From Stella McCartney to a Marchesa Ball Dress, Penelope is Paparazzi Perfect at Cannes

Last week, in its 64th edition, the Cannes Film Festival began. Which is news worth celebrating in our opinion, since this means actresses in divine dresses making red carpet parades a plenty.  Never a lady to disappoint when it comes to what she wears on that only-too-well known actor catwalk, Spanish seductress Penelope Cruz looked ravishing in her midnight blue Stella McCartney dress.  From the Stella McCartney A/W ’11 collection, the figure hugging dress with its flattering bodice, and below the knee cut looked fabulous on the actress, who posed for photographers at the Pirates of the Caribbean Premiere.

And just like  in her flawless Casadei satin stilettoes at photo-call number one, the doyenne of red-carpet dressing didn’t put a foot wrong come her second red-carpet appearance.  Opting for a floor-length jewel-encrusted lilac Marchesa ball dress, with fanned tulle detailing on the shoulders and from the knee that went into a train, there wasn’t a single paparazzi lens not pointed direction Penelope.  The latest Pirates of the Carribean movie star wasn’t the only red carpet regular to show up in Marchesa. Rachel McAdams appeared in a red organza silk tulle Marchesa ball dress with embroidery detail at the premiere of her latest film, Midnight in Paris. (Marchesa really ruled on the red carpet this year!)

A Calvin Klein Ball Dress for Diane Kruger

Another of our favourites for her red carpet ensemble (and not just because of her arm candy accessory-Joshua Jackson- we wish could accompany our dress on the red carpet!)  in a divine curve worshipping sequin backless Calvin Klein ball dress was Diane Kruger.

Rent a Marchesa Ball Dress, Calvin Klein, or Stella McCartney – with GMD now you Cannes!

These ladies really did show how Cannes is done, and we couldn’t agree more with their choice of designer evening dresses and ball gowns.   Here at GMD we currently love this Calvin Klein gown (right) – a dark blue strapless jersey number with leather accents.  If you want to step out in Calvin Klein why not rent this £1098 ball dress for just £179?

Or if like Pen and Rach, it’s Marchesa you’re after, take a look at the gorgeous pink tiered Marchesa ball dress (£950). Rent this stunner of a turquoise Marchesa ball dress for a summer do for just £159.  Who said you couldn’t do Cannes glam when not in Cannes? From London to Ibiza, straight to LA- New York, Marchesa to Calvin Klein! Sorry, that’s us getting distracted by J-Lo on the radio.  You might not be going to Cannes but you ‘cannes’ rent a Marchesa ball dress.  View our full ball dress selection .

Founder of blog www.rocknrollbride.com, Kat Williams prides her site as a ‘little haven of kick ass weddingness’, aimed at promoting refreshingly different wedding ideas.  In addition, Kat, who got married herself to Gareth 2008, offers advice on all things nuptial, from catering to photography.  Here Kat chats dresses and her love for vintage, as well as naming the frock top of her GMD designer dress hire lust list.

Your first ever dress was: a lovely black number with flowers and a huge white collar. I was probably about 18 months. I rocked that look.

Your oldest dress: I have a number of vintage dresses in my wardrobe that I’ve collected over the years. The green one pictured came from a vintage wedding dress shop in Birmingham called The Wedding Club. I plan to have it shortened so I can wear it on nights out!

Your most expensive dress: My wedding dress!

Seen the most dancefloors: Oh I’m terrible…I buy so many dresses that I rarely wear one on a night out more than a few times! I have a number of black staples though that I always throw on if I’m feeling uninspired.

Favourite dress: Again, this changes often! I just bought a couple of black cotton mid length dresses from Uniqlo which are super comfy and flattering.

What was the last event you wore a dress to and what did you wear? I had a party in April and I wore this vintage polka-dot dress from Fur Coat No Knickers, a vintage shop in London. I wore it with a petticoat with a pink trim!

Mini or Maxi? Maxi

Who are your red carpet idols? Who always gets it right? Angelina can’t be beaten.

What is your most memorable dress moment? Probably getting married! As I got to the bottom of the aisle my soon to be husband squeezed my hand and whispered ‘you look awesome’

Which dress would be top of your Girl Meets Dress lust list? I love quite simple and flattering shapes that I can rock up with accessories, shoes and handbags! Dresses like this beaut (right) from Butter by Nadia would be perfect in my wardrobe (hint hint!)

