Princess Diana’s Iconic Icy Blue Dress Lives on at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival

The 2026 Cannes Film Festival red carpet set off a wave of nostalgia for classic fashion lovers: Bella wore ice blue 2003 LV! Simone Ashley in a crimson McQueen gown that has been worn by Cate Blanchett and Gisele Bündchen! Ruth Negga in cape and cream Ossie Clark!

Fans of royal history also shared the joy of the Croisette and the care of young Franco-Russian actor Anastasia Andruszkovic, who paid homage to Princess Diana’s iconic look.

Andruskovich attended the premiere fjordWearing a custom-designed pale blue gown by Mehmet Ozden, it is exactly the same as the late royal wore at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival.

Diana’s outfit at the time was also a sweet nod to the movie. The princess’s gown, designed by Catherine Walker (who remains a favorite of Princess Catherine to this day), was a direct reference to Grace Kelly’s famous costume by Edith Head in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1955 film. Catch the thief. (Appropriately enough, the film was also shot on the French Riviera.) The cool tones of blue were deliberately chosen to reflect her icy character, as Hitchcock explained in a 1962 interview with François Truffaut: “I deliberately photographed Grace Kelly icy and kept cropping her sides to look classical, beautiful, and very distant.” Both gowns are considered important parts of fashion history. Princess Diana’s draped gown sold at auction in 2003 for $108,000.

While Kelly’s original gown featured two shades of blue and a fuller ballgown skirt, Diana’s reinterpretation was based on a monochromatic palette and a slimmer, more modern silhouette. The soft chiffon blue gown was strapless, with a unique light-colored scarf wrapped around her neck. The scarf hung gracefully from her back like a trailing train, which also highlighted her cervical spine.

To complete the look, Princess Diana chose matching accessories, including an evening bag in matching fabric and a pair of light blue satin pumps – chosen to avoid being any taller than Prince Charles at the time. The striking chandelier earrings are set with diamonds and sapphires that sparkle under the camera flash.