A Standing Ovation: Selena Gomez Exudes Elegance in Off-the-Shoulder Saint Laurent Gown and Santoni Heels at Emilia Perez Cannes Film Festival Premiere

Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates from Your Next Shoes. This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure for more details.

Few red-carpet moments linger in memory quite like Selena Gomez’s appearance at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.

Her black-and-white Saint Laurent gown wasn’t just beautiful—it was a reminder of how timeless design and precise styling can create cinematic fashion history.

As one of the most anticipated guests at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Selena Gomez did not disappoint. She captivated the scene the instant she walked the red carpet at the premiere of her musical crime-comedy movie, Emilia Pérez.

Selena Gomez stuns on the red carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in a black-and-white Saint Laurent gown paired with towering black Santoni platform sandals at the Emilia Pérez premiereSelena Gomez stuns on the red carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in a black-and-white Saint Laurent gown paired with towering black Santoni platform sandals at the Emilia Pérez premiere in Cannes, France, on May 18, 2024 (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)

Inside Emilia Pérez: The Powerful Story Behind Selena Gomez’s Cannes Film

In Emilia Pérez, the footwear choices speak louder than dialogue. Costume designer Paco Delgado, working in collaboration with Saint Laurent on Jessi’s wardrobe, crafted her emotional arc from the ground up—literally—using shoes to trace transformation, power, and fragility. Each pair on screen marks a subtle mood shift: sparkle for liberation, structure for control, and bare feet for vulnerability.

During the “Farewell to Lover” sequence, the camera lingers on glittering diamond-studded heels that catch the light as Jessi steps from the car. Their reflective sheen evokes a fleeting sense of glamour and freedom before her life spirals into chaos.

In the early cartel-era and dance scenes, the towering stilettos originally planned proved impractical; the team opted for slightly lower, sturdier heels that allowed fluid movement and underscored the tension between allure and entrapment.

Director Jacques Audiard with the cast of Emilia Perez at the 77th Cannes Film Festival premiere of Emilia Perez at Palais des Festivals in Cannes, FranceDirector Jacques Audiard with the cast of Emilia Perez at the 77th Cannes Film Festival premiere of Emilia Perez at Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France (Credit: Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / Cover Images)

Later, in the snowy Switzerland scenes, practicality wins — sleek boots peek from beneath a heavy coat, signaling survival mode. By the time she returns home, Jessi’s transition into quiet resilience is marked by chic heeled mules, polished yet grounded.

Her barefoot moments indoors — deliberately unadorned — strip away pretense, exposing a woman caught between captivity and self-liberation.

Selena Gomez, as Jessi, exudes quiet power in a Saint Laurent fur coat and heeled boots while walking through the snowy landscape beside Zoe Saldaña’s Rita Moro Castro in Emilia PérezSelena Gomez, as Jessi, exudes quiet power in a Saint Laurent fur coat and heeled boots while walking through the snowy landscape beside Zoe Saldaña’s Rita Moro Castro in Emilia Pérez (Credit: Pathé Distribution)

Through these considered choices, Emilia Pérez becomes as much a fashion film as a musical drama. Saint Laurent’s partnership elevates every frame, transforming Jessi’s footwear from mere accessories into storytelling devices that trace her evolution from silenced spouse to empowered survivor.

Best Dressed at Cannes: Selena Gomez Radiates in a Black-and-White Saint Laurent Gown

Selena Gomez easily ranks among the best-dressed stars of the 77th Cannes Film Festival red carpet. Her black-and-white Saint Laurent gown was a study in understated glamour—proof that classic silhouettes never lose their power.

Dominantly black, the design visually elongated her frame, applying a timeless styling principle that draws the eye upward while sculpting a sleeker line through the torso.

With its off-the-shoulder wrap neckline, the gown introduced a refined architectural touch, accentuating her shoulders and collarbone as it draped across the bodice like a soft, structured shawl. Altogether, it was a look that balanced simplicity and precision—modern yet evocative of old-Hollywood grace.

