For two weeks yearly, the town of Cannes within the South of France turns into a hotbed for A-list celebrities. The wealthy and well-known descend upon the coastal location for the Cannes Film Festival to preview and have a good time an upcoming roster of movies. And with it, comes a pink carpet that may have you ever “oohing” and “aahing” on the sheer glitz and glamour of all of it. While it appears to be the epitome of fame – designer robes, VIP dinners, and late-night events – what’s it actually prefer to spend 24 hours surrounded by the who’s who of leisure?
As a self-confessed celeb obsessive, touchdown in Cannes was my Christmas come early. Aside from work occasions, the closest I’ve bought to recognizing a star of their pure habitat is JLS’s Aston Merrygold in my native kebab store. So it is protected to say, my celeb radar was on excessive alert. The metropolis had been shrouded in rain earlier than my arrival, however as I pulled as much as Le Mondial lodge, the solar was glowing and my French was flowing (GCSE French, that’s; I ordered a ham and cheese sandwich.)
My first impression? It’s busy, however in a great way. The quaint seaside metropolis was full of individuals. Tourists had been a given, however there was an air of urgency. Influencers, photographers, PRs, brokers, occasion planners stroll with objective alongside the streets in a bid to maintain the competition operating like clockwork. And the adrenalin rubs off, a buzz of pleasure brewing. Then once more, that might have been the low hum of helicopters permeating the hustle and bustle. Every jiffy, a helicopter may be seen flying the A-list stars in or out of the town extra recurrently than the London Underground.
People watching can also be one in every of my unofficial hobbies, and Cannes is the proper place for taking all of it in. A Smörgåsbord of individuals stroll the streets or take to the seaside. Locals in bikinis sit amongst influencers in robes always of the day. Impatient that I hadn’t but glimpsed Leonardo DiCaprio, I noticed a crowd congregated round one individual. Could this be it? An encounter with The Weeknd? Was I about to turn out to be greatest associates with Jennifer Lawrence? Sadly not. With so many camera-ready guests, photographers swarm round anybody with outsized sunnies and a assured stroll. Be warned, not everyone seems to be the lead within the newest Wes Anderson movie.
Yet, I nonetheless managed to stumble throughout an excellent spot. Walking previous a jetty, there stood precise Sydney Sweeney. The “Euphoria” star was stepping onto a ship to get to her yacht (sigh) following her Miu Miu lunch. Turning again to the shoreline, she blew kisses and waved immediately at me. Sort of.
The metropolis undoubtedly caters for the world’s elite. Food and drinks don’t come low-cost (count on to drop £30 for a burger) and the streets are lined with high-end vogue shops. Hermés, Dolce & Gabbana, and Celine are dotted between the luxurious accommodations.
With an invitation to the VIP Magnum seaside get together on my schedule, discovering a Cannes-worthy outfit had been sending me right into a low-key panic. How may I discover a costume that would not look wildly misplaced alongside the likes of Maya Jama’s bridalcore robe, Viola Davis’s feathered cape, or Irina Shayk’s leather-based co-ord? I’d been eyeing up a Mango off-the-shoulder quantity from its new capsule assortment for a couple of days, nevertheless it would not arrive in time within the UK. The vogue gods will need to have been wanting down on me as, reverse my lodge, stood a Mango with solely pink carpet-worthy apparel. Of course, I used to be within the house of the pink carpet. I bought the products, albeit in a dimension too small, however vogue is ache, proper?
The events in Cannes are infamous. Not just for attracting international stars, however for his or her raucous popularity. The seaside is lined with marquees, in collaboration with varied manufacturers, every internet hosting occasions all through the 2 weeks. There are displays, lunches, dinners, and late-night DJs throughout the shoreline, so you may count on random applause and cheers as you head for a stroll to search out an Aperol Spritz.
As I rocked as much as the Magnum get together, costume slowly compressing my inner organs, it was clear I used to be very fortunate to have a ticket. A protracted line of partygoers had been queuing to achieve entry, which was already at capability, as rumours unfold that Burna Boy was performing afterward within the night. Taking my spot on the pink carpet, a frenzy ensued. Celebrities stood in entrance of the paparazzi in apparel that may solely been described as jaw-dropping. Sure, I’m used to poring over pink carpet images, however seeing these intricate artistic endeavors within the flesh was one other stage. Glistening materials, heels that I would not be capable of stroll greater than 5 toes in, and pores and skin so glowing it harm my eyes; this was how the opposite half lived. Models Irina Shayk, Stella Maxwell, Cindy Bruna, and Josephine Skriver wowed, whereas Eva Longoria and Nicole Sherzinger glistened.
As the get together ramped up, with banging music and dance performances, confetti poured from the ceiling and sparklers had been paraded throughout the dancefloor. Instead of sitting in champagne bottles, these had been trays filled with the brand new Sunlover and Starchaser Magnum ice lotions. Both are scrumptious; the previous consisting of coconut ice cream, with a mango and passionfruit swirl, coated in white chocolate, the latter fabricated from popcorn-flavoured and caramel ice cream, with caramel sauce, coated in milk chocolate. Contrary to well-liked perception, an ice cream was simply what I wanted mid sweaty dancefloor. I’ll be beginning a petition handy out chilly snacks in all golf equipment and bars from right here on in.
As my time on the Cannes Film Festival got here to an in depth, there’s a couple of lasting takeaways I used to be left with: wanting glamorous is a full-time job, and I’d all the time advocate shopping for your precise garments dimension. Celebrities simply know how one can pose for images, and there needs to be courses taught on this. You Cannes reside like an A-lister for twenty-four hours, however you will relish slipping into joggers on the finish of it.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Chloe Dunn