Cannes 2012: Who Was the Best-Dressed Star?

There was loads of drama at the Cannes Film Festival all right—and it wasn’t just on movie screens.

The red carpet turned into a sumptuous runway for a menagerie of dramatic, statement-making ensembles, from the nostalgic to the fashion-forward, the minimalist to the maximalist. Not to mention, in one celeb’s case, an epic dress as loooong as the red carpet itself.

So which stars brought the ultimate glam to Cannes?

Eva Longoria unleashed the loudest, most explosive fashion fireworks in a jaw-dropping Marchesa number swirling with intricate embroidery and delicate décolletage detailing. Hmmm…did we forget something? Oh yeah: that train! The dress left a ginormous wake of fabric so cataclysmic, scientists will be studying its geological effects on the earth’s tidal waves, weather systems and gravitational pull.

Opting to go in the other direction was Diane Kruger. The Teutonic beauty kept things airy and ethereal in a spectacular, seafoam-hued Giambattista Valli ensemble whose Grecian flair and impeccable draping made her look every inch the screen goddess.

Ever the fashion risk-taker, Tilda Swinton wowed in a mocha Haider Ackermann gown that was a witty study in contrasting proportions. Its intricate, gathered bodice translated into a neo-kimono of sorts, while the no-fuss skirt brought a conservative rigor to the whole look. We’re also loving the drastic, platinum helmet ‘do.

Kirsten Dunst delivered just the right amount of mod pop! with a fuschia sleeveless Christian Dior column whose bold color shrewdly played against the dress’ sleek silhouette. The winning touches? A smart, cinched waist and a gem-encrusted Louis Vuitton minaudiere. Blingtastic!

Proving why she’s one of the screen’s most enduring icons, Jane Fonda lit up the red carpet in a gorgeous bronze Versace gown that put the “va” in “va-va-voom!” Glittery swaths of crisscrossed fabric highlighted the two-time Oscar winner’s stunning curves, while a sheer nude panel above the bustline provided just the right amount of seductive tease.

It ain’t easy being green, but Freida Pinto makes it look effortless in a wildly chic chartreuse number that pays homage to tradition while upending it. The gown’s sleek, floor-length silhouette bestows the glam, while a quasi-peplum orbits part of the waistline and travels down to the back, literally imbuing the look with the perfect quirky twist.