigitte Bardot already knows exactly how to play it for the camera, in Cannes back in 1956.

The ultimate European screen star, Sophia Loren shows how it’s done in 1959.

Supermodel Eva Herzigova showed off the Chopard diamond necklace made in honour of the film festival’s ‘face’, Marilyn Monroe.

Monica Vitti and Michelangelo Antonioni, 1967

Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero, 1967

The Help’ star Jessica Chastain chose a sculpted white gown.

Sofia Coppola’s Cannes debut in 1979, atop her dad’s shoulders. Best way to arrive to a party in our books.

Catherine Deneuve and David Bailey, 1966

(photos:NYT,GETTY)

SHARE THIS BLOG :

The Divine Mrs. Vreeland

Diana Vreeland — tastemaker, magazine editor, Costume Institute institution — was perhaps the city’s most recognizable fashion icon. A look at a life of high style — and high drama.
“ By Eleanor Dwight

“You gotta have style. It helps you get up in the morning. It’s a way of life. Without it you’re nobody. I’m not talking about a lot of clothes.”
Diana Vreeland

Before coming to the United States, Diana was a society girl Europe. She made a brilliant marriage to a very handsome and successful aristocrat. Through their connections, and because of her inate sense of style, Ms. Vreeland was offered the editorship of Harper’s Bazaar where she worked several years.

Carmel Snow and Diana Vreeland

An image of Vreeland that appeared in Harper’s Bazaarin 1936. She had just begun her 26-year reign at the magazine.

Diana and Reed Vreeland–her stylish, urbane husband with whom she had two sons, and whose death in 1966 devastated her–on the steps of the Southampton Bathing Corporation in the late forties.

Diana Vreeland by Andy Warhol

With Marisa Berenson

Her Amazing style!!!

Try to be born in paris if you can arrange it.” – diana vreeland

Mary Quant, great promoter of the mini-skirt, was given great coverage by Vogue. Ms. Vreeland was freindly with Jacqueline Kennedy. Below, another of Diana’s darlings, Yve St.Laurent with models.

Bring on the British
Later she moved to Vogue, the most powerful fashion magazine in the world. Ms. Vreeland must bear a large part of the responsibility for the “British Invasion” starting in 1964. She adored the Beatles, David Bailey and Jean Shrimpton. She forced the fashion world to sit up and take notice of the Pop Phenomenon: Twiggy. By using her on the covers and in the pages of Vogue she inferred Supermodel status in the British teenager.

Diana’s Discoveries
Lauren Hutton, Verushka, Penelope Tree, Benedetta Barzini, Marisa Barenson and Diana Vreeland on the cover of New York Magazine

Known as DV to those lucky enough to be her friends, Diana Vreland was the epitome of Old World elegance and modern savoir faire. She also had a sense of humor and air of irreverence. She was the tastemaker to the American’s who cared about fashion.

Diana Vreeland’s Quotes:

SHARE THIS BLOG :