As the sun finally sets on the Cannes Film Festival today, the gaze of the fashion world remains focused on the French Riviera. Frockwise it's been an exciting couple of weeks in the sizzling south of France. First, Karl Lagerfeld rolled into St Tropez to show his Chanel Cruise line starring Georgia May Jagger - fashion's It-girl - who looks just like a teenage Brigitte Bardot (and, by the way, the French Connection is no coincidence).
Chanel's decadent cruisewear was very much a tribute to the jet set inhabitants of the Côte d'Azure, past and present, with its sheer chiffon blouses worn over the tiniest, jaw-dropping gold bikinis. The action then shifted to the red carpet where all memory of Chanel's gold bikinis evaporated, outshone by spectacular gowns even by Cannes standards. Film premieres aside, the frenzy of parties, from the Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's do aboard his superyacht moored near La Croisette, to the glittering Chopard 150th anniversary bash, and just the infestation of celebrities, provided an endless source of scrutiny.
Ironically in the year the kooky dresser Tim Burton was head of the jurors, Cannes 2010 will go down as possibly the best-dressed, and starry in years. Last week's Riviera red carpet made last March's Oscar night look like an after-show party thrown by the Glee appreciation society. Who was here? Who wasn't? Cheryl Cole, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Meg Ryan, Marion Cotillard, Cate Blanchett and Naomi Watts.
Even the men looked cool from Michael Douglas to the heartthrobs Dominic Cooper and Shia LaBeouf; not forgetting the directors Stephen Kijak and Ridley Scott, and wrinkly rock and roll royalty, the Rolling Stones. Weirdly enough though, as I scrolled through more and more images of the world's most famous at parties in villas in Cap d'Antibes, they all started to look the same. It became hard not to stifle a yawn at the sight of Kate Beckinsale in yet another magnificent sparkling Temperley column dress. Or Cate Blanchett in an ice pink organza lamé Armani Privé dripping diamonds.
In fact, despite celebrities on the whole excelling in terms of full-on, box-ticking glamour, the dresses, however sensational, were always far more about Planet Hollywood than Planet Fashion. And funnily enough the gap between the two worlds appeared greater than ever. And this summer it shouldn't. French dressing is a strong trend, if not the strongest. Particularly Riviera chic. If ever you were looking for inspiration don't reflect on last week's images of Cannes. Think instead Bardot circa 1967-75 and starlets in saucy bikinis sur la plage.
This is clearly what John Galliano was thinking last week when he staged his Dior Cruise show in Shanghai, the latest fashion capital. He might have shown it in China, but the collection was deliberately, utterly and gloriously French. As well as being frilly, frou frou and colourful, it featured the most Gallic invention of all: stripes. Designers can't resist showing evening gowns, but the really good ones understand it's daywear, in particular casual, sun-appropriate everyday clothes, that sparks trends and strikes chords with women everywhere, not just with Chopard guests.
By ingeniously putting a Breton striped top, coat and frock in his Dior Cruise wear, Galliano put his finger on a huge trend: horizontal stripes. Most women who face daily fashion dilemmas deciding what to wear for downtime, at weekends, to work, to dinner with friends, will be far more interested in a Breton than an evening gown. Simple stripes can take you from day to evening, making a style statement all the while and keeping you comfortable.
Cannes pulled off a pretty impressive spectacle last week, but we should never forget what it is most famous for, fashionably speaking. Especially when the Breton happens to be what summer 2010 is all about.
