Top 3 Looks From The 2012 Cannes Film Festival

The 2012 Cannes Film Festival has come and gone, but this red carpet is equally as important to fashion as the Academy Awards and the Met Ball.  Female stars are expected to bring their A-game and it is imperative for stylists to treat this red carpet with a European sophistication and elegance.  This year brought out the best in three women who stood out amongst the rest.  Take a look at my Top 3 Looks from Cannes:

1.  Nicole Kidman:  Nicole has always been one who takes fashion risks that sometimes pay off and other times they are disastrous, but I always like that she's willing to try. I love that she's back on the red carpet and in color.  For a long time, she has been washed out in white, beige, and black, so I am glad she realized it was time to bag the neutrals and wow us with a gorgeous dusty rose gown. I am a fan of the asymmetrical lines to the top of the gown that swoops around to reveal an open back with the crystal detailing. Here are the details on the dress:

Designer: Lanvin/Custom Made by Alber Elbaz
Jewelry:  Cartier

2.  Reese Witherspoon:  Does this woman know how to do pregnancy on the red carpet or what? Reese has hit two major red carpet events with sophisticated elegance and grace.....and a growing baby bump.  Reese has also been hit or miss for me in the past, but I think she's feeling great right now and it's showing in her recent public appearances.  The color and slit up the front are winners for me, but like Nicole, it's the back of the gown that adds a bit of drama to complete the ensemble.  Here are the details on the dress:

Designer:  Custom-made Atelier Versace
Jewelry: Chopard
Shoes:  Versace

3.  Eva Longoria:  Okay, I am never a fan of her red carpet looks.  Eva is very petite and I feel like she dresses in gowns overwhelming on her tiny frame.  Well, not this time.  Eva was dressed by Michael Angel, L'Oreal Paris' official stylist.  Eva was there as the official ambassador for the brand at the film festival. She had several wonderfully divine looks that enhanced her natural beauty and they did not overwhelm her small frame, but this one was my favorite. The train of the dress reminds me of the Versace dress Penelope Cruz wore the year she was nominated for the film, Volver.  Here are the details of her dress:

Designer:  Marchesa

What do you think of my Top 3 choices? Did I hit the mark or did I miss someone?

Don't forget to read the 2012 Hollywood Stylist List. Find out who dresses your favorite stars.

The Fashion Hits and Misses at the 2012 Met Ball

I feel like the last two weeks have been a fashion bonanza with the Correspondents Dinner and now the 2012 Met Ball.  The Met Ball is its own beast because people take serious fashion risks that sometimes are successful and other times, they are huge disasters.  Let's start out with the pretty first:

PRETTY:

1.  Amy Adams:  I cannot believe this lady is two-for-two with beautiful gowns.  She's still with the same stylist, but they are dressing her like the goddess she deserves to look like.   Dress by Giambasttista Valli. Jewels by Fred Leighton.  

2.  Cameron Diaz:  I have always loved the collaboration between Cameron and Rachel Zoe.  They work very successfully together and tonight was no different.  Dress by Stella McCartney.

3.  Dianna Agron:  Oh, we've seen our Glee star looking a little undressed in photos like these, but she's turning into quite the red carpet fashionista.  She looks young, fresh, but in command.  Dress by Carolina Herrara.

4. Diane Kruger:  I think the hair is a little messy for such a formal affair, but I couldn't resist this royal purple dress with the feathered train.  It is flowy and comfortable for such a stuffy night.  Dress and Clutch by Prada. 

5. Emma Stone:  Hollywood's It Girl looks great in this color and she wore it to the Oscars too.  She definitely took a risk with a shorter dress at the Met Ball and it pays off.  Dress by Lanvin.

6.  Gwyneth Paltrow: Her body looks flawless in The Avengers, it looked flawless at the Oscars, and it looks flawless here.  Enough said.  Dress by Prada.

7.  Nina Dobrev:  There is just nothing wrong with this photo:  beautiful dress, sublime train pooling behind her, and a complete red carpet look.  Dress by Donna Karan. (Kind of an unexpected look from Donna, no?  Love it.)

Now for the fun part, the really, really ugly that crossed that red carpet tonight at the Met Ball and, kids, there was a lot of ugly this year.  I didn't pick any of the models that attended.  Instead, I looked for celebs because seriously.....they know better to wear such ugliness on camera.  Let's take a look:

UGLY:
1.  Chloe Sevigny:  What was she thinking?  It doesn't even look like she tried. I think she just rolled out of bed and stumbled into the Met Ball.  Dress and clutch by Miu Miu.

 2.  Christina Ricci: This girl is so tiny in real life and she is so overwhelmed by the ugliness wrapping her body. Why? Why? Why?  Dress by Thakoon.

3. Florence Welch:  She wore a color similar to this to the 2010 Academy Awards.  This time around she has a ton of fabric and accoutrement on the dress to distract the eye from her Heidi braid on top of her head.  I know she's a musician and she wants to be edgy, but this wasn't it.  Dress by Alexander McQueen.

4.  Eva Mendes:  She is one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood and she comes dressed in this?  Was Rachel Zoe too busy dressing Cameron Diaz and Karolina Kurkova to pay attention to her other client?  What is up with that skirt of fabric covering her hips?  Dress and Clutch by Prada.  Jewelry by Fred Leighton.

5.  Elizabeth Banks: She's not known for fashion, so I think she should have stuck with a more safe gown.  What mirror did she look in and think "I look good"?  Shame on the stylist who put her in this.  Dress by Mary Katrantzou.  
       

 6.  Kristen Stewart:  She's always so miserable.  Why is she even there?  Dress by Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquiere.

7.  Sarah Jessica Parker:  What happened to our fashion icon from SATC?  She looks like my childhood bedroom drapes.  Dress by Valentino and Shoes by Manolo Blahnik.

8.  Julianne Hough:  She is going to be a huge star once Rock of Ages comes out, but this is not what a star wears to the Met Ball.  This is what a girl wears to her prom.  Dress by Carolina Herrara.

9.  January Jones:  Our girl is back from maternity leave and she is still dressing herself.  A worst-dressed list isn't complete without January.  Dress by Versace.  Jewelry by Cartier.

10.  Mary-Kate Olsen:  Ummmm, if you are wearing a dress from your fashion line, don't you want to look your best?  I guess not. She looks straight out of Tim Burton's Dark Shadows flick opening this weekend.  Dress by The Row. Jewels by Fred Leighton.

Do you agree with my fashion picks?  I would love to hear from you, so join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, or Google Plus.

Make sure to see my 2012 Stylist List so you are in the know about Hollywood stylists and who they dress.

All Photos by Getty Images.