Since 1946, the Cannes Film Festival has been one of cinema's most coveted showcases, drawing filmmakers to the Croisette each May to vie for the industry's highest awards. In recent years, its status has only grown, fueled by a string of high-profile selections that have won over critics, audiences, and awards bodies.

Past editions have launched The Substance, Emilia Pérez, and Anora into the awards conversation, while last year's slate paired critical darlings like Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value and Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident with blockbuster fare like Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning.

This year, the lineup leans arthouse and international, with familiar auteurs like Justine Triet, Pedro Almodóvar, Jane Schoenbrun, Ron Howard, and Steven Soderbergh all in competition. There are a few boldface names, too: Kristen Stewart returns after premiering her directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, here last year. This time, she’s starring opposite Woody Harrelson in French director Quentin Dupieux’s absurdist comedy Full Phil. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver will reunite for Paper Tiger, and Sentimental Value star Renate Reinsve joins Sebastian Stan in Norway-set drama Fjord.

Park Chan-wook takes over as jury president from 2025's Juliette Binoche, making him the first Korean to hold the role in the festival's history.

Television fans will have extra reason to pay attention, too: the cast of HBO's highly anticipated fourth season of The White Lotus, set in part at the festival itself, will be on the ground, with some filming taking place during the real event.

Ahead of the 79th edition, which runs May 12 to 23 and will honor Barbra Streisand and Peter Jackson with lifetime achievement Palmes d'Or, here are 14 releases not to miss:

Bitter Christmas (Pedro Almodóvar)

After making his English-language feature debut in 2024 with the Golden Lion-winning The Room Next Door, starring Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, Pedro Almodóvar returns to his native Spanish with Bitter Christmas (Amarga Navidad). The premise—a successful advertising director (Bárbara Lennie) traveling from Madrid to the island of Lanzarote to grieve her mother's death, while a filmmaker named Raúl mines her story for inspiration—hints at autobiographical territory. Expect another dip into the auteur's color-drenched world.

Avedon (Ron Howard)

Ron Howard turns his lens on Richard Avedon in a new documentary tracing the photographer's groundbreaking career through never-before-seen archives, footage, and interviews with his close collaborators and confidants. Avedon's influence on fashion, photography, and the 20th-century American aesthetic is hard to overstate, and Howard—whose recent docs have tackled The Beatles, Jim Henson, and Luciano Pavarotti—is an ideal director to take on the scale of his prolific legacy.

The Man I Love (Ira Sachs)

Ira Sachs has been on a roll, with Passages (2023) and Peter Hujar's Day (2025) confirming his standing as one of queer cinema's most distinctive voices. He'll present The Man I Love, a musical fantasy about an artist in late-'80s downtown New York (Rami Malek) preparing for the biggest work of his career after a terminal AIDS diagnosis. The cast also includes Rebecca Hall, Tom Sturridge, The Bear's Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and The Crown's Luther Ford.

Fatherland (Pawel Pawlikowski)

The biggest draw of Fatherland is its star: German actress Sandra Hüller, who had a breakout 2023 with Anatomy of a Fall and The Zone of Interest. This year hasn't been quiet for Hüller either: she stars in the blockbuster Project Hail Mary and won the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance at Berlin for Rose. In Polish director Pawel Pawlikowski's latest, shot in his signature black-and-white, she plays Erika Mann, daughter of the Nobel Prize-winning anti-Nazi writer Thomas Mann (Hanns Zischler), as the two return to their native Germany at the height of the Cold War.

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (Jane Schoenbrun)

The first night of Un Certain Regard opens with Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, the follow-up to cult filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun's 2024 film I Saw The TV Glow . Like its predecessor, the new film traffics in horror, fantasy, and ’90s nostalgia. Hacks star Hannah Einbinder plays a director tasked with rebooting the fictional Camp Miasma slasher franchise, but when she becomes obsessed with the original final girl (Gillian Anderson), things turn bloody. Sorry, Baby breakout Eva Victor also stars.

John Lennon: The Last Interview (Steven Soderbergh)

Steven Soderbergh's John Lennon: The Last Interview is built around the never-before-released-in-full conversation Lennon and Yoko Ono gave to an RKO Radio team at home on December 8, 1980, a wide-ranging discussion of their album Double Fantasy, partnership, parenthood, and hopes for the future, recorded hours before Lennon was shot and killed that night. Soderbergh pared the nearly three-hour interview down, paired it with archival footage, and, for roughly 10% of the film's runtime, AI imagery—a choice that's sure to spark a conversation of its own.

Paper Tiger (James Gray)

A late addition to the lineup, James Gray's Paper Tiger (the director's follow-up to films like Armageddon Time and Ad Astra) brings extra star power to the festival. Miles Teller and Adam Driver play brothers in 1980s New York whose attempts to make their fortunes pull them into the orbit of the Russian mob. Scarlett Johansson plays Teller's wife.

Club Kid (Jordan Firstman)

Comedian Jordan Firstman makes his directorial debut with Club Kid, in which he writes, directs, and stars as a New York club promoter who discovers he's the father of a 10-year-old son. Until now, Firstman has been best known for his viral social media impressions and a starring role on Rachel Sennott's HBO comedy I Love LA. He's joined by Diego Calva (On Swift Horses) and Cara Delevingne in her first major role in years.

