Neo-Classical Dress As The Sculpture at Cannes International Film Festival (2017)

​As seen in the picture above: Vita Radziņa's smoky green dress sketches specially for the Cannes Film Festival - 2017.

Nice surprises come right when they are least awaited ... The unexpected turns into reality at the very moment when it is most needed ... It was also the case of Latvian fashion designer, graduate of the Latvian Academy of Art and my former student Vita Radziņa and, of course, it also refers to the success of the representatives of Latvian cinema at the Cannes International Film Festival - 2017.

In this story, I invite you all to return back to month of May earlier this year and visit again (in thoughts) the Cannes Film Festival... Maybe it hides something you have not noticed?

These were and still are two outfts that immediately stood out on the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival ... At the most important moments of the Cannes Film Festival, these outfits were akin to surprising visions, that embodied creativity characteristic to Latvian fashion brands and designers. As if from the point of view of the performance of the representatives of Latvia, comes to mind instantly the idea of "Less Is More" that has been heard many times before and is still very popular in the fashion circles. 
It is the same smart and noble restraint of neo-classical style, which is able to create more admiration than outfits from famous fashion brands that are saturated with brilliant traditions of Hollywood and contemporary glamour. 
And when, if not now, it is the best moment to get excited about this small but, at the same time, such an important achievement of Latvian artists? It is also worth remembering the importance of the 70th anniversary of the Cannes International Film Festival on a global scale.

​Since this festival is one of the most important events in the film industry's calendar, then probably the time has come to briefly outline the highlight moments of this year. And then it will be the right time to look back at the importance of the most beautiful red carpet outfits...

Cannes 2017


The Cannes International Film Festival took place in Cannes from May 17 to May 28, and this year it was the 70th anniversary of the festival. The Latvian film industry professionals were closely involved in various festival events - creating international contacts, cinema market reviews, in the program Producers On The Move, and even in the Cannes's Official Competition show.

Cannes International Film Festival is one of the central events in the world of cinema. In this festival also, many famous film makers claimed the Golden Palm awards (The Palme d'Or ). However, this time the Latvian representatives deserve special attention because their performance was especially highlighted by the successful selection of outfits worn by divas costumes on the red carpet event.
The Slovak director's Gyorgy Kristof's full-length debut entered in the Cannes festival program Uncertain Regard. The film "Out" tells of a middle-aged man who goes to work to Latvia and is being introduced in a series of absurd events.
This film has also been sponsored by Film Angels Productions and Latvian co-funding. The Latvian Pavilion, which was developed in co-operation with the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA), has traditionally was also open on the Cannes Film Market.


The Red Carpet events and Latvian divas at Cannes 2017

This year at the Cannes Film Festival's Red Carpet event also shone Latvian actress Ieva Aleksandrova-Eklone and director Ieva Norvele. Both ladies had entrusted to fashion designer Vita Radziņa to make their outfits for this special event. 


That's why this article is dedicated to that special event. Because the name of a professional Latvian fashion designer was written with golden letters in the pages of history.
And the story is about outfit.

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Not only beauty and its vivid attributes, including costumes and jewelry, always can attract special attention. A special role is played by creative personalities and their accomplishments.
The laconic design is the key word that perfectly describes greenish-smoky dress of Ieva Aleksandrova-Eklone and black dress of Ieva Norvele. As a Black Tie Dress Code is usually important at Red Carpet events, - it refers to the gentleman's tuxedo and his black bow-tie. According to that, ladies usually choose to wear luxurious yet laconic outfits. 
As nowdays Black Tie Dress Code allows many deviations from the ancient habits, but it also it does not mean that ladies are competing with each other for the title of the most the extravagant way of dressing. 
Taking into account the limits of time and possibilities, greenish-smoky dress of actress Ieva Aleksandrova-Eklone has become a very special masterpiece of fashion design. It was created by fashion and costume designer Vita Radziņa and her point of view here is quite clear: outfit of an actress should be glamorous - it should stand out on a red carpet and, as we know, it is already a tradition that Vita Radziņa has perfectly embodied in this outfit. Meanwhile, the black dress of Ieva Norvele has been withheld on much simpler lines and is therefore somewhat emphasized by some references to Neo-Victorian style (neckline and beige rose), as well as some of the nuances of today's fashion trends.
And yet ... that's not all, that's why I invite you to look more closely at the greenish-smoky, neo-classical dress worn by diva Ieva Aleksandrova-Eklone! 

Visually Associative Image of Milda

How do you think - does this smoky green outfit reminds us of something that is especially significant to Latvia? Yes, it really reminds Milda! She is at the top of the Freedom Monument, holding three golden stars raised in her hands! It is a favorite image of the Latvian people, which reminds us of many of the twists and turns in the history of Latvia.

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The symbol of the Freedom of Latvia - the Freedom Monument was erected by using donations of Latvian people. It was officially opened on November 18, 1935. The monument was built according to the project of sculptor Kārlis Zāle and architect Ernests Štālbergs. The monument includes light gray and pink Finnish granite and Italian travertine, while the image of Freedom is cast in the bronze in Sweden. The three golden stars are scattered by metalworkers J. Zibens and A. Naika.
Greenish Smoky Hue And The Purity Of Neo-classical Style

Vita Radziņa once told me that she would like to bring in some special outfit the feelings that arise when one is looking at the image of Freedom - Milda. It is a bronze image who solemnly holds up three raised golden stars ...
And now let's look again at the outfit of Ieva Aleksandrova-Eklone! The laconism of the neoclassical style is revealed here perfectly, quoting the glamour style icons of the Hollywoods golden 1930s. The very characteristic features of this style are draped details, beaded ornaments (for example, like it was seen in works of a French neo-classical designer Madeleine Vionnet), long slips, fine linings, pure flowing lines ... All of this can be seen in the dress created by Vita Radziņa, who eventually, unknowingly, echoes her desire to
show a link to image of Freedom. The bronze image reveals a wonderful, restrained and Nordic hue of a dress that perfectly suits the actress. It may seem like the green shade of turquoise or jade or mist above meadows and forest and much else unnamed ...But to many of us, it reminds Milda ...

​In the picture above: Vita Radziņa's moodboard that inspired to create an outfit for Cannes Film Festival ..

Talking about the neo-classical style, one must remember also the 19th-century... the monuments and memorial sculptures. These allegorical sculptures are depicted in wearing draped clothes that are reminiscent of the heroic clothing of the antiquity.... This also inspired fashion designers of the 20th century, especially during 30s. It was the return to proven values, highlighting those dramatic qualities of marble,  stone and bronze hues remembering antique statues of bronze aesthetics. All this is so vivid if one of such ancient allegories is compared to the Milda - image of Freedom. After all, the monument of Freedom in Riga, Latvia was also erected in the 1930s.

The special qualities of the neoclassical style has been highlighted by the finest decorations - tiny pearl strings that fit to the outfit and turns into a fine, light blanket. They are made thanks to the fashion brand Sofia Lark represented by a jewellery designerLaura Selecka  www.sofialark.com/ 
in collaboration with Vita Radziņa. The Sofia Lark outfits are just like they were created specially for the world's most celebrated moments ...They embody a smart image, which at the same time is refined and  sophisticated, ambitious and ethereal, and this, I guess, is greatly revealed in many ice tone outfits created by this fashion brand.

What were the brightest Red Carpet moments of the Cannes Film Festival in 2017 ? They will remain as a memory, as a pleasant occasion, which shows the most successful combination of creativity and talent at the right moment and place. And...the ability to put together historical quotes with contemporary fashion details in one outfit.