It’s true that Cannes is all about the high octane glamour of the red carpet, but for me it’s the little laidback Croisette moments in-between the nightly premieres that provides the best fashion inspiration for real life. Whether jetting into Nice airport like a seasoned traveller (Laura Harrier is this season’s queen of the casual Cannes looks) or hopping aboard a yacht in the optimum riviera ensemble, these are the celebrity looks that can actually have an impact on how you rework your own summer wardrobe or pack your next holiday suitcase.
One good example in the last day of events comes from French It girl and Chanel favourite, Lily-Rose Depp. Wearing a clean, minimalistic combination of a black fit-and-flare micro-mini dress and low-heeled slingback sandals, this was the ultimate lesson in not only less-is-more but that short hemlines really do work best with a mid-height shoe. Flats can feel challenging with a lot of leg on show, and high heels can, conversely, feel a bit OTT. This is a shoe style that basically originates from Paris—Chanel first introduced these classic slingbacks in 1957—and has remained a firm favourite amongst French fashion editors, stylists and influencers ever since. They wear them with everything from jeans and wide-leg trousers through to shorts and every dress length. The demure nature of these pumps can soften the most daring of looks (note the low neckline here to boot), and add an elegant spin to off-duty outfits too.
