• Feather, lace, embellishment - Nicole Scherzinger stood out in white Ashi Studio. AFP
    Feather, lace, embellishment - Nicole Scherzinger stood out in white Ashi Studio. AFP
  • Palestinian-American model Bella Hadid looks like a floating piece of silver leaf in this Elie Saab Fall 2007 Haute Couture gown. Getty
    Palestinian-American model Bella Hadid looks like a floating piece of silver leaf in this Elie Saab Fall 2007 Haute Couture gown. Getty
  • Alessandra Ambrosio, meanwhile, opted for a Zuhair Murad gown from the Spring 2018 Couture collection. EPA
    Alessandra Ambrosio, meanwhile, opted for a Zuhair Murad gown from the Spring 2018 Couture collection. EPA
  • Aishwarya Rai Bachchan looks truly regal in this glittering column gown by Lebanese-American designer Rami Kadi. The design was custom made for Rai Bachchan (of course it was). Getty
    Aishwarya Rai Bachchan looks truly regal in this glittering column gown by Lebanese-American designer Rami Kadi. The design was custom made for Rai Bachchan (of course it was). Getty
  • She also stunned in this butterfly-inspired design by Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco. The gown was handmade over many thousands of hours in Cinco's Dubai Design District atelier. Getty
    She also stunned in this butterfly-inspired design by Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco. The gown was handmade over many thousands of hours in Cinco's Dubai Design District atelier. Getty
  • Bollywood star Deepika Padukone made a bold statement in this inspired-by-the-80s Ashi Studio design. The Cannes red carpet is very go-big-or-go-home, and she certainly delivered. AFP
    Bollywood star Deepika Padukone made a bold statement in this inspired-by-the-80s Ashi Studio design. The Cannes red carpet is very go-big-or-go-home, and she certainly delivered. AFP
  • Deepika Padukone then opted for Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad - this lined-gown with matching cape is actually from the designer's bridal collection. Getty
    Deepika Padukone then opted for Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad - this lined-gown with matching cape is actually from the designer's bridal collection. Getty
  • Jordanian TV star Ola Al-Fares wore a beautiful gold caped design by Zuhair Murad for her big Cannes appearance. Getty Images
    Jordanian TV star Ola Al-Fares wore a beautiful gold caped design by Zuhair Murad for her big Cannes appearance. Getty Images
  • Chinese megastar Fan Bingbing went full frothy princess in this design by Tunisian couturier Ali Karoui. It has more tiers than a royal wedding cake, but she rocks it. EPA
    Chinese megastar Fan Bingbing went full frothy princess in this design by Tunisian couturier Ali Karoui. It has more tiers than a royal wedding cake, but she rocks it. EPA
  • Cheryl Ann Tweedy (nee Cole) wore a resort look by Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad, who was born in Ras Baalbek and then moved to Paris to train after finishing high school. AFP
    Cheryl Ann Tweedy (nee Cole) wore a resort look by Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad, who was born in Ras Baalbek and then moved to Paris to train after finishing high school. AFP
  • Helen Mirren looks like a medieval queen in this Elie Saab gown. She's working those waterfall arms like only a Dame could. Getty Images
    Helen Mirren looks like a medieval queen in this Elie Saab gown. She's working those waterfall arms like only a Dame could. Getty Images
  • Izabel Goulart wore a mullet-hem Zuhair Murad gown that definitely looked most striking from behind. Getty
    Izabel Goulart wore a mullet-hem Zuhair Murad gown that definitely looked most striking from behind. Getty
  • Kangana Ranaut wore a costume-like jumpsuit by Turkish design house Nedo by Nedret Taciroglu - the only thing we're not a fan of here are the little puddles of material collecting at the bottom of the trou' - a quick alteration and that would be fixed, however. EPA
    Kangana Ranaut wore a costume-like jumpsuit by Turkish design house Nedo by Nedret Taciroglu - the only thing we're not a fan of here are the little puddles of material collecting at the bottom of the trou' - a quick alteration and that would be fixed, however. EPA
  • Saudi designer Mohammed Ashi is behind the Beirut-based Ashi Studio that created this 'if-big-bird-was-a-dove' jumpsuit for Thai actress Araya Hargate. We kind of love it. Getty
    Saudi designer Mohammed Ashi is behind the Beirut-based Ashi Studio that created this 'if-big-bird-was-a-dove' jumpsuit for Thai actress Araya Hargate. We kind of love it. Getty
  • The star also wore a bold red design featuring a billowing cape by Zuhair Murad. Getty Images
    The star also wore a bold red design featuring a billowing cape by Zuhair Murad. Getty Images
  • Aja Naomi King wore a geometrically-sequinned Zuhair Murad gown with a two-part skirt on the red carpet for the Sorry Angel premiere. Getty
    Aja Naomi King wore a geometrically-sequinned Zuhair Murad gown with a two-part skirt on the red carpet for the Sorry Angel premiere. Getty
  • Portuguese model Sara Sampaio looks like a cappuccino princess in this design by Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad. Timeless. AP
    Portuguese model Sara Sampaio looks like a cappuccino princess in this design by Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad. Timeless. AP
  • Spanish superstar Nieves Alvarez wears an Elie Saab Couture piece from the Fall 2016 collection - the embellishments are part celestial, part floral, but definitely beautiful. Getty Images
    Spanish superstar Nieves Alvarez wears an Elie Saab Couture piece from the Fall 2016 collection - the embellishments are part celestial, part floral, but definitely beautiful. Getty Images
  • Icelandic actress Maria-Thelma Smaradottir wore an ice-inspired blue tulle gown by Georges Hobeika: Hobeika first opened his atelier in Beirut in 1995, and has gone from strength to strength since then. EPA
    Icelandic actress Maria-Thelma Smaradottir wore an ice-inspired blue tulle gown by Georges Hobeika: Hobeika first opened his atelier in Beirut in 1995, and has gone from strength to strength since then. EPA
  • Josephine Skriver wore a mint green Georges Hobeika gown for the Chopard party red carpet. Getty Images
    Josephine Skriver wore a mint green Georges Hobeika gown for the Chopard party red carpet. Getty Images

Fashion

20 looks that show how Middle Eastern designers are ruling the Cannes red carpet

The MENA region's ateliers have definitely been winning the French Riviera red carpet

Nyree McFarlane

May 15, 2018

  • English
  • Arabic

Lebanese designers are known for their ability to bring high-octane glamour to the red carpet, which is why Elie Saab, Zuhair Murad and Georges Hobeika are so gloriously ubiquitous at A-list events.

The Cannes red carpet is no exception, and this year they're joined by Dubai-based designer Michael Cinco, Turkish creative Nedret Tacrioglu as well as the Beirut-based Saudi master of the cloth Mohammed Ashi. The below punk-rock homage that Deepika Padukone chose was by Ashi:

Deepika Padukone arrives for the screening of the film "Ash is Purest White"
Deepika Padukone arrives for the screening of the film "Ash is Purest White"

Scroll through the gallery above for some of the most glamorous looks on this year's red carpet - and keep checking back, as we will update this every day throughout the festival.

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Fashion