Cannes Film Festival: 6 Lessons I’ve Learned as a Fashion Journalist!

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Covering the Cannes Film Festival as a fashion writer for six years has allowed me to experience moments of pure glamour, emotions, and to discover the hidden workings of luxury and fashion. From the red carpet walks to events organized by the biggest fashion houses, as well as the hierarchy among journalists and the fatigue, the Cannes Film Festival has taught me valuable lessons.

I wanted to share with you a glimpse behind the scenes of the most incredible festival on the planet, which brings together the biggest movie stars, promising authors, and unforgettable fashion moments that mark history for eleven days.

You need to look presentable while sleeping only 4 hours a night!

Certainly, the hardest part of the Cannes Film Festival is looking super fresh, well-made-up, and presentable with so little sleep!

I have spent nights until 4 AM on my computer reworking red carpet photos, writing about the stars’ looks, and preparing my interviews when I had a screening and breakfast the next morning at 10 AM.

My tip for making it through is quite simple: as little alcohol as possible, a water bottle with lemon juice during the day, and a diet rich in vegetables.

For makeup, I avoid foundation which tends to highlight fine lines of fatigue, and I prefer a loose powder from Dior.

I also prioritize freshness with a beautiful simple and shiny manicure like Hailey Bieber’s and well-hydrated hands.

During the Cannes Film Festival, I dress comfortably

Of course, as a fashion journalist, I love fashion. During my first year at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014, being a good student, I filled my suitcase with dresses and high heels. Rookie mistake. When you’re a journalist, you go to Cannes to work (and believe me, we work a lot).

Working in Louboutin heels is just impossible. So, over the years, my wardrobe has changed, and while I still have a few dresses, I primarily wear basics of quiet luxury, flat ankle boots, or sandals depending on the trends, paired with a nice simple t-shirt and a blazer.

I always bring a toiletry bag with me

My toiletry bag consists of a gloss and a concealer for makeup. The rest? A notebook, a pen, lavender essential oil (for stress), deodorant, eye drops (from writing quickly and a lot on the computer), and a spray water.

To manage fatigue, I have tablets with vitamin C and caffeine, and of course, a pain reliever for the mornings after parties.

Most importantly: a charging cable for my phone and a portable battery. It may not be glamorous, but it’s what I need to have a calm workday at the Cannes Film Festival.

Being close to PR is the best way to get interviews

When working for an online media outlet other than a major newspaper, sometimes you have to negotiate to get interviews with famous actors or actresses. When you regularly see the PRs from the agencies managing the films in competition, you start to build rapport. After a few years at Cannes, I was able to secure interviews in beautiful hotels on the Croisette with casts from major films in competition. With hard work, kindness, and perseverance, you can achieve anything!

The most sought-after parties don’t necessarily happen on the Croisette

There are plenty of parties on the Croisette, but the stars and the most influential personalities often meet away from the crowd. They slip away in black cars with drivers to the heights of the city to large villas that are less known to the general public where the real parties among TV people, influencers, and celebrities take place. I must be honest; I haven’t done much more than one or two parties in a villa outside Cannes. At those, I wasn’t on the premium guest list with the biggest stars, but also, it’s very difficult to keep up with the intense pace of the festival, so most of the time, (okay, all the time), work came first and I tried to rest to start the marathon of films and interviews the next day.

Fans are super informed

I must confess a secret; I worked for a long time for an agency that had a paparazzi branch. It’s far from the most glamorous job. Between waiting outside a hotel until 3 AM, cold sandwiches costing 12 euros wolfed down quickly at night, and action-movie-worthy chases on scooters to follow a star’s car…the job is really exhausting. While I have never been a photographer, I have been around them for a long time and have accompanied enough to a few parties to talk about it.

With social media, I realized that fans are becoming increasingly well-informed, sometimes better than the photographer!

While some celebrities do everything to avoid the paparazzi’s flashes, others use social media to share their locations and post regularly. As a result, ultra-connected fans have learned the addresses and sometimes provide tips to photographers under the guise of information.

I’ve learned to listen more than to speak

It’s better to be humble at the Cannes Film Festival because the person in front of you has a 50% chance of being very wealthy or working for someone important. To avoid coming off as someone lacking confidence or worse, arrogant, I’ve gotten into the habit of listening and encouraging people to share rather than talking about myself.

Moreover, this attracts sympathy, whether the person in front of you is known or not, it’s always flattering for them to be listened to (and to be genuinely attentive) in this world where individualism and egocentrism sometimes border on madness.

Featured image: Cannes Film Festival