Jessica Chastain in McQueen at the Cannes Film Festival: cute or tragic?

70th Cannes Film Festival - Ismael's Ghosts - Opening Gala

Jessica​​ Chastain is on the jury of this year’s Cannes Film Festival competition. Chastain’s career pretty much started in Cannes several years back, that year when she had like five major movies out and then she turned up in Cannes for the Tree of Life premiere, standing in between Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, and everyone was like “Who is that girl?” Chastain seems to love this film festival, and she comes back most years.

Since she’s on the jury this year, that means Chastain probably arrived in the south of France with two giant trunks full of clothes for all of the appearances she’ll have to make. I’m not sure this was the best choice for opening night? This is Alexander McQueen, and while the top part is rather delicate and weird, the bottom part is awful. Ugh. Classic Sarah Burton-for-McQueen: do a decent job interpreting part of McQueen’s legacy and then tack on a bunch of basic-bitch ideas like a sheer skirt, a dust ruffle and what appears to be granny panties.

Cannes Gala red carpet

Cannes Gala red carpet

Here’s Elle Fanning in a custom “hand-painted” Vivienne Westwood gown. This is such a princess look! And it’s so perfect for Cannes. Elle is doing it right.

Elle Fanning at the 'Ismael's Ghosts' screening and Opening Gala during the 70th Annual Cannes Film Festival

Lily-Rose Depp (with director Asghar Farhadi) wore Chanel Resort. While I think Cannes is a perfect opportunity for a young woman to go full-on princess (see Elle Fanning, above), I also like it when a younger woman goes for a very simple and almost minimalist look, like this.

70th Cannes Film Festival - Ismael's Ghosts - Gala Opening

Robin Wright in a Saint Laurent cocktail dress. There were a lot of shorter dresses on opening night, which… eh. I’m not saying everyone needs to wear a full-on ball gown, but if you’re going with a shorter look, maybe save it for an event other than opening night?? Plus, there’s something almost TOO “slouchy” about this dress.

I adored Fan Bingbing’s Elie Saab gown, no surprise. I almost always love Elie Saab gowns at Cannes. This is princess-done-right.

Photos courtesy of Pacific Coast News, WENN, Joe Alvarez/WENN, Getty.

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40 Responses to “Jessica Chastain in McQueen at the Cannes Film Festival: cute or tragic?”

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  1. Lightpurple says:

    The top of Jessica’s gown is gorgeous and actually fits her, which very often is not the case. Her styling is beautiful. But enough of the sheer skirts. They’re distracting. Elle looks lovely. Great dress on Fan BingBing and Lily-Rose looks very nice. That’s a miss for Robin. The whole look is off. Like even though it’s short, the dress seems heavy and better suited for winter.

    • detritus says:

      total scrolldown fug. The bodice is beautiful.
      Agreed on Fan Bing Bing and Lily Rose, who I usually don’t like.

      • DystopianDance says:

        The bodice seems too long and just chops up her figure, particularly with the pronounced hem. It’s a case of a beautiful creation on the wrong body, even the wrong colors for Jessica.

      • Erica_V says:

        I was coming to the comments to say that – 100% scroll down fug.

  2. fiorucci says:

    Elle Fanning and Fan Bingbing do look amazing. I think that’s a really good look for robin if not very Cannes. The slouchy suits her and the bob is really nice.

    • bluhare says:

      I think Robin looks fabulous. She’s my favorite of the dresses here. And I’m with lightpurple; the sheer dress thing needs to go.

      • DystopianDance says:

        I think Robin is the win. It’s an unconventional, perhaps rebellious styling that suits a seasoned actress.

    • Josephine says:

      Fan Bingbing never gets enough coverage. She is often the best-dressed at these outings. She hands-down was the best at the Met ball a few years ago and it was hard to even find a picture of her.

      • Vizia says:

        This. Met gala a couple of years ago? Amazing.

      • Sunsetsnow says:

        She is stunning and so is her sense of style. I go and check out her outfits on Pinterest and look at her instagram fan page. She rarely gets it wrong!

  3. Prince says:

    I like Jessica’s necklace but not the dress.

  4. SusanneToo says:

    What Lightpurple said. The young’uns got it right.

  5. third ginger says:

    Love that Jessica is on the jury. One of my absolute favorites. I don’t hate the dress. Elle is ethereal!!

  6. sarri says:

    Elle’s dress is stunning, she looked great.

    Lily-Rose’s dress is just boring – but she really looks like her mother!

  7. Nicole says:

    I love Elle’s look and it so age appropriate. Lily looks nice as well I Just wish she did more with her hair. Robins dress looked too boxy? And Jessica looks fine but nothing wow

  8. smcollins says:

    I think all of them look gorgeous, especially Elle. I don’t even mind Robin’s simpler look. I wouldn’t hide those incredible legs under a long gown either!

  9. Aiobhan Targaryen says:

    Jessica’s dress is such a downer. The top part is actually pretty cool, but the bottom just looks lazy. A dress like this always shows up on project runway where a designer spent all of their time on the top and just rushed to get the bottom on to keep the woman somewhat decent. The designers at Alexander McQueen should have done better.

    Fan Bingbing always brings the fashion. She looks so good in that photo.

    Robin Wright’s dress is cute. She does need to stand up straight though.

