How Diane Kruger Used Only 3 Pairs of Black Shoes to Rule the Cannes Red Carpet

At the 70th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, in May 2017, Diane Kruger built a remarkably cohesive footwear wardrobe while promoting In the Fade.

Across photo calls, premieres, and the festival’s closing ceremony, she repeatedly returned to sleek black shoes that complemented a series of equally monochromatic designer looks.

What makes these appearances worth revisiting is how each pair served a different purpose. Studded Robert Clergerie x Self-Portrait sandals added structure and edge to a delicate Boss dress; minimalist ankle-strap heels disappeared beneath an embellished Jason Wu gown; and a custom Jonathan Simkhai look accompanied one of the most important moments of Kruger’s career, when she received the festival’s Best Actress award.

1. Photo-Call Edge: Robert Clergerie x Self-Portrait “Leyla” Sandals With Boss

Kruger chose one of the festival’s most interesting shoe-and-dress combinations for the In the Fade photo call. Her calf-length Boss Fall 2017 dress balanced soft lace and delicate straps with the tougher hardware of Robert Clergerie x Self-Portrait’s “Leyla” sandals.

Diane Kruger at the “In the Fade” photo call during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival held in Cannes, France, on May 26, 2017 (Credit: WENN / Dave Bedrosian / Future Image)

The contrast worked particularly well from a footwear perspective. The sandals’ silver grommets, wraparound ties, and sculptural block heels introduced visual weight beneath the airy skirt, preventing the look from feeling overly delicate while maintaining the clean black palette seen throughout Kruger’s Cannes appearances.

Diane Kruger balanced the softness of her pleated Boss dress with hardware-heavy Robert Clergerie x Self-Portrait “Leyla” sandals, creating one of Cannes 2017’s most striking high-low contrasts

With a sleek bob, minimal makeup, and a chunky silver chain necklace, Diane Kruger let the clean lines of her monochromatic Cannes look speak for themselves

Part of the Robert Clergerie x Self-Portrait collaboration, the “Leyla” sandals combined black suede with polished silver hardware.

Multiple grommeted straps, wraparound ankle ties, and sculptural metallic block heels gave the design an architectural feel that reflected the fashion direction of both brands during the period.

Silver grommets, oversized buckles, wraparound ties, and mirrored block heels transformed the Robert Clergerie x Self-Portrait “Leyla” sandals into the focal point of the outfit

The combination of a substantial heel and slim toe straps helped the sandals stand out without overwhelming the rest of the outfit, making them a natural choice for a photo call where every detail would be closely photographed.

2. Premiere Minimalism: Black Ankle-Strap Sandals Let Jason Wu’s Gown Shine

For the evening premiere, Kruger shifted from statement sandals to a more restrained pair of shoes.

Diane Kruger at the “In the Fade” premiere during the 70th Cannes Film Festival held in Cannes, France, on May 26, 2017

Her black ankle-strap heels disappeared beneath a heavily embellished Jason Wu Fall 2017 gown, allowing the embroidery and Swarovski crystal detailing to remain the focal point.

The dramatic open back, crystal-studded mesh, and sweeping train revealed the full craftsmanship of Diane Kruger’s embellished Jason Wu gown as she moved along the Cannes red carpet

It was a practical styling decision often seen on Cannes red carpets. Rather than competing with the dress, the simple sandals created a clean foundation and preserved the long, uninterrupted line of the floor-length silhouette.

Minimal black ankle-strap sandals provided a discreet foundation beneath the heavily embroidered gown, allowing the intricate beadwork and sheer layers to remain the focus

3. Best Actress in Black: Diane Kruger’s Jonathan Simkhai Closing-Ceremony Look

Kruger’s Cannes appearances culminated at the festival’s closing ceremony, where she received the Best Actress award for her performance in In the Fade.

The honor made the final look of her Cannes wardrobe feel especially significant, marking the conclusion of a successful promotional run and one of the defining moments of her career.

Diane Kruger won Best Actress during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony held at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, on May 28, 2017.

For the occasion, Kruger wore a custom Jonathan Simkhai gown featuring an off-the-shoulder neckline, softly structured sleeves, and a flowing floor-length silhouette. The understated black design allowed the craftsmanship of the dress and her Chopard jewelry to take center stage while maintaining the monochromatic theme that connected all three Cannes appearances.

Accompanied by director Fatih Akin, Diane navigated the iconic steps of the Palais des Festivals in her floor-length gown, which featured an off-the-shoulder design, puffed sleeves with ruched detailing, and a short train detail. She styled it with side-swept waves, minimal makeup, and a metallic silver clutch.

“In the Fade” director Fatih Akin with Diane Kruger at the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony held at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, on May 28, 2017

A stunning assortment of Chopard jewels, which include a gorgeous diamond necklace, provided the finishing touches to her winning look.

Diane Kruger paired softly textured waves with a diamond necklace, letting the sculptural neckline and exposed shoulders of her custom Jonathan Simkhai gown command attention

While her footwear remained hidden beneath the flowing train, the choice of a floor-length silhouette perfectly mirrored the understated elegance of her previous festival heels.

Voluminous gathered sleeves and a clean open-back silhouette gave the custom Jonathan Simkhai design a sense of drama without sacrificing its understated elegance

Diane Kruger at the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony held at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, on May 28, 2017

How Diane Kruger Built One of Cannes 2017’s Most Cohesive Shoe Wardrobes

From the hardware-heavy Robert Clergerie x Self-Portrait sandals at the In the Fade photo call to the understated heels she chose for the premiere and closing ceremony, Diane Kruger demonstrated how thoughtful footwear can shape the mood of an entire festival wardrobe.

Rather than relying on dramatic shoe changes, she worked within a focused palette, using each pair to serve a specific purpose while maintaining a consistent sense of elegance. For a closer look at how her footwear style has evolved beyond Cannes, explore more of her standout designer shoe moments below.