Hope (Na Hong-Jin)

Na Hong-jin returns with his first feature in a decade, Hope, a 2-hour-40-minute sci-fi thriller competing for the Palme d'Or. The story centers on a village near the North Korean border in the aftermath of a tiger sighting, with Squid Game breakout Hoyeon, Alicia Vikander, Michael Fassbender, and Taylor Russell rounding out a striking international ensemble. Michael Abels (Get Out, Us, Nope) provides the score.

Her Private Hell (Nicolas Winding Refn)

Nicolas Winding Refn, who won Best Director at Cannes in 2011 with the Ryan Gosling-starring Drive, returns with Her Private Hell, his first feature in a decade. The film weaves multiple storylines through a future metropolis where actresses gather at a glamorous hotel to shoot a Barbarella-style production, while a killer known as Leather Man stalks women across the city. The Danish auteur has assembled a who’s-who cast of in-demand young actors to tell the story: Charles Melton, Sophie Thatcher, Kristine Froseth, and Havana Rose Liu.

Full Phil (Quentin Dupieux)

Quentin Dupieux described Full Phil to Variety as "Emily in Paris in hell—a fever dream, a nightmare version of it." Woody Harrelson plays a widowed American industrialist on a lavish Paris trip with his daughter (Kristen Stewart), with whom he's trying to reconnect, until things slip, in characteristic Dupieux fashion, into something strange involving French cuisine, an invasive hotel employee, and a 1950s horror film within the film. The cast also includes Charlotte Le Bon, Emma Mackey, Nassim Lyes, and Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim.

Fjord (Cristian Mungiu)

Fresh off her Oscar-nominated turn in Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value, Renate Reinsve returns to Cannes as the star of Fjord, the English-language debut of Romanian director Cristian Mungiu, who won the 2007 Palme d'Or for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. Reinsve plays a Norwegian mother who returns with her Romanian husband (Sebastian Stan) and their children to her remote birthplace village. After bonding with the family next door, the family becomes the target of suspicion when they're accused of disturbing behavior.

Diamond (Andy Garcia)

Andy Garcia (Ocean's Eleven, Father of the Bride) wrote, directed, and stars in Diamond, his Out of Competition Cannes world premiere, and a passion project nearly 15 years in the making. Garcia plays Joe Diamond, a present-day investigator with the bearing of a classic noir detective, who works the cases that LA's police can't crack. The heavyweight ensemble includes Vicky Krieps, Brendan Fraser, Rosemarie DeWitt, Demián Bichir, Danny Huston, and Yul Vazquez, with Bill Murray and Dustin Hoffman reuniting with Garcia after 2005's The Lost City.

The Unknown (Arthur Harari)

The Unknown is the third film from Arthur Harari, who shared the 2024 Best Original Screenplay Oscar for Anatomy of a Fall with partner Justine Triet. This time, he co-wrote with his brother Lucas Harari, adapting Lucas's graphic novel Le cas David Zimmerman, a literary, Kafka-influenced spin on the body-swap genre. Léa Seydoux and Niels Schneider star in the story about a photographer who has a one-night stand with a stranger and somehow wakes up in her body.

For the first time ever, Bulgari became an official sponsor of the 2026 Venice Biennale, a role that will continue through 2030. Supporting the arts is nothing new to the Roman high jewelry brand—the Fondazione Bulgari was launched in 2024 to officially codify decades of patronage, ranging from the restoration of Rome’s Spanish Steps to partnering with the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. The foundation acts as a sort of cultural bridge across time, nurturing new contemporary artists while helping to preserve historical treasures.

The centerpiece of this year’s endeavor is the Bulgari Pavilion, situated within the Giardini exhibition space, where different countries show the work of highlighted artists in designated national pavilions. Here, the Canadian multimedia rising star Lotus L. Kang—whose work suggests atmospheric environments rather than static assemblages—was commissioned to create a site-specific installation, which she titled The Face of Desire Is Loss.

Inspired by Lara Mimosa Montes’ Thresholes, a book of poems exploring emptiness and voids as generative spaces, Kang suspended large sheets of photographic film from perforated steel joists resembling industrial lotus roots. The sheets weren’t treated with the chemical process that preserves images, so they remain sensitive to the world around them; as the sunlight hits them and the air circulates around them, their colors bruise, fade, and shift. The windows of the pavilion are lined with much thinner 35 mm film strips bearing images of tidal mudflats and spectrograms of birdcalls; Kang rounds out the sensory experience with 49 bottles of spirits placed around the space, referencing the number of days that a soul hovers between death and rebirth in Buddhist culture. Instead of a permanent monument, Kang offers an artwork that is continuously evolving.

A twenty-minute walk from the Giardini, at the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, on San Marco square, Bulgari staged another exhibition, in the library’s Salone Sansovino. It features two on-the-rise artists of the Italian contemporary scene: Lara Favaretto and Monia Ben Hamouda. A large installation by Ben Hamouda, the latest recipient of the MAXXI Bulgari Prize in Rome, consists of two fiery neon wall sculptures that dominate the library’s vestibule. The daughter of a calligrapher, Ben Hamouda uses an accumulation of script-like marks to create an invented, nonexistent alphabet. Her piece, Fragments of Fire Worship, feels like excavated relics of a future religion and introduces a visceral energy into the room.

In the main salon, Favaretto presents the seventh and final chapter of her Momentary Monument–The Library, a piece that explores the idea that nothing—not even history—is permanent. The installation is composed of stacks of ordinary donated books placed on a long shelving unit in a grand, gold-leafed Renaissance salon designed to preserve knowledge forever. Inside each tome, like an Easter egg, is a different image culled from Favaretto’s personal archive, that the artist has inserted. With that simple gesture, Favaretto challenges the idea of preservation of knowledge, implying that information is fragile and subject to changes through ongoing processes of circulation and redistribution.