    If someone told me that Lily-Rose Depp was in her mid to late twenties instead of a 16-year-old, I would totally believe them. She does look nice here though.

    Elle’s dress is would make a nice wedding dress.

    • Jegede says:

      Agree with all your points.

      Don’t like Chastain’s choice and also with Lily Rose Depp looking like she’s in her 20s.

    • Mannori says:

      Robin’s legs are just insane. I’ve been seeing all pictures at Getty and is just bloody unbelievable not for her age but for every age. I think Kaiser posted the picture where she was just turning to the other side of photographers and got caught with an awkward pose, she was posing just fine in the rest of the pictures.

    • DystopianDance says:

      I’m so over the nepotism, regarding all the spindly teenaged celebuspawn. These girls are just babies, riding on their parents’ coattails; they don’t seem “formed”. For me, their appearance ruins a production. I’d rather see a newcomer with some chops.

  10. Lucy2 says:

    I love the top, hate the skirt of Jessica’s. She looks so tiny next to Will.
    Fan Bingbing’s is very pretty, and Elle’s is stunning!

  11. Zuzus Girl says:

    I love Chasten and she looks gorgeous here. (Though I am over the sheer parts of any gown.) Fanning looks lovely. Robin Wright- no.

  12. Naddie says:

    Is there anyone who looks better than Jessica Chastain in dark/intense colors? NO.

    • Mannori says:

      She’s going to be so fun to watch for the next days. I love her style. Not always on point or risky but still always nice to look at.

  13. Mannori says:

    I love Robin’s dress, is in line with her red carpet allergic personality. She wasn’t premiering a film (she’ll premiere a short she directed later on the festival though) and she wasn’t a juror (she was one a few years back) so she didn’t need to wear a gown. It wasn’t “her” night, I actually find her lack of gown-wearing a refreshing attempt of not being extra, which I appreciate very much, as opposed to the lots of women walking the red carpet without even a reason to be there. The YSL is just the way Robin wore it: is intended to be boxy and loose, I’ve seen it on the catwalk and Robin wore it better than the model. Is all about the legs and the rockstar style. I really loved it.

    • Pandy says:

      i LOVE her dress! I think the gowns are a bit much, personally, as much as I enjoy looking at them. Elle’s is beautiful but OTT. And why is Lily-Rose Depp a thing?

  14. ell says:

    alexander mcqueen is baffling. the catwalk is absolutely gorgeous, the dresses are breathtaking. and yet, everytime they make a bespoke dress for some celeb, it looks cack. or same-ish. it’s just odd.

    i hate princessy dresses, and elle’s dress looks too much like what she wore last year for the neon demon at cannes.

    i’m over vanessa paradis’ spawn, so much privilege, but she doesn’t seem to be good at anything.

  15. Katie says:

    Don’t love anyone’s dresses, but they’re all ok. It’s nice to see Chastain at least try to wear something vaguely interesting, and Robyn and Lily’s dresses aren’t exciting, but they’re nice enough. No major fails here.

  16. Chinoiserie says:

    I liked Chastain’s dress in the first picture before I saw that it was sheer. Lily-Rose Depp was actually my favorite even though I am usually in favor of ball gowns and hand painted stuff and that shade of blue Fan wears. So it’s odd I liked Lily-Rose’s dress the best.

  17. serena says:

    I adore Fan BingBing’s look as well as Elle Fanning’s . On that note, please post a picture of the back of the dress, it’s stunning!

  18. Sage says:

    Jessica looks perfect. I love the top half of the dress, the jewelry and makeup.

  19. CornyBlue says:

    I love Chastain and the dress but everyone pales in front of Fan Bingbing.

  20. bella says:

    I love all of the dresses and I think they all look beautiful. In order it would be Robin, Fan, Lily, Elle, and the Jessica. Fan always looks amazing, and I agree that especially at the Met a few years ago!! She is breath-taking!

  21. teacakes says:

    I loved Jessica’s dress – it’s dramatic and unusual and her face looks gorgeous ….until I saw the skirt was sheer. Seriously, do designers these days have something against the idea of lining a skirt?

    There are ways to do it right (Kirsten Dunst at AMFAR during Cannes 2011) but dresses that actually look good sheer are few and far between.

    I love Elle’s dress and her entire look though – princess at Cannes is A++++ on her.

  22. Lana 234 says:

    I love the top of Jessica chastain’s dress but the sheer skirt is gross the velvet trim at the bottom is weird. I liked Elle Fanning’s dress it’s beautiful on her don’t think anyone else could wear it. Lilly rose depp’s dress is boring. I loved robin wrights dress even though if you looked at it for too long it might give you a headache.

  23. Abbess Tansy says:

    Just really love the looks of Elle Fanning, Fan Bingbing and Lily Rose Depp. The hand painted skirt, the blue dress with the cape, love them. I like the top half of Jessica’s dress but the bottom is just no. I want Fan Bingbing’s dress.

  24. TheOtherSam says:

    I normally dislike princess gowns but Elle looks amazing here. Fan Bingbing gorgeous. Lily-Rose looks very good and healthy here too.

  25. kri says:

    IT’s a Westwood! Living for that gown….LIVING!

  26. Cel2495 says:

    Love love Fan Bingbing dress!