Diane Kruger’s Dazzling Decade of Style: A Look Back at Her Iconic Cannes Red Carpet Ensembles

Initially, Diane Kruger’s ambition in acting was to see one of her films showcased at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Having been a ballet dancer and model earlier in life before discovering her true calling while attending drama school, Kruger vividly remembers watching the grand opening ceremony on television with her parents as a child in Germany, captivated by the glamour of the French Riviera and the sight of the red carpet. “I still recall the sheer elegance of it all, from the stunning views over the ocean filled with yachts to the sight of the red carpet – it was incredibly glamorous,” Kruger recalls to THR, pointing out a particular moment when she saw French actress Sophie Marceau in a striking red gown. “She seemed otherworldly, and I’ve always known that the Cannes Film Festival is the most significant event for the film industry.

In terms of Kruger’s initial aspiration, it can be said that she has surpassed her goal numerous times – especially in Cannes, where she is highly admired by festival attendees. The 48-year-old German actress has built an impressive career at Cannes, with accolades such as the Trophée Chopard, a role in the blockbuster film Troy, collaborations with directors like Quentin Tarantino and David Cronenberg, walking the red carpet alongside the late fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld, and winning a best actress award for In the Fade. These are just a few highlights from her impressive Cannes history.

Kruger remarks that all his key movies have debuted at Cannes. It’s been an enormous stepping stone for him in his profession, and he still gets nervous, as if it were the first time, when he’s asked to attend with a new film. Moreover, fashion plays a significant role in these events.

Reflecting on her return to the Croisette this year for the film selection, Amrum, Kruger reminisced about her fashionable appearances throughout the years. This task was quite challenging given the numerous stylish outfits she’s donned here. The interview was particularly emotional. “Looking at these photos stirs up a tremendous amount of memories,” she notes. “Walking the red carpet in Cannes is typically for a project that you are genuinely enthusiastic about or holds personal significance. Each of these dresses symbolizes an extraordinary period in my life. They signify more than just beautiful attire. They remind me of the impact clothing can have, elevating a moment in your life that you’ll hold dear forever.

Chanel in 2004

Although I had previously visited Cannes to receive the Trophée Chopard, this year marked my inaugural experience at Cannes as an actress with a film in the festival – and what an extraordinary debut it was! We were there for the movie “Troy”, and that’s when I got to wear the magnificent dress designed by Karl Lagerfeld. You might be surprised to learn that, initially at least, he was quite resistant to designing for celebrities, preferring not to create evening gowns for red carpet appearances. He disliked that culture intensely for a long time. Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything in their current collection suitable for me, so I ventured to their office to meet with him. I was but a young, starstruck girl, utterly awestruck by the experience. Karl himself asked me, “What would you like to wear?” To which I replied that I adored camellias and the color light blue. And amazingly, he sketched out a dress for me on the spot! He started from scratch no less than three times before settling on a design that remains a cherished memory. The entire encounter was nothing short of magical, making it one of my most treasured days.

Chanel in 2007

Interestingly enough, Karl Lagerfeld had never visited Cannes before. I was hosting the festival’s closing ceremony that year and my film, titled ‘Days of Darkness‘ by Denys Arcand, was the finale. In this movie, I portrayed a movie star and Chanel graciously provided all the costumes for my character. Since Karl was quite prominent in the film, I thought it would be fun to ask him to accompany me to the festival. Given his lack of prior experience, he eagerly accepted and designed the dress I wore that night. He was genuinely thrilled to be there, and we had a wonderful time. Considering his extensive history of attending events, it was surprising to me that he hadn’t been before. Throughout the evening, he entertained us with hilarious stories and offered his witty comments on everyone’s outfits. It was truly a unique and memorable night.

Nina Ricci in 2012

I am wearing a dress designed by Peter Copping for Nina Ricci. The day before I planned to wear it, the dress arrived. An interesting aspect about this dress is that it features cutouts and lace, making it appear completely sheer when worn. To avoid any embarrassment, I had to find a seamstress in Cannes at 7 p.m. on short notice and ask her to line the dress because my undergarments were visible through it. It was quite a stressful last-minute fix, but everything turned out well in the end.

Dior in 2012

Serving as a jury member proved to be quite a fashion challenge, involving countless hours of scrutinizing potential outfits. It drove me to rent an additional hotel room solely for storing all the gowns! I even ventured to Dior in Paris to find the perfect dress, eventually selecting one from their archives. Initially, they were reluctant to let it go as it was an original piece, and then there was the matter of its length not fitting me properly. However, once I slipped into it, they agreed, ‘That’s your dress.’ Unfortunately, on the night I wore it, it poured heavily in Cannes. The brief walk from the Palais to the red carpet steps left me drenched by the time I reached the top, and although I feared it might be ruined, there was nothing I could do.

Giambattista Valli in 2012

This design was by Giambattista Valli, and it was submitted as a last-minute sketch. I must admit, I had some doubts about how it would turn out, but during the fitting, the color was simply stunning and everything fell into place. A touch of enchantment occurred on the red carpet that day, as there was a strong wind causing the dress to billow beautifully. The image doesn’t fully capture its magic, but it truly was a captivating spectacle, especially at sunset. I adore the dress and its color – it’s an unforgettable piece for me.

Vivienne Westwood in 2012

I adore this unexpected dress! My friend picked it out for me while we were shopping in Los Angeles, and it turned out to be a Vivienne Westwood from the rack that fit perfectly. Although I don’t usually wear such dresses often, I was drawn to its charm. That night was particularly memorable as I had the opportunity to watch the excellent film ‘Amour’. In fact, our jury awarded it the prestigious Palme d’Or.

