2002 in Neeta Lulla

She debuted at Cannes on behalf of Devdas, a movie that was up for some BAFTAs and I believe is considered the beginning of her getting international attention. (The man is her director/costar.) She looks magnificent in this sari. It's not overly elaborate; it just gently glitters, and the color is super.

2003

I believe this is what's called "hiding your light under a moderate bushel." It's not as bad as I originally feared, but I don't LOVE the separates and the dingy loafers. (I wrote "dungy" at first and they ARE a bit dung-esque.) Aishwarya was on the jury this year -- the first Indian woman t hold that honor -- alongside, yes, Meg Ryan up there. Meg looks slick.

2003 in Neeta Lulla

This is another one where I think the bottom of the necklace is hidden. I LOVE the green, though. She can wear any color.

2003

There is a lot of stunning work in this. But I'm not wild about the bodice or how the necklace slips beneath it -- that feels badly planned. 

2003

From behind, though, she looks like a human phoenix.

2003

This feels like a high-fashion rib spreader.

2003

That's a cool necklace but this gown makes me think of expensively boring wallpaper. As opposed to the times when we mean that as a compliment. 

2004 in Neeta Lulla

This feels a little Irina Shayk for me.

2004

It's just a bit generic based on her past. But her hair in this photo is INCREDIBLE.

2005 in Gucci

This looks like the middle of her dress went missing and she had to improvise.

2005 in Armani

But this is lovely.

2006

This, for me, is all about the snake necklace (I assume it's Bulgari, like Naomi Watts's?) The dress itself is snug and strangely built. Who wants a labial knot?

2006

Well, it's an upgrade from her previous black gowns.

2007

And THIS is going for a similar drape as the blue down, but with the crotch knot edited out. The bodice is similar. It's OKAY but to me looks a bit more like bad folding.

2008

Dang. That is stunning.

2008

I also like where this was going, but prefer the fabric on the bodice.

2008

This looks like glitzy lily pads.

2008

"What they don't know is, we switched dresses in the limo! HA HA HA HA."

2009 in Cavalli

This feels more subtle than much of Cavalli's work. It's pretty enough but it's not that knockout moment. Those are coming.

2009

Sexy bridesmaid.

2009 in Elie Saab

But, THERE we go. That's what I was waiting for from her 2009 collection. This is so regal.

2010 in Elie Saab

This is reminiscent of Monet's water lilies, but I like the bottom better than I like the top. It takes some time to rev up.

2010 in Armani

Glitzy! The shoes are all wrong, but the red lipstick is all RIGHT.

2010

Ohhh yes. THIS is what I wanted that other pink dress to be.

2010

Glorious sari. The peek of green is so appealing to me. (That's her husband, Abhishek Bachchan, a very famous Bollywood actor.)

2011 in Elie Saab

Of her beige dresses, this is not my favorite, though her makeup really works to keep it from feeling blah.

2011 in Armani

I love the idea; maybe it's the pose that's not working for me? It's just discordant, almost Seussian.

2012 in Elie Saab

I found an article about her here that, in the same breath, talked about how she'd "received criticism for her weight gain post-pregnancy" and then referred to her "plus-size curves." Just leave it be, dudes. She is a STUNNING woman AND SHE HAD A BABY. I don't care for the belt -- it doesn't look like it belongs there -- but the sparkles are lovely.

2012 in Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla

She looks like a walking illuminated manuscript. (That's a compliment. The DETAILING ON THIS. Would that all my new pages began with a capital letter framed in that.)

2013 in Gucci

I just never think satin looks as elegant as people imagine, but again, what a color. It's definitely more delightful to me on that front than...

2013 in Elie Saab

... this drab funereal lace. It's creeping couture rot.

2013 in Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla

I can't decide if this is fun, or Jessica McClintock for Bed, Bath & Beyond.

2013 in Tarun Tahiliani

The Indian Express said this was the worst outfit of the entire Cannes Film Festival that year. Now, I am not fluent enough in the ins and outs of saris to know about that, but in 2013, Paz Vega wore this and SURELY that's worse.

2014 in Cavalli

This is pretty bombshell. I wish the skirt was as shimmery all the way down to the hem.

2014 in another Cavalli

This is substantially less magical.

2014 in Armani

Eh. This was not as thrilling a year. But don't worry. She rebounds.

2015 in Ralph & Russo

BOOM.

2015-GettyImages-473767036-compressed-1589391391

Lipstick! Color! FACE! ... Knee window?

2015 in Oscar de la Renta

This is another scrolldown -- it's SO GREAT and then those loose flaps look like tear-off ribbons.

2015 in Elie Saab

This is gently pretty. 

2015

AND THIS IS CRAZY. It's pants. It's a sofa. IT'S SOFA PANTS.

2016 Elie Saab

THIS, to me, is a divine deployment of that beige on her. The dress is interesting, the makeup is dramatic... the necklace only LOOKS like it's dropping into her cleav (it's actually just draped around her neck).  into her cleav is never my choice but it certainly makes

2016 in Younes Couture

This never stood a chance in comparison, and much like with those two Cavallis and the Armani in 2014, I don't know why she packed them both to be worn back to back. One blunts the other.

2016 in Rami Kadi

All credit to her for offsetting the twee pattern with hot purple lipstick, but I am not sure it's effectiv? It's glam frostbite.

2016 in Rohit Bel

I am fond of this.

2017 in Ralph & Russo

But I am ENAMORED of this. Here is when our girl really comes into her destiny.

I know we love a logistics photo of how the trains get fluffed. There is an embarrassment of incredible photos of her in this.

For the Met, the money shot is going up the stairs. At Cannes, it's going up, AND being shot from above.

2017 in Mark Bumgarner

This is also a marvel, and it is HILARIOUS watching her walk down a regular old street in it, like she's just going about her errands.

2017 in Michael Cinco

We are cooking with gas now. This is an utter dream of a gown.

2017

And from above, and bathed in light and shadow, it's perfect.

I couldn't stop.

Look at all the HELP she gets. This is honestly one of my favorite pictures. All the typically unseen labor on full display.

2018: In Michael Cinco

But this. That last dress is close, but to me this is absolute art. I LOVE IT. It's magic.

Just behold it. 

YOU WILL BEHOLD IT.

2018 in Rami Kadi

For most people THIS would be a big statement gown. For her it was like a small secondary aside.

2019 in Jean-Louis Sabaji

This is hella groovy. I'm not sure about parts of the dress itself, but the iridescence and the dramatic sleeve are kind of amazing. She's like a foxy alien priestess.

2019

And the train is fabulous. Precise, geometrically interesting, perfect for photos. But this ALSO wasn't even her primary statement of last year's festival. This next one was.

2019 in Ashi

She is dressed as the world's most luxurious bed. It's like she is living in a ten-star hotel and woke up and rolled over and had Champagne and caviar and was in full makeup and smelled like flowers. 

What did you have planned for this year, Aishwarya? Will we ever know? Will you please wear it on Instagram in your house? And then call up Michael Cinco and double down on 2021? Thank you. Farewell for now.

Aishwarya Rai: Arguably the Queen of Cannes

Glories lie within.