Celebrities from the region are always making us proud when it comes to leaving an impression after stepping out on the red carpet. And they have certainly continued to make us smile with a knowing nod while hitting the daily premieres at Cannes’ Palais des Festivals or other glitzy events.
In fact, unforgettable looks are all we’ve been seeing at the 72nd edition of the festival that offers an extravagant mix of the Oscars’ allure and the Met Gala’s unconventionality. Since the fortnight is also famous for displaying some of the world’s most whopping, beautiful bling, the glamorous parade of Arab A-listers also features a lot of bedazzling high jewellery.
Saudi actress, singer, and L'Oréal ambassador Aseel Omran looked like a vision wearing a strapless lavender ombré plissé tulle ballgown, with a voluminous tiered skirt and crystal chainmail bodice. Another celebrity looking gorgeous in the same pastel shade was Lebanese fashion and beauty entrepreneur Paola El Sitt, who was spotted in a silky, tight dress with cut-outs.
Princess-like dresses have been a real highpoint, with the likes of Iraqi influencer Rania Fawaz wearing a white fairytale number. Her gorgeous earrings in white gold set with white diamonds and matching ring also helped put her in the spotlight. Another influencer, Dubai-based Ola Farahat, combined her Cinderella-like ball gown with show-stopping earrings in pink gold set with pink sapphires and amethysts, as well as two rings set in icy diamonds. A third dreamy look merging a white gown with jaw-dropping jewellery came from Dorra Zarrouk. While attending a dinner, the Tunisian-born actress, who is based in Egypt, stunned in an asymmetrical draped gown.
Plus, quite a few of our favourite regional stars rightly chose to stand out in vibrant colours, which have been one of the most consistent red carpet trends this year. Saudi beauty and YouTuber Hala Abdallah lit up Cannes during her debut in a bold yellow softly draped strapless taffeta dress with a train in ruffled fabric. Then there was Dubai-based Lebanese influencer Karen Wazen Bakhazi turning up the heat in a head-turning neon green coat-like dress with an ultra-long train over a mirrored mini dress. Other famous Lebanese in pops of colour include TV personality Raya Abi Rached in coral orange, singer and actress Carole Samaha in a scene-stealing pink and Diala Makki in glittering green.
Wearing bright colours didn’t stop them from donning stunning pieces of jewellery either. Bakhazi wore an asymmetrical necklace with pear-cut diamonds that elegantly move, moon-inspired diamond earrings and several rings. Samaha and Abdallah completed their looks with dazzling necklaces and matching pieces featuring white gold and diamonds. TV star Makki also shone in gorgeous drop white gold and titanium earrings set with diamonds and a diamond ring in white gold.
Some other of our favourite A-listers opted for timeless and elegant black, including Lebanese actress, director and Oscar nominee Nadine Labaki, who is the first Arab to be part of the Un Certain Regard jury. A regular on the red carpet this year, one of her looks was a silk velvet column gown edged with devoré ostrich feathers. Entrepreneur and make-over guru Joelle Mardinian also looked sophisticated in an off-the-shoulder number and a breath-taking sapphire and diamond set. Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani chose the colour of night too, wearing a silk lace midi dress with pleats and velvet details while attending a dinner.
Lana El Sahely at the Oh Mercy! premiere in a Maison Valentino dress and Messika jewellery
Aseel Omran at the “Rocketman” premiere in a Zuhair Murad dress
Jessica Kahawaty at the premiere of “A Hidden Life” in a Christophe Guillarme gown and Flavia Vetorasso jewellery
Rania Fawaz at the opening ceremony in a Zeena Zaki gown and de GRISOGONO jewellery
Hala Abdallah in a Hamda Al Fahim gown and Piaget jewellery
Karen Wazen Bakhazi at the “Too Old to Die Young” premiere in a custom Rami Kadi gown and Messika jewellery
Ola Farahat at the “Les Miserables” premiere in a Rami Al Ali gown and de GRISOGONO jewellery
Dorra Zarrouk at the Chopard dinner in a Jean-Louis Sabaji gown and Chopard jewellery
Paola El Sitt in a Maison Gio Dannawi dress
Dalida Antoine Khalil at the “Dead Don’t Die” premiere in a Ziad Nakad gown
Raya Abi Rached at the “Rocketman” premiere in a Rami Al Ali Couture gown and Azza Fahmy jewellery
Leila Bekhti at the premiere of “A Hidden Life” in a light pink satin dress and Boucheron jewellery
Carole Samaha at the premiere of “A Hidden Life “ in an Azzi & Osta gown and Chopard jewellery
Joelle Mardinian in a Marwan Khaled Couture dress and Chopard jewellery
Diala Makki at the premiere of “A Hidden Life” in an Elie Saab gown and Chopard jewellery
Nadine Labaki at the “Les Miserables” premiere in a Ralph & Russo gown and Cartier jewellery
Golshifteh Farahani at the "Vogue" Paris dinner a Givenchy dress and accessories
