A Standing Ovation: Selena Gomez Exudes Elegance in Off-the-Shoulder Saint Laurent Gown and Santoni Heels at Emilia Perez Cannes Film Festival Premiere

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I’m at a loss for words after seeing Selena Gomez walk the 77th Cannes Film Festival red carpet in a gorgeous black-and-white Saint Laurent gown!

As one of the most anticipated guests at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Selena Gomez did not disappoint. She captivated the scene the instant she walked the red carpet for the premiere of her musical crime comedy movie, Emilia Pérez.

Selena Gomez looks breathtaking in her Saint Laurent gown at the 77th Cannes Film Festival premiere of Emilia Perez at Palais des Festivals in Cannes, FranceSelena Gomez looks breathtaking in her Saint Laurent gown at the 77th Cannes Film Festival premiere of Emilia Perez at Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)

Emilia Pérez: Transforming From a Drug Cartel Leader to a Trans Woman

Emilia Pérez, written and directed by Jacques Audiard, tells the story of a Mexican cartel leader, Manitas Del Monte, who longs to escape and disappear from the criminal world.

To help realize his plan, Manitas approached attorney Rita Moro Castro, who works for a firm that helps offenders rather than enforces the law. Manitas has been planning to transform into a woman to escape. He undergoes sex exchange surgery in Tel Aviv, changes his identity from Juan “Manitas” Del Monte to Emilia Pérez, and sends his wife and kids to Switzerland.

The surgery is intended to help her leave her criminal life, but it also allows her to become “the woman he’s dreamed of being.” Years later, Manitas, now unrecognizable, returns to her children and poses as their rich aunt, Emilia Pérez.

Director Jacques Audiard with the cast of Emilia Perez at the 77th Cannes Film Festival premiere of Emilia Perez at Palais des Festivals in Cannes, FranceDirector Jacques Audiard with the cast of Emilia Perez at the 77th Cannes Film Festival premiere of Emilia Perez at Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France (Credit: Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / Cover Images)

Actress Karla Sofia Gascón, who identifies as transgender, plays the titular role of Manitas/Emilia Pérez. Selena Gomez portrays Manitas’s wife, while Zoe Saldana plays lawyer Rita.

The film, selected to compete for the Palme d’Or and Queer Palm at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, received a nine-minute standing ovation, the longest so far for this year. After the premiere, Selena couldn’t contain her tears as the audience applauded and cheered.

Best Dressed: Selena Gomez’s Black-and-White Saint Laurent Gown

I’m calling it; Selena Gomez is undoubtedly among the best-dressed celebrities to date on the 77th Cannes Film Festival red carpet.

I love that she’s clad in a dominantly black gown, which makes her appear taller and slimmer. ICYDK, dark hues like black draw the eye away from the torso and toward the head and limbs while concealing any bulges, so they’re the ideal choice if you need to hide anything.

Another flattering element of Sel’s dress is its wrap-style off-the-shoulder neckline that lends the ensemble a timeless, sophisticated appeal. I love how it highlights her shoulders and collarbone and gives her a more defined, lengthened look as it crisscrosses over the bodice like an elegant shawl.

Selena Gomez looks slimmer in her black-and-white Saint Laurent gown featuring a flattering off-the-shoulder neckline and a column skirtSelena Gomez looks slimmer in her black-and-white Saint Laurent gown featuring a flattering off-the-shoulder neckline and a column skirt (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages)

Her stunning physique fit the column silhouette flawlessly, hugging every inch of her curve. The dress ends right above her heels, which are black sandals by Santoni, an Italian luxury shoe and leather accessories label.

They have the brand’s recognizable double-buckled strap that secures the shoe to the ankles and a thin strap that runs over the toes. With their thick platforms and incredibly high stiletto heels, they instantly boosted Selena’s 5’5” height by several inches.

Selena Gomez pairs her regal black-and-white Saint Laurent gown with black open-toe platform sandals by SantoniSelena Gomez pairs her regal black-and-white Saint Laurent gown with black open-toe platform sandals by Santoni (Credit: IPA / INSTARimages)

Glitzy and Glamorous with Bulgari Jewelry

Benny Blanco’s girlfriend looks nothing short of glamorous in her Saint Laurent gown, which her stylist, Erin Walsh, selected. Walsh’s high-profile clientele includes Anne Hathaway, Sofia Carson, and Adriana Lima.

Walsh styled the look with Bulgari jewelry, which complemented Selena’s monochrome gown and enhanced her royal presence.

The Bulgari Swan necklace is a nice complement, combining transparent mother of pearl with brilliant-cut diamonds. It reportedly took 2,000 hours of meticulous craftsmanship to create the necklace, fashioned like a swan’s wings with a 20.08-carat drop diamond in the center.

Two Serpenti Viper rings adorned her red-manicured hands while a pair of long Le Magnifiche High Jewelry earrings dangled from her ears.

Selena Gomez adds glitz to her monochromatic Cannes gown with sparkling diamond jewelry by Bulgari, which includes the opulent Swan necklaceSelena Gomez adds glitz to her monochromatic Cannes gown with sparkling diamond jewelry by Bulgari, which includes the opulent Swan necklace (Credit: Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / Cover Images)

Understated Hair and Makeup

So as not to overpower the ensemble, Selena Gomez’s glam squad, hairstylist Renato Campora and makeup artist Hung Vanngo, gave her a natural beauty look.

She had her brown hair tied into a high ponytail, her face framed by soft, wavy curtain bangs.

Hung Vanngo prepped Selena’s skin with Cetaphil products. He started by moisturizing her skin with the Gentle Skin Cleanser, then applied the Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 35 all over her face after lightly pressing the Healthy Renew Eye Gel Serum along her orbital bone.

Selena Gomez wears her brunette hair in a ponytail with wavy curtain bangs and glams up with neutral makeup using Rare Beauty cosmeticsSelena Gomez wears her brunette hair in a ponytail with wavy curtain bangs and glams up with neutral makeup using Rare Beauty cosmetics (Credit: Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / Cover Images)

Naturally, Vanngo used Selena’s Rare Beauty products to accentuate her features. He highlighted her almond-shaped eyes with the Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Eyeliner, Volumizing Mascara, and the All Of The Above Weightless Shadow Stick in Rose Taupe.

He next brightened her face with the Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter in Shade Mesmerize and the Soft Pinch Luminous Powder Blush in Shade Joy before finishing the look with Kind Words Matte Lip Liner and Lipstick in Shade Talented.