“Jewelry was the first form of art developed by humankind, more than 120,000 years ago,” said Jean-Christophe Babin, Bulgari’s CEO and President, commenting on why it makes sense for the company to support such varied cultural endeavors. “There is great value in work that is done with our hands. Art is the true manifestation of what only human beings can do.”

I recently met a woman who raised me. Her name is Lena Dunham. I was invited to an event for her new memoir, Famesick, at Gloria Steinem’s house, sponsored by Warby Parker. I understand how many twists and turns that sentence took. I live a life that is both deeply unserious and never taken for granted. But I’ve been a self-proclaimed feminist and an internet obsessive as long as I’ve had −4.75 vision, so maybe the cultural crossover makes some sense.

I try not to pedestal people. It’s in no one’s best interest to have idols but it felt impossible not to geek out over the fact that I was somehow sitting cross-legged on the floor of Steinem’s home listening to her drop F-bombs and talk shit about Philip Roth, while in conversation with Dunham, the woman who inadvertently guided me through the shitstorm of my 20s via the blueprint of her hit HBO show, Girls. My entire personality and the early part of my writing career were built on the belief that I was a Jessa, when really I was a Marnie in Hannah’s clothing.

There’s a chance I came out the womb with a Jessa sensibility, but probably not, because she likely resembled a cherub baby, and I was born with jaundice. My internal monologue and hyper-niche, hyper-online brain were molded by women like Dunham and an army of mothers of pop culture that came before me.

I should make it clear that a mother, to me, can be anything. In the larger (read: gayer) sense of the word, a mother doesn’t have to be a parent or even a woman. The title is tossed around a bit too freely these days, but the root of the word, which stems from the Black and Queer ballroom scene, is about leadership, caretaking, paving a new way, and serving cunt. Use that information as a barometer and read along with an open mind.

These pop culture mothers gave me a backbone, a roadmap, an attitude problem, and some of my most basic values and ethics.

Madonna

Madonna might sound like a cop out, but this is a very specific cosign. Madonna became my mother the second I saw what her knees could do during her 2001 Drowned World Tour, and it cemented for me when I FINALLY watched that one interview clip where she gets really hot and demands a fan. "I have a problem with the fact that there is no air in here, and I'm going to die. Open the door NOW!” The most beautiful thing a woman can be is dramatic. This brief exchange between her and some poor scrambling set PAs taught me the art of unabashedly advocating for my needs.

Rihanna

Rihanna is an actual cop out. I don’t care. This is my truth and I haven’t lied in two years. Having a mononym is mother behavior. Rolling a joint on your security’s bald head at Coachella is mother behavior. Having your shoulders back and your titties up and out, especially when covered in Swarovski crystals, is mother behavior. Never being anywhere on time is definitely mother behavior, just ask mine.

Martha May Whovier

Martha May Whovier (Christine Baranski) may not have had any children, but this woman gave natural birth to me when she thrust her hips forward and used a light cannon to decorate her Whoville estate. More domme femmes need to be represented in media. It is a scene that makes any young lesbian sit up straight. Keri Hilson said it first, but pretty girls really do rock. Most importantly, Martha May showed me love is not about looks but about mutual disdain for an opp. And Christmas.

Jackée Harry

I love it when a woman has a mouth on her—what can I say? I have one too, and I’m not afraid to use it, all thanks to Lisa Landry. Jackée Harry in Sister, Sister is a total mess (complimentary). And that’s what motherhood is to me: being both loud and often wrong. Motherhood is having a good blowout and sexual tension with your children’s father. Motherhood is always carrying a quippy retort in your back pocket and being totally insane.

Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah in Beauty Shop. Queen Latifah in Hairspray. Queen Latifah in Last Holiday. Queen Latifah in Ice Age. Queen Latifah in Thom Browne, always. Queen Latifah in Set It Off. Queen Latifah in Just Wright. Queen Latifah in the opening scene of Taxi. Queen Latifah in Bringing Down The House.

The mom from Easy A (Patricia Clarkson)

Behind every great woman is her gay husband. I grew up with divorced parents, so it is always important for me to see healthy relationships on-screen. Rosemary Penderghast (perfect name, no notes) does the kind of soft parenting TikTok moms can only dream about. I would be entertained listening to Patricia Clarkson read a telephone book, but she and Stanley Tucci simply speaking the letter “T” or every single line reading in this scene from Easy A will change the trajectory of your life. It changed mine.

Tyra Banks having never yelled at a girl like that in her life (on ANTM)

I can’t in good faith call Tyra Banks a mother, but I did see the spirit of my mother leap out of her when she berated Tiffany on America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 4. Sometimes you watch a reality TV clip, and you're transported to the bra section in Nordstrom Rack at age 13.

Strega Nona

When someone says bring out your baddest bitch, it’s always Strega Nona for me. She may have been a witch, but she was a caretaker first. There’s nothing more maternal or Italian than a woman who constantly wants to feed you, especially with dense carbs. The story of Strega Nona is a lesson in community building as well as a warning about men who don’t know how to listen to directions (hint: it’s all of them).

