Pantsuits Ruled the Cannes Red Carpet This Year

By Pahull Bains

Date May 18, 2018

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While Cate Blanchett and Agnes Varda’s speech about gender equity at Cannes was the biggest statement of the film festival this year, there was another statement—a sartorial one this time—being made on the La Croisette over the course of the 10-day event.

Pantsuits. They were everywhere. Let us count the different ways in which they ruled the red carpet. Tuxedo-esque on former FASHION cover star Doutzen Kroes, preppy on Carey Mulligan, classic on Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, pristine on Jane Fonda and Andreja Pejic, and romantic on Cate Blanchett and Kristen Stewart. Of course, over the years Cannes has cultivated quite the reputation for its go-big-or-go-home red carpet, but actresses seem raring to break the rules this year, whether by rocking flats—both Stewart and Marion Cotillard flouted the unofficial "flats ban" — or by leaning towards menswear.

“It felt great to wear a suit, I would say that it felt empowering to ‘wear the pants’ and to keep it minimal yet so strong from within after having had amazing conversations with my L’Oreal ambassadors about equality and what beauty really means…” wrote Kroes in an Instagram post.

Now, it’s still Cannes so there were plenty of dramatic trains, pouffy ballgowns and wispy tulle to keep those Hollywood fantasies alive, but it’s nice to see actresses branch out in favour of sleeker, lower-maintenance looks. Click through the gallery for our favourites.