19 Shameless Looks That Prove Cannes 2026 Was The Latest Victim Of Provocative Outfits

13. Chloé Zao

Chloé Zhao attended the Cannes Film Festival 2026, serving as an official jury member for the festival’s 79th edition. The acclaimed director made history after winning the Academy Award for Best Director for Nomadland , becoming the first woman of color to receive the honor. At Cannes 2026, Zhao joined the prestigious main competition jury alongside stars including Demi Moore and Stellan Skarsgård under Jury President Park Chan-wook. For the opening ceremony and premiere of La Vénus Électrique ( The Electric Venus ), she wore a striking custom Gabriela Hearst design centered around the label’s “Solway” gown from the Autumn/Winter 2026 collection. The long black dress was crafted from a blend of merino wool and silk and featured an intricate knit lace pattern that created a semi-transparent effect throughout the gown. Rather than relying on exposed skin alone, the gown used texture, layering, and artisanal construction to create depth and visual intrigue. Speaking about her Cannes wardrobe, Zhao told Vogue , “This is one of the very few times that I’m at a festival not representing a film, so there’s a lot of freedom for me to have fun — there’s less pressure.” “I wanted to have fun and be playful, and a little messy — not follow any rules,” she added. Designer Gabriela Hearst later revealed that the gown’s aesthetic drew inspiration from the Gnostic Bible and the iconography of Mary Magdalene, reinforcing the outfit’s spiritual, artistic, and almost medieval mood.