The Original Aunt Viv

I need to give (the dark-skinned) Aunt Viv her flowers, a bouquet, honestly, a botanical garden. This is a woman who is caring, patient, and strict with it when she needs to be. There is a dance class scene in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that is burned into my brain, in which Aunt Viv’s skill level is doubted by a group of younger dancers. Not only did it radicalize me about the importance of showing off, but learning the dance itself has proven to be an incredible party trick. An auntie can also be a mother, and we don’t talk about that enough.

Toni Collette

I simply couldn’t decide if Toni Collette was more mother in that one dinner scene in Hereditary that every good gay person is off-book on, or as all the versions of Tara Gregson in United States of Tara, a TV show too many people slept on, but not me! I will avenge you, Diablo Cody!

Teyana Taylor (The Queen of New York)

To be a mother is to be a multi-hyphenate, by the way. From her abdomen in the Fade music video, to her belly and her machine gun in One Battle After Another, to the way she fixes her mom’s dress on the carpet, to the way her daughter fixes her dress on the carpet. My fingers are twitching, wanting to write something sexual, but I already did that with Christine Baranski, and you can just check my Twitter account for that.

The Nutbrown Hare from Guess How Much I Love You

In contrast to everyone above, this is going to sound like a major tonal shift, but please know I’ve been serious this whole time. This book is the reason why my mom calls me Bunny. This is the book that has been ours for forever. This is a book I will read to my future children if I need another way to tell them how much their mother loves them.

If you’re in need of inspiration for your next office look, allow Rosé to provide a slick new take on corporate attire. This weekend, the Blackpink star stepped out in New York City in a subversive version of a classic skirt suit, hailing from Saint Laurent. Worn over a simple white T-shirt, her ensemble featured a collarless jacket and knee-length skirt—each crafted from black leather.

The singer’s nonchalant nod to uptown style, however, was far from the simplicity of an average matching set. Her jacket included silver-buttoned front pockets and shoulder straps, as well as a contrasting brown lining. Meanwhile, her skirt was cinched by a thick, silver-buckled belt to enhance its biker edge.

Leaning into a business-worthy approach, Rosé paired the skirt suit with black nylon tights and a glistening pair of black patent leather pumps—complete with the sharply pointed, elongated toes that have become a signature of creative director Anthony Vaccarello in recent seasons. Saint Laurent’s slouchy, shiny black leather Shortense bag with rounded gold hardware, as well as a pair of thin rounded black sunglasses, gave her monochrome attire a carefree finish.

The corporate-esque set was Rosé’s latest all-black look from the French fashion house while in Manhattan this week. On Monday, the singer attended the Met Gala in a high-slit gown accentuated by a crystal-covered bird brooch. Afterwards, she took on the evening’s afterparty scene in a strapless, silky ruched dress with a wavy hemline, channeling the flair of ‘80s eveningwear.

Despite its corporate origins, the singer’s skirt suit remained nonchalant from its edgy take on ladylike dressing—which was smoothly in tandem with her dark style streak. As a longtime Saint Laurent ambassador, Rosé’s regularly worn its separates and formalwear on and off the red carpet over the years. In fact, her latest Met Gala outing marked her third with Vaccarello, who just celebrated his 10-year anniversary at the brand. Clearly, when it comes to effortless dressing, consistency is key—and Rosé’s got it in spades.

Almost sixty years ago, Ralph Lauren began his career as a designer. He started small, making neckties under the label Polo in 1967. In the six decades since, Ralph Lauren has become one of the most influential fashion brands in not only America, but the world—touching everything from ready-to-wear and accessories, to home goods and even coffee. In celebration of Ralph Lauren’s immense impact on the fashion industry, Thames & Hudson has released Ralph Lauren: Catwalk, the eleventh volume of its Catwalk series and the first to feature an American artist.

Ralph Lauren Catwalk presents a visual timeline of the brand’s history. With words by fashion journalist Bridget Foley and over 1,300 runway images from more than 100 collections, the book documents Lauren’s journey, from his debut womenswear collection in fall 1972 up until fall 2025.

Five years after releasing those first ties, Lauren turned his gaze to women’s fashion, inspired by his wife, Ricky, and her effortless style. Lauren quickly became known for his ability to play with contradictions—mixing masculine and feminine, Western wear with New England prep, and the rugged with the refined. The Ralph Lauren brand has become synonymous with timelessness, and many of the looks that walked the runway in those first collections—pinstripe blazers fitted at the waist, pleated knee-length skirts, and windowpane-checked tailored trousers—could easily fit into a collection today. As Foley says in the book’s introduction, “The consistency is remarkable.”

The images in Catwalk also display Lauren’s aversion to trends, as well as the strength of his design codes. Suiting is prevalent throughout, evolving over the decades—but in a way that feels tied to Lauren’s own whims, not those of time and fads. Lauren is now the longest-running creative director in history, following the death of Giorgio Armani last year, and Catwalk clarifies his endurance.

‘Ralph Lauren: Catwalk’

Ralph Lauren -

Nobody wears a suit quite like Cate Blanchett. Tailoring has been a mainstay in Blanchett’s every-shifting wardrobe since her earliest red carpet days, but she always finds a way to keep it interesting. Last night, she may have pulled out one of her most inventive takes on typical tailoring yet. While presenting director Guillermo del Toro with his BFI Fellowship honor last night in London, Blanchett opted for a ghostly, ethereal twist on the typical suit jacket.

The actor arrived to the occasion in a gauzy black piece from Maison Margiela’s fall 2026 co-ed collection by Glenn Martens. At first glance, its ruffle-lined sleeves, Victorian flourishes, and delicate lace made it seem like a spooky dress straight out del Toro’s own supernatural films. Look closer, and you’ll see it was layered atop a deep brown tweed minidress that cut to resemble a jacket.

