The Unexpected Trend at the Cannes Film Festival? Fancy Jeans

At the Cannes Film Festival, one of the most glamorous film festivals in the world, it’s standard for celebrities to hit the red carpet in tuxedos and evening gowns. In its 77th edition, however, Cannes has seen more casual style creep onto the Croisette—mainly in the form of blue jeans. Not that these are regular jeans, though. The celebrity stamp on denim, that pillar of off-duty style, is decidedly more elevated; instead, call them fancy jeans.

Sienna Miller, for one, donned a pair of baggy, pocketed jeans from Schiaparelli at her photo call for Horizon: An American Saga, dressing up the pants with a tweed-style blazer with gold embellishments (and even a pair of keyhole briefs peaking out over the top). The end result? Incredibly chic. French singer Yseult also pulled off wide-leg jeans, wearing them with a denim jacket for the full Canadian Tuxedo treatment. (Model Abbey Lee Kershaw did this, too, though her version was a sharp-shouldered Gucci suit.)

Denim dresses and skirts had their moment on the red carpet, as well. At the photo call for Moi Aussi, French star Tess Barthelemy chose a pocketed denim day dress, while model Cindy Bruna rocked a swirly-printed denim skirt from Pucci—styled with a crop top, of course. So, what gives? Why all the jeans representation at Cannes, a place that has long represented the height of glitz and glamour?

It all makes sense in context. These days, denim comes in just about every treatment possible—from 2000s-style jean boots (very Britney Spears), to denim evening gowns (see: Anne Hathaway in Ralph Lauren at the CFDAs). As a result, the once-casual textile is evolving into a staple that, yes, can even work for evening attire. Its presence at Cannes may be surprising, but it feels refreshing, too.

There’s also the comfort factor: Who needs a tight silk taffeta ball gown when you can rock a pair of bootcut jeans? Fewer frills—without completely sacrificing formality—feels more reflective of the fashion mood today. In an era where effortless style is all the rage (the recent popularity of The Row’s Margaux bag or Alaïa flats points to this), a decidedly dressed-down look couldn’t feel more current and practical. In other words: We hope Cannes denim is here for good.

Below, more of the best denim looks from the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.