As someone who always has a new event to attend – how would Girl Meets Dress complement your life?
I love borrowing dresses when I have an important event to go to. it means I dont have to spend a fortune on a dress I might only wear once. I can’t afford the designer price tags so the Girl Meets Dress online designer dress hire service is perfect for me!

Main photo: Alex MacNoughton.

It’s not just us plebs that get turned away in our dresses for the races.  In recent years even members of the royal family have been apprehended for their lax approach to dressing for the races.  And to find evidence of this we need look no further than Zara Phillips’ dress for the races she wore to one of the more scrupulous race meetings in terms of dress code- Royal Ascot- in 2008.  A black dress with red floral pattern, there was a huge slit running up to the top of Zara Phillips’ thigh- a dresses for the races no-no even for royalty. (Albeit it wasn’t as though Zara was going to be turned away from the royal enclosure; not with Queenie for a Grandma, and for the fact that she’s quite the horse woman!).

Royal Dress Disasters

While Zara might have the wherewithal to do what she likes, the daring shown by Zara doesn’t translate when it comes dresses for the races worn by other members of the royal family. Amongst dresses for the races that shocked attendees of Royal Ascot, was the Colette Dinnigan number worn by Princess Eugenie to Ascot in 2008.

A Gi-Gi-ant Dress Catastrophe

Since the fashion catastrophes of recent years witnessed at Royal Ascot, Ascot authorities have been at pains to redefine exactly what is meant by ‘formal day dress’ mentioned in the race meeting dress code mandate.   This was probably provoked by the huge number of dresses for the races that did not meet dress code guidelines.  Since the outbreak of inappropriate dresses for the races, authorities issued a new statement saying that for ladies ‘only formal day dress with a hat or substantial fascinator will be acceptable.  Off the shoulder, halter neck, spaghetti straps and dresses with a strap of less than one inch and/or miniskirts are considered unsuitable.’  In addition, ‘midriffs must be covered and trouser suits must be full length and of matching material and colour.’

2011 Dresses for the Races Forecast

2008 seemed a golden year for risqué dresses for the races.  But what will the dresses for the races forecast look like for 2011? We can’t wait to find out. (And secretly hope there will be a few faux pas as it keeps the whole event interesting!). But to avoid looking ‘interesting’ why not hire a designer dress from our site.  The dresses pictured are part of the designer dress hire collection specifically for the races.

Getting an outfit for the races is a task which many women no doubt will be facing, what with important events on the racing calendar fast approaching, such as such as the QIPCO Guineas Festival, and of course, Royal Ascot. What to wear to the races is a question for which there is no correct answer.  Which makes finding dresses for the races no easy feat!

An Outfit for the Races – How to Look the Part

An outfit for the races, depending on the meeting, may not necessarily need to be that formal. However, it certainly pays to check the official information website of the race event for what to wear to the races as per the specified dress code.  Dresses for the races are always chic and given that a hat is almost a must, a dress is the icing on the cake to looking lovely come race day.   Of course, an outfit for the races doesn’t have to mean dress, but what with etiquette, formal tradition and exacting dress codes lodged heavily into the racing tradition, why not use the occasion as an excuse to pull out all the stops and embrace the debonair spirit of dressing for the races!

What to Wear to the Races – Our Dress Picks

We give you our top picks of what to wear to the races, so that wardrobe dilemmas for this tricky event type become a thing of the past.  Below are some of our favourite dresses for the races, available from our online designer dress hire boutique:

1. Look chic and sophisticated in this orange silk Fendi wrap trench dress with contrast black belt.  Hire: £109 (RRP: £730).  Accesorize with earrings Blaguette Pave Beanies available to buy: £90, or a statement cuff like this Alika Multi Cuff, £176, also by Blaguette.

2. This flirty, prom style pleated Rose dress by Stella McCartney will give a fabulous silhouette.  Hire: £299 (RRP £1,187).  Pair with these elegant Camilla earrings from Blaguette: £80.

3.  This watercourse textured silk sheath dress by Giambattista Valli with its exaggerated frill collar will ensure you turn heads on event day.  Hire: £189 (RRP: £1,400). Plump for pared down accesories such as these Kiss Me Kate Drop earrings, £85.