Cannes 2019: Give It A Minute… Deepika Padukone’s High-Low Neon Dress Grows On You

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Hot Take: Give it a minute, it grows on you. This Giambattista Valli confection hits the sweet spot!

Deepika Padukone stepped out for the premiere of Dolor Y Gloria (Pain and Glory) with every intention to steal headlines. The high-low, neon Valli creation was just the thing she needed. Especially if she was looking for a repeat of her (heavily meme-d) outing in Ashi Studio.

Italian designer Giamba Valli, as the fashion flock fondly calls him, is undoubtedly one of the most exciting couturiers of our time. He's committed to an old-school idea of beauty – romantic, sensual often vulnerable – in a time when "alternative beauty" has caught on. Valli softened the neon, with powder pink bows and drew attention to the waist with a belt.

At one point, on the way to the red carpet, we were certain we'd lose Padukone to a sea of tulle. But she survived! And the voluminous train only made her walk up the stairs that much more grand. The Emily London headgear was neatly colour coordinated, but the rosette did no wonders for the look.

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Hot Take: Why haven't we Met before? Padukone's poofy dress was right on theme…for another red carpet.

Was it just us or was Deepika Padukone's custom-made Dundas gown just a tad late for the Met Gala?

Padukone was the first of three beauty brand ambassadors to walk down the red carpet at Cannes 2019, for the Rocketman premiere. She wore a voluminous white gown, with leg of mutton sleeves, cinched by an exaggerated black bow. The samurai-esque high pony, and inkjet sweep of eyeliner was the boldest thing we've seen on Padukone in a long time. Stylist Shaleena Nathani accentuated the look with Lorraine Schwartz rose cut diamond earrings.

The attention-stealing bow was reminiscent of Yves Saint Laurent's haute couture piece, back from autumn-winter 1983. In a cheeky nod to this classic, Moschino's Jeremy Scott fashioned a trompe l'oeil dress in Spring 2017, fastened with an even more exaggerated bow. Both of these archival pieces sit side by side at the ongoing Met exhibition!

The theme at the Met – Camp – dictated that the stars bring their most audacious selves. That they step out of their shells to make thoughtful, satirical references to pop culture. Here Padukone was spotted in a less-than-inspirational Zac Posen dress – much like a reimagined, saccharine Barbie. Which really makes you wonder why the actor didn't just go with Dundas for the Met instead! But we're not disheartened. Something tells us we'll see more bold strides from Padukone in the coming days.