It's almost time for stars, far and wide, to gather for one of the most megawatt events on the calendar every year. We're speaking, of course, about the Cannes Film Festival. With a cornucopia of premieres, photocalls and airport arrivals, there's sure to be almost as much fashion as there is films. But while we wait to see who will bring out the big guns (read: the most haute of all the couture), it's worth looking back on some of the best dresses of all time.
We take a look back at the most memorable looks in the history of the Cannes Film Festival, from Rihanna to Princess Diana...
Cannes Film Festival: Best Dresses

Back in 1952, Brigitte Bardot attended the Cannes Film Festival in a cold-shoulder gown and fur stole.

Leave it to Julia Roberts to keep it classic and chic.

Back in 1987, Princess Diana donned a powder blue chiffon dress by Catherine Walker to the Cannes Film Festival. She finished the look with a co-ordinating scarf. The famous look has since gone on to be sold at auction for £81,000.

Leaving the best for last, Sharon Stone attends the closing night of the Cannes Film Festival in 2002.

J.Lo delivered on the red carpet at the 51st Cannes Film Festival.

Chloe Sevigny absolutely killed it in this bright pink one-shouldered mini dress with a giant black bow on her shoulder.

Zoe Saldana attends the premiere of Mr Turner at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014.

Alicia Vikander attends the premiere of Macbeth at the 68th Cannes Film Festival.

Bjork attends the premiere of Dancer in the Dark at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000.

Charlize Theron makes a statement in bright yellow on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet in 2015.

Blake Lively chose this sparkling blue dress by her favourite label, Atelier Versace, for the premiere of Steven Spielberg's BFG back in 2016.

Eternal cool-girl Zoë Kravitz looking incredible in a simple white dress while at the premiere of Mad Max: Fury Road.

Catherine Deneuve wore a stunning striped A-line dress to the screening of Les Cendres in 1966.

Bianca Jagger attends the Cannes Film Festival in 1969.

Madonna attends the screening of her movie In Bed with Madonna at the Cannes Film Festival in 1991.

We'd like this framed, please.

Milla Jovovitch makes a statement at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival.

Back in 1955, Sofia Loren attended the 8th Cannes Film Festival. The actress was just 21 years of age at the time.

Salma Hayek was way ahead of the cardigan trend at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival.

Jane Birkin attended Cannes Film Festival in 1974 with Serge Gainsbourg. The actress donned an asymmetric dress finished with the now iconic basket bag. What else?

Back in 2007, Angelina Jolie attended the premiere of Ocean's 11 in a yellow couture gown by Ungaro. The actress finished the red carpet look with Chopard jewels.

Kate Moss attended the 51st Cannes Film Festival in 1998. For the red carpet, the model opted for a cold-shoulder dress with a marabou feather trim. And decades later, we still cannot get enough.

Jayne Mansfield brought old-school Hollywood glamour to the Cannes Film Festival in 1958.

One of the most talked about dresses of 2015 belonged to Lupita Nyong'o. Decked in Gucci, the actress attended the premiere of Le Tete Haute.

Elle Fanning won the Cannes Film Festival red carpet in 2019 in this beautiful peach dress with flowered detailing from Gucci.

Amal Clooney's glorious sorbet dress by Atelier Versace at the 69th Cannes Film Festival is one of her greatest looks to date. The human rights lawyer made her debut on the red carpet for the premiere of Money Monsters, starring her husband, George.

Cannes always delivers some brilliant princess dress moments - and this powder blue confection on Kerry Washington, who was attending the premiere of Zodiac, is one of the stand-outs.

Michelle Yeoh chose a relaxed slip dress in egg yolk yellow for the premiere of The Da Vinci Code. Perfection.

Gemma Chan's high-fashion armour - a gown by Oscar de la Renta - was one of the best looks at last year's festival.

Cannes regular, Cate Blanchett, always gives good dress. But in 2008, she tried something a little less sculptural than her usual gowns with peachy ruffles.

Helen Mirren looking positively magisterial in midnight blue velvet in 2018.

Isabelle Huppert, one of the chicest women to ever grace La Croisette, was the best dressed in 2017.

Penelope Cruz. One of the red carpet masters of the modern age. In 2018, she looked typically classic in this drop-waisted gown that was, well, drop-dead gorgeous.

Parker Posey couldn't have looked cooler - or more Seventies - in 2015.

At last year's festival, Jodie Turner-Smith arrived wearing this fabulous feathered dress by Gucci - and promptly stole the show.

This full-skirted frock - a couture piece by Dior - was spectacular on Diane Kruger.

Bella Hadid is a regular on La Croisette, but really pulled a blinder in 2019, arriving in this vintage number by Roberto Cavalli.

Marion Cotillard, naturellement, is always one of the chicest stars at Cannes.