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

3. Havana Rose Liu

Havana Rose Liu made a dramatic Cannes debut, attending the world premiere of her futuristic thriller Her Private Hell , directed by Nicolas Winding Refn. The rising actress and multimedia artist first gained widespread attention through the comedy Bottoms and thriller No Exit , with Cannes 2026 marking one of the biggest red-carpet moments of her career so far. In addition to supporting Her Private Hell , Liu also attended the prestigious Kering Women in Motion Awards during the festival week. For the premiere, she wore a striking custom Balenciaga gown designed by Pierpaolo Piccioli, crafted from richly saturated blood-red silk chiffon and featuring an off-the-shoulder neckline with fluid draping that wrapped around her frame. While the gown initially appeared classically glamorous, closer inspection revealed a more modern, edgy construction through structured side cut-outs and a bandage-inspired bodice. At the back, the gown extended into a dramatic, caped, trailing panel, creating movement and theatricality without becoming overwhelmingly oversized. Expert Dr. Braithwaite described Liu’s ensemble as one of the festival’s more restrained examples of dramatic couture. “There were some ‘tame’ voluminous gown examples,” she explained. “Havana Rose Liu certainly had a train to her exotic red dress, but whether it was long enough to hold up the flow of people across the red carpet is probably debatable.” Havana later revealed to W Magazine that she intentionally chose the crimson shade over a black alternative because the color held personal symbolism tied to her Chinese heritage and childhood traditions, describing it as a lucky, grounding ritual for her first Cannes appearance.