The overall effect proved a ghostly take on suiting, while still retaining a sharp silhouette. Blanchett’s natural fashion versatility was also at play with the piece’s layered textures, combining traditional sartorial codes, historic references, and dynamic sheer textures. For a modern edge, the star finished her look with a pair of glossy black pumps with transparent wedges, complemented by a minimal silver wolf-shaped ring and twisted metal earrings for a subtly punky finish.

Of course, Blanchett loves an unexpected surprise on the red carpet. Whether she’s re-wearing her awards season gowns or stepping out in artisanal numbers from Lanvin, Louis Vuitton, or Giorgio Armani, the actress loves to keep everyone guessing. After this year’s massive slate of designer debuts, there’s plenty of pieces to keep her future looks—including her forthcoming How to Train Your Dragon 2 press tour, and press for her Martha Stewart biopic—on the cutting edge.

Billie Eilish brought a new take on preppy dressing to the red carpet last night right alongside a new relationship milestone. At the Lose Angeles premiere of her new concert film, Billie Eilish—Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D) made her red carpet debut with boyfriend Nat Wolff in an artfully layered ensemble that mixed “prep” with “punk” and a little bit of “jock” sprinkled in for good measure.

Eilish’s layered ensemble featured a white collared dress shirt layered beneath an oversized, emerald green Prada polo. The star paired the pieces with a pleated black knee-length skirt, continuing her recent academia-inspired aesthetic. A silver wallet chain and layered rings added a rebellious touch of punk to her look.

For another fashion-related twist, Eilish completed her outfit with a pair of vibrant red tube socks. Trimmed in navy blue. Her cream kitten-heeled pumps, featuring ombré gray toes and sneaker-like front laces added a subversive athletic touch.

As of late, Eilish has been on an academia-influenced style streak. The singer’s recent looks have encompassed iterations of classically preppy pieces, from button-down shirts and ties to pleated trousers, blazers, and tall socks. Despite her new aesthetic, Eilish has remained loyal her penchants for dark colors, oversized silhouettes, and grunge influences—making this latest fashion chapter an additional layer of her edgy sense of style.

As for the romance? Eilish and Wolff, a musician and actor, have been friends for years. He even appeared in her 2024 “Chihiro” music video, and his musical project with brother Alex Wolff opened for Eilish on select dates of her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour. Its unclear exactly when the relationship turned romantic, but fans began suspecting the two were a bit more than friends in 2025 after a steady stream picture of the pair canoodling throughout the world hit the internet. Last night marks the pairs red carpet debut.

Blush is no longer just the final step—it’s the product doing the most work in your makeup routine. The prettiest new formulas launching for spring add a flush of color, and they blur pores, boost radiance, and layer in skincare benefits. Creamy textures that melt in like a second skin, luminous finishes that fake a full night’s sleep, and pigment that does double duty as both makeup and treatment will all contribute to improving how your skin looks over time.

From glow-boosting balms to soft-focus powders and serum-infused tints, today’s blushes are designed to enhance more than just your cheeks. Consider this your guide to the multitasking blushes that are hitting the market now.

Merit Flush Balm Cream Blush

The Merit Flush Balm Cream Blush is all about flexibility—adapting to whatever look you’re going for. What makes it unique is that it boasts a balm-like texture that even a beginner can blend out, giving you a sheer, barely there tint with one swipe. This product also has the ability to build beautifully if you want more color without ever looking heavy or overdone. Because it’s so forgiving, you can apply it straight from the tube and blend with your fingers (no precision needed) making it an easy, versatile staple, whether you’re keeping things minimal or layering for a more glamorous look.

Morphe Cheek Thrills Multi-Finish Face Trios

For an option that does far more than just add a pop of color, this trio gives you a fully customizable cheek in one simple compact. It has a mix of cream, balm, and powder formulas, letting you play with different finishes to create dimension, glow, and a soft-blur effect all at once. The cream absorbs into skin for a natural flush; the balm adds that dewy, lit-from-within sheen; and the powder diffuses everything for a smooth, perfected look. Whether you wear each formula on its own or stack them together, the product is designed to enhance your skin rather than sit on top of it—making your blush look more like real skin, just better.

Prada Touch Cream-to-Powder Blush

The Prada Touch Cream-to-Powder Soft Blur Longwear Blush is less about adding color and more about refining your entire complexion. The texture starts off as a silky cream, then quickly sets into a soft-focus powder that diffuses the look of pores and texture. What I love most about this blush is that it lends your cheeks a smooth, almost airbrushed effect. It also blends seamlessly on contact and builds without ever looking heavy, landing on a soft-matte finish that still feels fresh and dimensional—not flat.

Benefit Play Daze Airy Liquid Blush

If there’s one blush formula that feels tailor-made for spring, it’s this one. The liquid blush delivers that fresh, just-pinched flush in a formula that’s light enough for warmer days but opaque enough to elevate your whole look. The texture goes on as a weightless liquid, then diffuses into a soft, blurred matte that looks like real skin, not makeup. It’s especially ideal as temperatures rise because it sets without feeling heavy or sticky. As a result, you get that breathable, cloud-like finish that won’t slide around by midday. And because it’s waterproof and transfer-resistant, the color will grip without going patchy or fading.