Dolce & Gabbana in 2015

I donned this outfit for a photoshoot related to my film, ‘Disorder’, which was in competition. I believed this lovely, sky-blue dress was ideal for such an event. The color suits Cannes events beautifully, and I’m quite fond of the movie too. I felt it was a refreshingly appropriate choice for the occasion.

Chanel in 2015

I donned a Chanel mini-dress at amfAR, as I didn’t want anyone accidentally tripping over the train. My affection for Chanel runs deep, and I had a close bond with Karl Lagerfeld, making it effortless for me to choose their designs since he was both a friend and generously accommodating.

Prada in 2015

I ended up choosing this Prada gown at the last moment. At that time, I was in South Africa filming, and I arrived late at the festival. The dress I had with me didn’t appeal to me, so I decided to visit Prada’s suite in search of something more captivating. They had two stunning dresses, which they combined for me overnight. It was quite a weighty piece to wear, but it’s definitely one of my favorite dresses I’ve ever donned.

Jason Wu in 2017

The dress you see here was designed by my friend, Jason Wu, who celebrated his 10-year anniversary in fashion that year. I attended his runway show and noticed a shorter version of this very dress as part of the collection. Given the somber tone of my film, In the Fade, I felt a darker or subdued color would be more fitting than an extravagant gown. It was surprisingly comfortable, but I was extremely anxious as I ascended the steps that evening. I distinctly recall Jason traveling to Cannes specifically to deliver the dress to me. Contrary to its see-through appearance, they included a lining that perfectly matched my skin tone.

Dior in 2017

I desired a dress that was both fancifully romantic and unique, and luckily, there was one in the Dior collection that year. However, when it arrived, it didn’t have any embroidery, making it seem quite ordinary. I requested if they could add some details to it. They agreed and created this stunning piece for me, which required an additional hundred hours or so to complete all the intricate embellishments, resulting in a truly breathtaking final product.

Jonathan Simkhai in 2017

Although there was no guarantee my film would win an award that year, I was fortunate enough to be invited to the closing ceremony. I had packed this dress as a backup just in case, but it wasn’t the best fit and tended to slip off. Nevertheless, I’m glad I chose it because wearing something understated was appropriate for the occasion since one didn’t want to upstage the moment. [Kruger won Best Actress for Fatih Akin’s In the Fade.] Our movie was screened on Friday night, and we spent all day Friday and Saturday doing press work. On Sunday, I received a call asking me to stay, and it turned out to be a memorable evening with this exquisite award. I treasure it.

Oscar de la Renta in 2022

The occasion stood out since it marked the first time Norman accompanied me to the festival. Sophie Marceau served as my muse in this scenario. Up until then, I had never donned a red dress, and due to filming a movie in the South of France at the time, I collaborated with Karla Otto, who functioned as my stylist. With no spare moments to scout for dresses or perform fittings, she selected this Oscar de la Renta gown especially for a unique event honoring past Palme d’Or recipients, to which I was invited. I adored it; its beauty was captivating, although maneuvering such a voluminous gown wasn’t a walk in the park.

Versace in 2024

As a gamer, I’ve got to say this is one of my top-tier digital outfits! Never have I donned Versace in a virtual world, but this custom-made gown was truly something extraordinary. It was like stepping into a dream, and the futuristic vibes were perfect for a David Cronenberg-esque film experience, say, in “The Shrouds”. I stumbled upon a reference from a Versace show in the early ’90s, and I was dead set on that electric blue hue. They transformed it into an iconic Versace chain mail dress, providing me with a sense of digital armor. During my final fitting, the color was more of a soft blue, which left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. However, electric blue is tricky to achieve on rhinestones with all that mesh metal, so they gave it a quick spray-paint job the day before our virtual red carpet event!

Balenciaga in 2024

This idea was proposed to me, which is typically what occurs when collaborating with a renowned fashion house. Surprisingly, I wouldn’t have chosen it myself as I rarely wear formal attire. However, I’ve always admired suits. When I select clothing, it’s not usually this style that first comes to mind. But the day before the event, I decided to try it on and instantly fell in love with its unique design. It felt incredibly modern and perfectly suited for the occasion. At times, I experience gown exhaustion during Cannes due to the abundance of them, but this was a refreshing change.

Prabal Gurung in 2024

Prabal Gurung is more than just an acquaintance; he’s a dear friend. When it came to choosing an outfit for the ‘Breaking Through the Lens’ event, I knew his design was the one. The reason being, this gathering was all about amplifying women’s and minority voices in film, and advocating for stories that truly matter. The suit, adorned with sequins, exuded a sense of power while maintaining a feminine touch – a perfect representation of our shared beliefs. Wearing it made me feel as though I was sending a powerful message tailored to the essence of this special event.

Prada in 2024

I adore this piece because of its color and unique texture. The textured material was reminiscent of metal, allowing me to shape it however I desired. Surprisingly, it turned out to be a Prada dress; I was meant to wear something else that evening. However, when I entered their fitting suite in Cannes, the dress seemed to have been waiting for me. It was an impulsive decision, made on the spot. And those are Chopard earrings adorned with emeralds and diamonds. I’ve collaborated extensively with them, and as you might already know, they hold a significant presence in Cannes. They are delightful to work with, offering anything one could ever imagine in their vast collection, kept securely in a vault. It’s truly exceptional.

2025-05-14 06:25