JLaw returns to Cannes in dramatic red gown and flip flops
The British actor joined a legion of other celebrities proving that a red dress is always a style win
Jennifer Lawrence has long known the enduring power red dress.
The 32-year-old actor matched the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival this week, at the Anatomy of a Fall premiere.
Lawrence is at the festival in the French Riviera this week to attend the screenings of a documentary she produced about the experiences of three women in Afghanistan living under the Taliban, Bread and Roses.
Turning heads in a spaghetti strapped Dior gown with statement skirt and vintage-style stole, the star rocked the fiery gown, which perfectly ticked both the elegant and sultry boxes.
But it was her unorthodox choice of footwear that had fashion fans talking.
Watch: Jennifer Lawrence walks the Cannes red carpet
In true Jennifer Lawrence style, the Joy actor hid a pair of black flip flops beneath the voluminous red gown.
Its not the first time the actor, producer and Dior ambassador has opted for a scarlet hue on the red carpet, with her 2016 cut-out Dior dress at the Golden Globes going down in the style books.
It's little wonder, as Christian Dior once said there's "certainly a red for everyone". Put simply, red dresses look good – on everyone.
Lawrence follows in a long line of celebrities to adopt the shade on the red carpet, with everyone from royalty, including Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Kate, Princess of Wales to Rihanna going bold in the vibrant hue.
"Every skin tone looks great in true primary red," Helen Venables, personal stylist and chair of image consultancy House of Colour, tells Yahoo UK. "That's because all other colours have either more yellow or more blue pigment in them and true red is the one colour that sits right in the mid point."
If you're unsure how to wear it, take some style notes from the fashion set including Princess Diana, to Margot Robbie and Florence Pugh.
Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence opted for a 1990s-style scarlet Dior gown, complete with spaghetti straps and matching stole, for the 2023 Cannes film festival screening of Anatomy of a Fall.
The actor chose to pair the elegant gown with a pair of flip flops, hidden beneath the dress's voluminous train.
Jodie Comer
Jodie Comer opted for a statement Alexander McQueen dress in a fiery red hue to accept her award for best actress at the Olivier Awards 2023.
Margot Robbie
For the UK premiere of Babylon, the Australian actor oozed style in a sweeping, backless Valentino gown that otherwise entirely covered her body.
Lily James
Lily James was the British belle of the ball at the 2023 Golden Globes, in a dramatic cutout dress by Versace. James let her gown do the talking and kept her make-up natural, with a diamond choker and matching earrings adding a hint of bling without detracting from the outfit.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
In the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's controversial Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan, Meghan said she only felt comfortable wearing colour again after she stepped down as a senior member of the Firm.
Kate, Princess of Wales
The Princess of Wales loves to wear a red dress, but perhaps none have been so regal as the Preen by Thornton Bregazzi midi dress with an asymmetrical neckline that she wore for an engagement in Canada during her and the Prince of Wales' tour of the nation in 2016.
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales wore a red chiffon Bellville Sassoon gown to London's Royal Opera House for a charity gala performance in 1982.
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson is no stranger to wearing a striking red dress on the Golden Globes red carpet.
A decade before the 38-year-old wore a strapless Vera Wang dress with a deep V neckline to the 2020 ceremony, the actor wore a bright red Valentino gown to the 2006 Golden Globes when she was just 21 – the latter becoming that year's most-talked about outfit.
Selena Gomez
For the 2016 American Music Awards, Selena Gomez wore a bright red Prada gown with a corseted bodice and flowing skirt.
Florence Pugh
Florence Pugh was already the undisputed red carpet Queen of 2022 before she wore this red backless Valentino dress in December to the British Fashion Awards.
Nicole Kidman
When Nicole Kidmanwas rocking strawberry blonde locks for the 2007 Oscars she went for a bold red with her floor-sweeping Balenciaga gown.
Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence chose a red Dior gown for her big moment at the 2016 Golden Globes.
Zendaya
Zendaya has cemented herself as a leader of the style set, not only claiming the title of one of 2022's best outfits, but with this Alaïa look she wore to the 2021 CFDA Awards where she aptly became the youngest-ever recipient of the Fashion Icon Award.
Dakota Johnson
Dakota Johnson (and her ever-coveted fringe) wore a red Dior dress to the 2016 BAFTAs where she was nominated for the Rising Star award.
Lupita Nyong'o
Lupita Nyong'o was arguably the best-dressed celebrity on the 2014 Golden Globes red carpet, where she donned a Ralph Lauren Collection off-the-shoulder gown complete with a billowing cape.
Duchess of Sussex
Post-royal life, Meghan stepped up her fashion game and this red dress has been one of her standout moments.
The duchess, 41, wore a bright red Carolina Herrera gown, with a deep V neckline and flowing overlayed skirt. She complemented the dress with a pair of red Giuseppe Zanotti slingback heels.
Bella Hadid
Bella Hadid's 2016 Cannes look was sultry and sexy, and instantly became an iconic red dress moment.
However, the supermodel, now 26, later said that she "regretted" the Alexandre Vauthier look because of her nerves around the hip-high slit.
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Catherine Zeta-Jones has always looked stunning in red, but perhaps none so much as her 2015 Golden Globes look. The strapless Ángel Sánchez look kept things interesting with its ruched satin fabric at the bust.
Amanda Seyfried
Amanda Seyfried's dramatic gown was the perfect outfit for the 2021 Academy Awards, and was designed by Giorgio Armani himself.
Rihanna
All eyes were on Rihanna in 2017, when she stepped out in London at the premiere for Valerian and The City of a Thousand Planets wearing a crimson red Giambattista Valli Couture gown.
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston ended her four-year hiatus from attending the Oscars in 2013 by rocking up to the event wearing a show-stopping Valentino gown.