MCoBeauty Blush & Go Cream Stick

This formula from MCoBeauty doubles as a skincare-infused essential that keeps your face looking hydrated and healthy throughout the day. The blush ingredient list reads more like skincare than makeup, boasting castor oil, jojoba seed oil, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid, which work together to nourish, soften, and give skin that naturally plump, dewy look. Even better, it’s designed for true versatility. You can swipe this onto both your cheeks and your lips for a quick, monochromatic moment that pulls your whole look together.

LYS Beauty Cream and Powder Blush Duo

Consider this duo from LYS Beauty your no-fuss blush that takes the guesswork out of adding color and smoothing your skin. It’s composed of a cream layer that melts in for a skin-like base, plus a powder that softly diffuses, helping to even out texture and give cheeks a smoother, more refined finish. Together, the two create dimension without heaviness, so your blush looks fresh and seamless rather than flat. Infused with skin-loving ingredients like niacinamide and green tea extract, it also helps boost radiance and brighten the look of skin over time, making it feel like a glow-enhancing step as much as a makeup one.

You didn’t think Dua Lipa would leave the fashion at home during vacation, did you? The singer shared a glimpse into her and fiancé Callum Turner’s latest stop in Copenhagen, which included casual stripes and denim. However, the singer proved her prowess at elevating even the simplest pieces from her edgy, eclectic sensibility—and revived two nostalgic 2014 fashion trends in the process.

During her and Turner’s travels, Lipa posed for Instagram photos in a long-sleeved, sailor-striped Ann Demeulemeester shirt. The black and white piece was tucked into a pair of blue denim jorts with distressed hems, though it could also be cinched from long black side ties. Her look’s otherwise simple pieces were instantly nostalgic, simultaneously channeling the edgy style of 2014 from its sailor stripes and ripped denim. Both trends dominated the mid-2010’s from their specific aesthetics and grungy feel, as seen on fashion-focused stars like Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and Cara Delevingne at the time.

Lipa’s 2014-coded outfit earned her signature whimsy from a wide-ranging mix of current trending accessories. The singer boosted her attire’s prints with a large, slouchy brown suede Phoebe Philo tote, complete with a dark brown striped pattern. A Western belt with thick silver hardware—a top spring style also seen at Coachella and Stagecoach—cinched her look with a dash of heavy metals. The musician’s ensemble was finished with smooth black heeled thong sandals, hailing from Demna’s first Gucci show, which embraced the sweeping nostalgia for similar 2000’s pieces today.

Lipa finished her outfit with glossy maroon sunglasses from Jacques Marie Mage, as well as a smattering of gleaming Bulgari rings. The finishing touches brought a punky feel to her look, utilizing subtle details to elevate its otherwise simple pieces.

However, Lipa’s trip abroad wasn’t solely a street style romp. While in Copenhagen with Turner, the star also shared snapshots of lush gardens, oysters, and lunch at Pompette—plus, per her caption, plenty of wine. The pair also enjoyed various art exhibitions on their travels, including pieces by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Sophie Calle’s On the Hunt exhibit.

Even when you’ve honed your fashion sense, there’s always room for a nostalgic reference. After Lipa’s past nods to ‘70s, ‘90s, and 2000’s style, it’s clear the 2010’s have successfully made it into the mix.

When Odessa A’zion showed up to her first Met Gala on Monday night, she was wearing a custom Valentino look she’d helped design herself. She and Alessandro Michele had traded sketches, notes, and references back and forth, riffing on the night’s dress code, “Fashion is Art,” until they got the daring outfit exactly right.

The final look was a nod to pre-war Hollywood: a black silk peplum corset with sparkling pink-and-blue floral embroidery, matching cut-out lily flowers covering A’zion’s chest, a black silk scarf worn like a choker, black tights and leather thigh-high boots, and a long black and slate blue embroidered cape worn off the shoulder, trailing dramatically on the floor.

“I loved the idea of lily flowers, embroidery, a fabric that would reflect, and a big old scarf and a long wide cape,” A’zion told W . “We had a lot of 1925-1940 cabaret wardrobes and film costumes, especially embroidered body pieces, on our moodboard. What they made back then was so elaborate and detailed. We loved and pulled from that quite a bit.”

A’zion typically does her own hair and makeup, and this night was no different, with a few extensions added to her signature bouncy black curls. She completed the look with well-placed sparkly freckle-jewels on her face and Pandora jewelry, including flower- and heart-detail rings. Of the night’s theme, she added with characteristic flair: “Fashion is always art, baby, no matter what it is!”

Though it was A'zion's initiation into fashion's biggest night—one co-chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, and which raised a record-breaking $42 million for the Museum's Costume Institute—the 25-year-old is no stranger to a high-stakes red carpet. After her breakout last year as Timothée Chalamet’s love interest in Josh Safdie’s nine-time Oscar-nominated Marty Supreme, followed by her instantly cult-favorite role as Rachel Sennott’s influencer best friend on HBO’s I Love LA, A’zion has established herself as one of Hollywood’s most compelling new faces. The Met Gala was just a chance to show off her sartorial range—and to connect with some of her favorite fellow artists.

She was one of eleven attendees dressed by Valentino for the evening, a star-studded group that included Joe Alwyn, Colman Domingo, Sombr, and Tyla—who happens to have worn one of A’zion’s favorite Met Gala looks of all time. Also on A’zion’s personal Met Gala Mount Rushmore: “Rihanna! Madonna! Zendaya! Kim Kardashian! Cher!”

In the end, the best part of A'zion's look was the creative work that went into it. “[It was] really incredible to be able to collaborate on such a piece of art,” she added. “It meant so much to me. I felt so taken care of by Alessandro and the whole team. It was handled with such care and artistry. What a cool experience.”

The Met Gala is a particularly heart-thumping occasion, especially for first-time attendees. The best advice she got from those who’ve done it before, “‘Breathe on the carpet. It’s scary, but it’s fast.’ I think I forgot to,” she says. In past interviews A’zion has joked that she basically blacks out ahead of facing the photographer onslaught, a feeling she reiterated to W. “I don't think I have a free second to calm my nerves until I'm on the other side of the carpet, and it's over,” she said of her getting ready process. “Sometimes I'll turn off music for a little bit beforehand, so my brain doesn't explode."

A’zion was most excited for what happened at the top of the steps. “Honestly, I was most looking forward to seeing what designers had created this year,” she said. “And, seeing what happened on the other side of it all, because I had zero clue what went down in there.”

When she’s in the right headspace, though, her pre-carpet ritual involves putting on the soothing music of her favorite artists. “When I’m listening again, it’s Bob Marley, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, just good music. Whatever feels good.” It’s a fitting move for A’zion, who, in addition to preparing for acting projects like Oscar-winning director Justine Triet’s first English-language feature, Fonda, is also finally embracing her lifelong love of singing. Just a few days before the Met Gala, A’zion officially released her first two songs under her name, “Liquor Store Roses” and “Maybe I’m Not What You Need.” The spare, confessional ballads show off A’zion’s smoky, unguarded vocals.

As for what's next musically? "I guess we'll just have to wait and see!"

Once a year, for about half of the year, the generational baddie of the solar system, Pluto, stations retrograde. Before you start sounding the alarm, let me reiterate that Pluto stations retrograde for approximately half the year. And thankfully, this is nothing new to us. We’ve been experiencing the culture shifts provided by Pluto, the society-ruling sign, since 2023. From May 6 to October 16 of this year, Pluto will retrograde through the revolutionary, innovative, and forward-thinking sign of Aquarius. This retrograde gives us the chance to review how we’ve been changing socially, what tools are moving our lives forward, and our aspirations.

Aquarius is deeply connected to society and social lives. This is the trendsetter sign, after all: finger always on the pulse, keeping the rest of us from getting lost in the Stone Age. Over the past few years, you’ve probably noticed the way you connect with others is shifting—or, at the very least, your respect for these social interactions has changed. Pluto in Aquarius marks a social upheaval. In a digital age, where over half of the global population is on social media, we are more connected than ever. However, there is a trend bubbling up involving “dumb phones,” analog items, and the return of IRL house parties. While they’re all valuable ways to stay connected, Pluto’s retrograde in Aquarius encourages us to think about which social experiences lead to the most genuine human connections. Over the next few months, it’ll become apparent not just how you can build these connections, but also which connections hold the most value for you. Who are your people, and how will you continue to grow with them?

In addition to support from people, you’ve also got a few months to think about the gizmos and gadgets that will aid in your goal-chasing journey. Aquarius is the inventor of the stars, constantly thinking about what makes our world function and how to make life easier through innovation. That said, not all inventions stand the test of time. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try out new tools, or ways of problem-solving. We just need to be a bit more conscientious about it for the next few months. While Pluto is retrograde, there might be some technical difficulties in your life. These are moments you’re being called to ask “Is this the most efficient way to get what I need to get done? And on top of that, is this process actually progressing me forward, or is it just cutting corners?” Pluto in Aquarius seeks innovation, but also wants you to know when to cut through the slop that is cosplaying as progress.

Pluto in Aquarius is an aspirational time, and the next few months will help us remember where we are going. With the changes to culture and contraptions happening, it’s important to reflect on the life you want. Aquarius archetypically holds onto utopian ideals, with a humanitarian flair that understands progress requires a village. What does that dream life look like for you? Who and what will help you build it into a reality?

While it’s normal to expect the unexpected with any Aquarius transit (i.e. expect the end goal to change over time), it’s essential to have some kind of end goal in mind. Aquarius is dually ruled by Saturn and Uranus, which means this sign knows better than any other how to build upon what already exists. For you, that looks like the universe constantly taking what you want to do and naturally shaping it into something better. So do what Pluto requires of you and start making deep, fundamental changes to the things that aren’t working and are no longer aligned with your vision. Trust that whoever or whatever is pulling the strings will keep you on the right path.

For extra astro guidance, read for your rising sign below! These are sign-specific reflections to help you navigate the next few months of Pluto retrograde.

Aries

Expect a shake-up in your social life soon. Start exploring new ways to connect with the world around you—this is a good time to join a community or team-based club/organization. The airy energy of Pluto in Aquarius will only fan your flames higher and higher, so look forward to the inspiration that comes from others. Be cautious of falling into old social habits or patterns. Let these six months be a period of social rebirth.

Taurus

Pluto retrograde gives you the chance to revisit your legacy. You are a stability-loving sign, but you could be feeling an itch for something new. What aligns with who you are? Who can you work with to carve out a professional path that is perfect for you? There’s no more time to clock in and out without feeling a gust of inspiration. Take these few months to revisit your long-term plan of action.

Gemini

Pluto retrograde will push you to continue being curious. You might find yourself revisiting some old ideas of the world, or filling in the gaps of how you understand this place we call home. Close the loops over these next few months. Use this period of time to go as deep as the iceberg will allow you. No longer are you a jack of all trades, but rather you are becoming a master of all.

Cancer

Pluto retrograde will help you dive deep and shed your skin, metaphorically speaking. You will be experience a greater understanding of yourself and your most intimate relationships by the end of these six months. The manner in which you share who you are continues to evolve, so if there are any boundaries you feel like have been crossed recently, go ahead and re-establish them now. Embrace the intensity, expect the unexpected, and know that this is the time for you to take back control.

Leo

Pluto retrograde will be a moment to assess your relationships: professional, plutonic, passionate—all of ‘em. You might feel particularly like there are some power struggles going on, or a feeling that one party is trying to push the other to bend to their will. Compromise is key, but that doesn’t mean you should compromise on your values. How and with whom you choose to connect will change over the years, so let these next few months be a lesson in who should stand the test of time.

Virgo

It’s time to get serious about your work. These next six months, you might feel like life seems a bit more mundane, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes moving on autopilot is necessary to focus on inner work, or to chip away at a goal. That said, if you’ve been slacking at all you could experience a bit of tension. Reflect on how you want your life to operate and start making the changes slowly, over time, so that life can start being a reality.

Libra

Oh, how special this retrograde will be for you! During the next few months, you might notice an urge to explore former passion projects, reignite old flames, and find ways to reconnect with your inner child. Pluto in Aquarius is a spark of inspiration that shifts how you express yourself, and shine in the world. People-pleasing should go out the door, because right now is your chance to prioritize your happiness. Trust the fact that, if you make changes from within yourself, you will inspire others to do the same.

Scorpio

Pluto retrograde could be a bit tough, so get ready to do some of the hard work these next few months. You might have to revisit some tense conversations, or wash the salt out of any re-opened wounds. The lesson here is to focus on how you emotionally regulate yourself. What needs to change so you can feel more at ease, day in and day out? If there is something to get off your chest, or a hatchet that needs to be buried, take action.

Sagittarius

The next six months will be a bit of a mental whirlwind with Pluto retrograde. You might have moments of déjà vu in conversation, or you could feel as though you can’t get an idea out of your head. Revisiting how you consume information, and what you choose to share is important right now. Rather than getting caught up in an inner monologue, make sure you are sharing what is on your mind and perhaps someone else’s perspective could help you piece together the answer to the deep questions you’ve been asking.

Capricorn

Pluto retrograde is a great time for you to realign financially. You might have noticed that money is feeling a bit tighter than you’d like. There is only so much you can do about the global economy, but there are steps you can take. Revisit your budget and where you are spending your hard-earned cash. Doing this in conjunction with some reflection on your values will help you pinpoint what to prioritize. There’s no need to change what works, just find ways to be more conscientious about how you use your resources.

Aquarius

Pluto retrograde in your sign is both a celebration and a mourning period. On one hand, you will probably feel like you are disconnected from the person looking back at you in the mirror. You might question yourself, wondering who you will be at the end of this long transit. However, it is also a celebration of your growth and how much you’ve been able to overcome. Don’t stress about having it all figured out, or trying to force yourself into a box. You will continue to evolve, so be grateful for the person who got you here, and welcome in the person who will get you through the next phase of life.

Pisces

The next few months will be filled with healing and spiritual insights. Pluto retrograde will aid you in understanding more deeply your beliefs and your dreams. Additionally, you’ll find that these next six months will be filled with natural endings, both internal and external. Remember: when one door closes, another one will open. Be patient, and let yourself surrender to the changing of the seasons.

Kate Middleton is no stranger to recycling styles from her wardrobe for public appearances, which she did again this morning in London. Making an appearance at the University of East London to launch the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood’s new “Foundations for Life: A Guide to Social and Emotional Development” initiative, Middleton was sharply dressed in a light tan suit by Roland Mouret. If you’d seen it before, its because she fist debuted it back in 2023.

Middleton’s suit encompassed a tailored blazer and high-waisted trousers, which she layered over a silky white collared blouse. She opted to keep her accessories minimal, only pairing the set with small pearly drop earrings and smooth brown leather Ralph Lauren pumps. In fact, the shoes were also a style Middleton’s reworn numerous times.

Her suit, meanwhile, was first spotted in 2023—also worn with a white top and pointed-toe pumps—during a meeting with frontline staff of the Streets of Growth program in London. When making appearances on the behalf of charities, Middleton likes to keep the focous of her own clothing. Yet, even when dressed in sharly tailored neutrals, she still makes a statement.

The royal also accessorized with her go-to gold Daniella Draper necklace, accented with letter pendants representing her children’s names. Like her shoes, Middleton’s jewelry has been part of numerous outfits since she was first seen wearing the piece last year.

The moment also continued Middleton’s suiting streak. Apart from her rotation of tea-length dresses, the royal often favors a coordinated suit in a range of colors from labels including Alexander McQueen, Emilia Wickstead, and Holland Cooper. Naturally, most have been re-worn for various occasions, similarly to her tan Mouret set.

Since wedding Prince William in 2011, Middleton’s become known for re-wearing her clothes across a wide range of occasions, from the red carpet to nonprofit visits. This Easter, she stepped out in a belted Self-Portrait blazer and dress that she first wore in 2022. Earlier in the year, the white Chris Karr coat from her 2023 Christmas service outfit was repurposed to celebrate the Hindu festival of holi with British Indian citizens, as well. This latest look shows that her upcycled fashion ethos is only growing, maintaining both responsible sustainability and polished style.