Selena Gomez looks slimmer in her black-and-white Saint Laurent gown featuring a flattering off-the-shoulder neckline and a column skirtSelena Gomez looks slimmer in her black-and-white Saint Laurent gown featuring a flattering off-the-shoulder neckline and a column skirt (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages)

A Height-Boosting Touch: Selena Gomez Steps Into Black Santoni Platform Sandals

Her stunning physique fit the column silhouette flawlessly, hugging every inch of her curve. The dress ends right above her heels, which are black Santoni sandals, an Italian luxury shoe and leather accessories label.

They have the brand’s recognizable double-buckled strap that secures the shoe to the ankles and a thin strap that runs over the toes. With their thick platforms and incredibly high stiletto heels, they instantly boosted Selena’s 5 feet 4 ¾ inches (164.5 cm) height by several inches.

Selena Gomez pairs her regal black-and-white Saint Laurent gown with black open-toe platform sandals by SantoniSelena Gomez pairs her regal black-and-white Saint Laurent gown with black open-toe platform sandals by Santoni (Credit: IPA / INSTARimages)

Luxury Craftsmanship on the Red Carpet

From red-carpet premieres to high-profile award shows, Italian luxury brand Santoni remains a go-to for A-list stars seeking timeless elegance and flawless craftsmanship. Below, explore some of the most memorable celebrity moments featuring Santoni’s signature platforms, sandals, and slingbacks.

👠 Explore Santoni Celebrity Shoe Moments:

Cannes Glamour: Selena Gomez Shines in Exquisite Bulgari Diamonds

Benny Blanco’s girlfriend looks nothing short of glamorous in the Saint Laurent gown her stylist, Erin Walsh, selected. Walsh’s high-profile clientele includes Anne Hathaway, Sofia Carson, and Adriana Lima.

Walsh styled the look with Bulgari jewelry, which complemented Selena’s monochrome gown and enhanced her royal presence.

The Bulgari Swan necklace is a nice complement, combining transparent mother-of-pearl with brilliant-cut diamonds. It reportedly took 2,000 hours of meticulous craftsmanship to create the necklace, fashioned like a swan’s wings, with a 20.08-carat drop diamond at its center.

Two Serpenti Viper rings adorned her red-manicured hands while a pair of long Le Magnifiche High Jewelry earrings dangled from her ears.

Selena Gomez adds glitz to her monochromatic Cannes gown with sparkling diamond jewelry by Bulgari, which includes the opulent Swan necklaceSelena Gomez adds glitz to her monochromatic Cannes gown with sparkling diamond jewelry by Bulgari, which includes the opulent Swan necklace (Credit: Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / Cover Images)

Effortless Elegance: Selena Gomez’s Soft Ponytail and Rare Beauty Makeup Look

To avoid overpowering the ensemble, Selena Gomez’s glam squad — hairstylist Renato Campora and makeup artist Hung Vanngo — gave her a natural beauty look.

She had her brown hair tied into a high ponytail, her face framed by soft, wavy curtain bangs.

Hung Vanngo prepped Selena’s skin with Cetaphil products. He started by moisturizing her skin with the Gentle Skin Cleanser, then applied the Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 35 all over her face after lightly pressing the Healthy Renew Eye Gel Serum along her orbital bone.

Selena Gomez wears her brunette hair in a ponytail with wavy curtain bangs and glams up with neutral makeup using Rare Beauty cosmeticsSelena Gomez wears her brunette hair in a ponytail with wavy curtain bangs and glams up with neutral makeup using Rare Beauty cosmetics (Credit: Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / Cover Images)

Naturally, Vanngo used Selena’s Rare Beauty products to accentuate her features. He highlighted her almond-shaped eyes with the Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Eyeliner, Volumizing Mascara, and the All Of The Above Weightless Shadow Stick in Rose Taupe.

He next brightened her face with the Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter in Shade Mesmerize and the Soft Pinch Luminous Powder Blush in Shade Joy before finishing the look with Kind Words Matte Lip Liner and Lipstick in Shade Talented.

👠 Explore Selena Gomez’s Best Shoe & Fashion Moments: