The red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival has always been a space where fashion transcends clothing and becomes cultural conversation. Every appearance is carefully studied, every silhouette dissected, and every styling choice instantly discussed across global media and fashion platforms. This year, Alia Bhatt once again found herself at the centre of that conversation with a series of Cannes looks that sparked both admiration and debate.
Known for her evolving style sensibility and growing global fashion presence, Alia experimented with multiple aesthetics during her Cannes appearances this year — from soft romantic glamour to modern couture-inspired silhouettes. While social media largely celebrated the actor’s elegance and confidence, celebrity image consultant Tina Walia believes the fashion story was more layered than it appeared online.
According to Tina, some of Alia’s looks beautifully complemented her personality and frame, while others failed to create the impact expected from one of India’s biggest stars on an international red carpet.
“For someone like Alia, expectations are naturally very high,” Tina says. “She has the face, personality, and presence to carry both Indian couture and international fashion beautifully. That’s why when a look works, it truly shines — but when it doesn’t, the imbalance becomes equally noticeable.”
Image Consultant – Tina Walia
Among all her appearances, Tina believes Alia’s peach ensemble stood out as her strongest fashion moment at Cannes this year. The look, which featured soft tones paired with elegant beauty styling, instantly became a favourite among fashion enthusiasts — and Tina understands exactly why.
“The peach look was absolutely stunning on her,” she says. “The colour palette enhanced her natural softness, the makeup was fresh and luminous, and the hair styling added sophistication without looking overdone. Everything felt balanced and visually harmonious.”
For Tina, the success of the look came from the fact that it didn’t try too hard to impress.
“Fashion becomes powerful when it feels effortless,” she explains. “This look allowed Alia’s personality to come through naturally instead of the outfit overpowering her. It was feminine, graceful, polished, and most importantly, extremely flattering for her body type.”
She further adds that international red carpets often reward authenticity more than excessive experimentation.
“In global fashion spaces, audiences connect with looks that feel authentic to the person wearing them,” Tina says. “The peach ensemble worked because it felt aligned with Alia’s energy — elegant, youthful, and refined.”
Another appearance that drew significant attention was Alia’s oyster-toned pre-draped sari with a structured corset-inspired silhouette. The look attempted to merge Indian draping with contemporary couture aesthetics — a direction that many applauded for its ambition. Tina appreciated the craftsmanship behind the ensemble but felt the overall styling lacked memorability.
“The oyster sari was elegant and beautifully constructed, but emotionally it felt slightly underwhelming,” Tina explains. “At Cannes, fashion needs to create a visual moment. This outfit was sophisticated, but it didn’t have that one defining element that makes people stop and remember the look instantly.”
According to Tina, Cannes is not simply about wearing luxury fashion — it is about creating impact.
“There has to be something unforgettable,” she says. “It could be a dramatic silhouette, exceptional styling, statement jewellery, or even a bold beauty decision. Without that standout factor, even technically beautiful looks can disappear in the larger fashion conversation.”
However, Tina was considerably more critical of Alia’s lavender ensemble, which had already divided opinions across social media. While she appreciated the delicacy of the colour itself, she believed the silhouette and styling choices did little to flatter the actor.
“The lavender shade was beautiful, soft, and romantic, but the outfit itself did not work for her,” Tina says candidly. “The ballerina-inspired structure overwhelmed her frame instead of enhancing it. It lacked proportion and balance.”
She also felt the styling weakened the look further rather than elevating it.
“The hair lacked character, and the accessories failed to add depth or personality,” she explains. “Everything felt disconnected. When the garment, styling, hair, and accessories are not working together cohesively, the overall sophistication of the look gets lost.”
For Tina, successful red-carpet fashion is always about visual storytelling.
“A great fashion moment is never just about wearing an expensive designer outfit,” she says. “It’s about creating harmony between every element — the silhouette, the beauty direction, the styling, and the personality of the wearer. That’s what creates impact.”
Despite her mixed review of some appearances, Tina maintains that Alia Bhatt remains one of India’s strongest contemporary style icons. Her willingness to experiment with fashion while representing Indian glamour on global platforms continues to keep her at the forefront of celebrity style conversations.
“Alia is still one of the most exciting young fashion faces we have today,” Tina concludes. “And that’s exactly why people expect brilliance from her every single time. For me, the peach look captured her at her absolute best — elegant, effortless, modern, and beautifully authentic.”
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