As A-listers make their presence felt in Cannes, practically every major fashion house is represented. From Marion Cotillard in Chanel and Natalie Portman’s recreation of Dior’s iconic Junon dress, to Alexa Chung in Prada and Naomi Campbell’s Valentino cut-outs, heritage brands, as ever, loom large on the Croisette. Supermodel Irina Shayk, however, swerved the luxury powerhouses to wear one of London’s hottest burgeoning design talents on the red carpet.
Over the weekend, the model sported a daring set designed by Mowalola Ogunlesi. The look comprised a Bordeaux red leather criss-cross bandeau top and a matching low-rise floor-length skirt—from Mowalola’s fall 2023 collection, which was showcased off-schedule at London Fashion Week—as well as a diamond-encrusted necklace. “I always look out for young designers, and Mowalola’s last show caught my eye,” Shayk tells Vogue of her decision to wear the look by the Nigerian-born creative. “I knew I wanted to wear and support a female designer in Cannes, and I thought this look would be the perfect fit – it felt special.”
It was a demonstration of Shayk’s sartorial range – the day before she’d worn a frothy blue Armani Privé fall 2022 gown on the Riviera. However, the model’s wardrobe choices are also driven by her desire to use her platform to support up-and-coming talent. “It’s important to celebrate and spotlight young creatives—at the end of the day, this is an industry built on supporting one another,” she shares. “Mowalola is a talented designer—it’s an honor to celebrate her work in Cannes.”
