10 SECOND TAKE: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is back for her annual trip to the French Riviera, with the confidence of a Cannes veteran. She's prone to delivering the kind of dramatic fashion critics across the globe wait for. The actor is ticking all her go-to names off her list: Michael Cinco, whose voluminous creation she wore this time last year to the festival and made headlines and Rami Kadi, the label that was overshadowed by her purple lipstick in 2016.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Manish Arora
On home turf, the actor often favours Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla's floor-skimming anarkalis. She kicked off her Cannes innings with an unexpected choice: a powder-blue, Aztec patterned Manish Arora ensemble. The resort-friendly colours definitely worked their charm.
…in Michael Cinco
I might be in the small minority that thought this Michael Cinco dress was a tad too loud, or that it should have been paired with minimal make-up. I know now that the 20 foot train was worth it, for this photo.
The Dubai-based designer told Harper's Bazaar that the Swarovski embellished outfit took a whopping 3,000 hours to make. The Filipino designer might have young label (established in 2003) but his list of clients is full of heavyweights such as Rihanna, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Naomi Campbell, Dita von Teese, and Jennifer Lopez.
…in Rami Kadi
The architectural gown by this Lebanese-American designer hit all the right notes. Special mention here for her samurai knot-inspired updo, which complemented her look perfectly. The actor wore it to the premiere of Sink Or Swim. Kadi subscribes to the old more-is-more dictum, with lavish embellishments and textures, but there's a timeless elegance about his creations. He's among the few to eschew to a ready-to-wear line in favour of couture, in a landscape dominated by fast-fashion, and see-now-buy-now presentations.
…in Giorgio Armani
The actor ended the evening wearing a sharp suit by Armani. The cage heels by Italian label Racine Carrée and bold, red lips made up for an otherwise quiet look.