Over the weekend, the 2026 Cannes Film Festival wrapped up. Jordan Firstman’s directorial debut Club Kid quickly became the surprise hit of the week, selling to A24 for $17 million after a fierce bidding war. Meanwhile, on the red carpets, stars kept things polished and glamorous, sticking to the famously strict dress code. From jury members Demi Moore and Ruth Negga to perennial rule-breaker Kristen Stewart, celebrities showed off their fashion skills in custom and fresh-off-the-runway looks from the biggest names in fashion. A red carpet is a perfect chance for designers to extend the runway’s reach—but has current-season dressing made a comeback, replacing the archival trend of recent years? Looking at this year’s Cannes, it certainly seems that way.

Bella Hadid in custom Schiaparelli.
Photo: Lionel Hahn/Getty Images

The Cannes red carpet has always been about glamour, including the finest vintage outfits. The last few festivals were full of standout examples: Amal Clooney in Dior by John Galliano, Naomi Campbell in a striped 1997 Chanel couture dress, Simone Ashley in a floral Alexander McQueen spring 2000 set, Rooney Mara in a 1956 Givenchy teacup dress, and all of Bella Hadid’s envy-inducing vintage finds, from Jean Paul Gaultier to Tom Ford-era Gucci. While Ashley and Hadid have kept up their vintage streaks this year, there’s a noticeable drop in archival dressing overall. Interestingly, in its place, there’s been a wave of remakes. Hadid’s crocheted Schiaparelli paid tribute to Jane Birkin’s backwards Pucci dress, while Anastasia Andrushkevich’s power blue chiffon gown recreated Princess Diana’s famous 1987 look.

“I think Cannes has become more tied to luxury-brand partnerships and ambassador dressing,” Stewart’s stylist Tara Swennen tells Vogue. In many ways, awards and film festival seasons have become their own mini-economy, and all the new creative directors have debut and sophomore runway collections to place on actors. Take the Oscars, which has quickly become one of fashion’s biggest deal-making nights. But the most stylish clients know how to strike a balance: honoring the house, dressing for the event’s requirements, and hopefully expressing themselves—the latter has become the most important factor for standing out.

Kristen Stewart in Chanel spring 2026 couture.
Photo: Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Getty Images

In 2018—the same year she kicked off her shoes—Stewart wore 2013 Chanel, but this week saw the Full Phil actress sporting a black and red knit dress and a sheer “tweed” skirt suit from Matthieu Blazy’s recent Chanel fall 2026 and spring 2026 couture collections, respectively. Both were paired with sneakers, of course. “Styling Kristen for Cannes now feels more about refining a language we’ve built together over the years,” Swennen explains. The high-low mix is signature to Stewart’s style, and the contrast makes the placement “less precious,” more personal, especially amid the festival’s old-school grandeur.

Meanwhile, Demi Moore’s feathered asymmetrical Gucci top couldn’t have gotten from JFK to Cannes fast enough—the show was late Saturday in New York, and she wore it on Monday. There’s really no quicker way to promote a collection than that.

Demi Moore in Gucci resort 2027.
Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Still, even stars working without stylists or exclusive ambassador deals are choosing current-season looks straight from the source. Director Chloe Zhao, dubbed “Most Avant-Garde” by our own Cannes Awards, has worn Schiaparelli’s spring 2026 couture “Isabella Blowfish” dress, Gabriela Hearst, and custom Prada. Elsewhere, Cate Blanchett sported spring 2026 Givenchy by Sarah Burton, and Ruth Negga, styled by Karla Welch, has worn custom and fresh-off-the-runway designs from Saint Laurent, Sacai, Ami Paris, Prada, and more. If Cannes is any sign of upcoming red carpet trends, in-season collections are back in the spotlight.Tensions are back on top.

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the shift from archival fashion to vintage glamour on the Cannes red carpet

BeginnerLevel Questions

1 What exactly is vintage glamour on the red carpet
It means wearing classic elegant styles from past decades that look timeless and sophisticated rather than wearing a specific famous old dress worn by a celebrity before

2 What does archival pieces mean
Archival pieces are specific iconic outfits from a fashion brands historyoften the exact same dress a supermodel or actress wore in a famous runway show or old movie

3 Why was wearing archival pieces so popular before
It was a way for celebrities to show they have deep fashion knowledge It also created big buzz because fans loved seeing a legendary dress come back to life like a fashion history moment

4 What is the new trend at Cannes now that archival is fading
The new trend is vintage glamour Instead of wearing a specific famous dress stars are wearing old highquality gowns that feel classic and beautiful but arent necessarily famous The focus is on the timeless look not the dresss history

5 Why is the archival trend starting to fade
It became too common and predictable Everyone was doing it so it lost its surprise Also some felt it was a lazy way to get attention without creating a new fashion moment

AdvancedLevel Questions

6 How is vintage glamour different from just wearing a used dress
Its about the style and vibe not the age A vintage glamour dress might be from 2020 but cut and styled to look like a 1950s Hollywood starlet Its a visual nod to the past not a literal piece from it

7 What are the benefits of choosing vintage glamour over an archival piece
Less risk You avoid the pressure of comparing your look to the original wearer
More creative freedom Stylists can mix old and new accessories freely
Sustainability It still promotes reusing clothes but without the complicated history of a famous piece

8 Can you give me a real example of vintage glamour at Cannes
Yes A