Lights, camera, glamour: 40 of the best looks from the Cannes Film Festival red carpet

With the festival cancelled this year, we look back at some of the best outfits from the past

Aishwarya Rai looked like a real-life princess in a Michael Cinco gown at the 'Okja' premiere at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. EPA

Jury President Cate Blanchett wore custom-made Mary Katrantzou to the screening of 'Cold War (Zimna Wojna)' during the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. When the designer saw the look on the red carpet, she was so happy, she cried. Getty

Fan Bingbing looked delightful in this delicate, flowered Marchesa gown, with headdress, at Cannes in 2015. EPA

Breaking the mould, Nadine Labaki wore a masculine suit and T-shirt to collect her ACC Best Director award in Cannes in 2019. Reuters

Aishwarya Rai looked like a golden mermaid in Roberto Cavalli at the 'Two Days, One Night' premiere during the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Getty

Eva Longoria wore a long trained Marchesa gown in 2012. EPA

Sonam Kapoor visited the 2016 Cannes Film Festival wearing all-white Ralph & Russo. EPA

In flounced Giambattista Valli, Deepika Padukone arrives for the screening of 'Dolor y Gloria' during the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. EPA

Showing true French style, Marion Cotillard wore this Chanel two-piece to the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. TPX IMA

For the 2013 premiere of 'Blood Ties', Zoe Saldana wore an embroidered Valentino gown. EPA

Amal Clooney and her husband, George, at the 'Money Monster' premiere during the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. She wore an asymmetric Atelier Versace gown in palest cream. Getty Images

The original Cannes starlet, Brigitte Bardot, on the beach in the 1950s.

'Amelie' actress Audrey Tautou wore a cocktail dress and bolero jacket to the festival in 2006. EPA

In 2012, Fan Bingbing wore this heavily embroidered gown by Christopher Bu to dramatic effect. EPA

Wearing feather-trimmed Elie Saab, actress Naomi Watts in 2015. EPA

In protest to the 'no flat shoes' rule that Cannes imposed on women, Julia Roberts famously went barefoot in 2016. EPA

Elle Fanning wore a hand-painted Vivienne Westwood couture gown to Cannes in 2017. EPA

In 2011, Salma Hayek wore a strapless grey Gucci gown. EPA

Looking immaculate in red, Kristen Stewart donned a Reem Acra gown during the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. EPA

To the 2008 amfAR event at Cannes, Natalie Portman wore a sculpted Givenchy dress. EPA

For the 2012 Cannes festival, Tilda Swinton wore copper Haider Ackermann. EPA

In 2001, Laetitia Casta broke all the rules and wore a vintage silk kimono. EPA

Uma Thurman wore a feather-fringed Versace gown to the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. EPA

Olivia Palermo wore a golden Roberto Cavalli gown and jacket in 2013. EPA

Model-turned-actress Cara Delevingne wore lace-panelled Burberry on the red carpet in 2013. EPA

The late Princess Diana wore a pale blue Catherine Walker gown in homage to the actress Grace Kelly in 1987. EPA

A heavily pregnant Angelina Jolie wore an olive green Max Azria gown to the 'Kung Fu Panda' premiere during the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. Getty

Emma Watson looked elegant in Chanel Haute Couture in 2013. EPA

Model Linda Evangelista shimmered in Lanvin in 2008. EPA

In 2009, Angelina Jolie wore a nude Atelier Versace gown. EPA

Jury member Diane Kruger wore Christian Dior haute couture to the Closing Ceremony during the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. Getty

Actress Zhang Ziyi in metallic Givenchy at the premiere of 'La Belle Epoque' at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. AP

Charlize Theron donned a chic masculine suit to the screening of 'The Last Face' at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. AFP

Elle Fanning wore Christian Dior to the screening of 'Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood' during the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. EPA

A feathered, all-white look by Ashi Studio, worn by Aishwarya Rai during the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. EPA

Actress Isabelle Huppert in sequinned Armani Prive at the screening of 'Frankie' during the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. EPA

Jasmine Tookes wore this magnificent yellow gown by Georges Chakra at the Cinema Against Aids amfAR gala in 2019. EPA

Helen Mirren in beaded Elie Saab at the screening of 'Les Plus Belles Annees d'une Vie' during the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. EPA

In matching white, Priyanka Chopra, in Georges Hobeika, and Nick Jonas attend the screening of 'Les Plus Belles Annees D'Une Vie' during the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. Getty

Model Winnie Harlow donned this spectacular green gown at the screening of 'BlacKkKlansman' during the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. EPA

The 73rd annual Cannes Film Festival was meant to take place between Tuesday, May 12 and Saturday, May 23 this year, but like many things amid the coronavirus pandemic, it was cancelled some weeks ago.

This is a loss to us all, because not only is the festival a tribute to the world's best filmmaking, but it's a visual feast, too, as famous actors and actresses take to the red carpet, clad in the world's most beautiful clothes.

With its daily parades for the cameras, Cannes, as it is simply known, has helped boost many careers since the 1950s, when actress Brigitte Bardot wore a LBD and danced along the beach for the press.

Since then, the Cannes red carpet has become increasingly elaborate, as stars call on stylists to secure the latest fashion masterpieces, often fresh off the runway.

Although we will not be privy to the red carpet scenes this year, here, we look back at some of the showstopper looks from the past, from Princess Diana to Amal Clooney, via Aishwarya Rai and Kristen Stewart.

There are fairy tale gowns, tailored trouser suits and lots of sartorial rule-breaking, including a barefoot Julia Roberts.

Scroll through the gallery above to see our top picks.