The Marchioness of Bath’s Cannes diary: Hollywood stars, couture runways and the curse of ‘Cannes feet’

Whether or not she is strolling the runway, the crimson carpet, or descending the sweeping staircase of her magnificent Longleat residence, the Marchioness of Bathtub, Emma Thynn, all the time makes a showstopping entrance. 

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And after jetting off to the 77th Cannes Movie Competition for her first project as HELLO!’s new Social Editor at Giant, she dazzled at each glamorous occasion on the town as she mingled with the glitterati on the French Riviera. Right here Emma, 38, whose is married to Ceawlin, the eighth Marquess of Bathtub, and has two sons – nine-year-old John, Viscount Weymouth, and seven-year-old Lord Henry – shares her unforgettable experiences…

© Samir Hussein

As I depend right down to Cannes yearly, my coronary heart is all the time aflutter with a mix of pleasure and jitters – however the important thing factor, I’ve realized, is that it’s all within the planning. 

When you’re in, there’s no turning again. Burning the candle at each ends is obligatory and the environment is frenetic from the second you land. 

The Côte d’Azur is at capability, objects go lacking, issues go flawed, you may want to attend an hour to get right into a carry (prime tip: attempt to get a room on the primary ground) and also you’ll spend extra time in site visitors than at a single occasion, however you’ll in all probability have the time of your life.

And this yr, the Cannes Movie Competition is as sensational as ever. From the second I arrive, the mix of the shimmering Mediterranean Sea, diamonds and ball clothes is intoxicating.

Within the weeks main as much as the occasion, I up my exercises and take each lymphatic drainage therapeutic massage I can in between college runs, in anticipation of lightning-speed fittings for a mess of unique soirees and world premieres, rubbing shoulders with A-list stars from all around the world.

 Outfit modifications occur on the hour, each hour, and photoshoots are crammed in between events.

FRANTIC START 

The flurry begins simply after check-in on the opulent Hôtel Martinez, the place I’m rushed into ‘glam’ with my lifelong hair guru Jack Thirlway and my fantastic make-up artist Howard Kong, who’ve a mere 40 minutes to get me from airport to showstopping Hollywood-ready for the premiere of The Apprentice.

Runway mannequin Winnie Harlow and I deal with the crimson carpet concurrently, gliding within the wake of performing legend Cate Blanchett.

From right here, I sprint off to the intimate Maison de Beauté Carita dinner, the place I’m greeted by the charming Julianne Moore on a moonlit terrace, earlier than eating on croque-monsieur canapes adopted by sea bass and child greens.

© Arnold Jerocki

Music from the Michael Kors afterparty is booming throughout the street, so I pop in to see statuesque cultural style icon Ikram Abdi posing on the tip of the pier. Because of my 1000’s of runs across the Serpentine in London, I’m good at recognising folks – not by their faces, however by their canine.

This springs to thoughts having met the identical tiny chihuahua twice in a single week: on Monday in London, at Gucci Cruise’s epic takeover present at Tate Trendy, DJ’d by Mark Ronson, and tonight on the wild and windy Lodge du Cap-Eden-Roc, at Chopard’s As soon as Upon a Time couture runway present and occasion.

This furry little fellow is clutched by the inimitable Demi Moore, who, together with our superb hostess, Chopard’s co-president Caroline Scheufele, proudly breaks the lodge’s strict no-dogs coverage tonight – twice!

Lord Byron, Caroline’s treasured Cavalier King Charles spaniel, closes the runway present with Eva Herzigova, simply as he did final yr. As I go searching on the consideration to element, all I can take into consideration is the heroic workforce who handle to drag all this collectively.  

It actually takes a village to not solely take over one of many French Riviera’s most well-known luxurious hotspots but additionally fill the viewers with stars starting from Bella Hadid, Nicky Hilton and Diane Kruger to Eva Inexperienced and Bella Thorne.

Poppy Delevingne, the singer Peggy Gou and my expensive good friend Petra Nemcova and I take to the windswept dancefloor to sing I Will Survive on the prime of our lungs as disco queen Gloria Gaynor performs, and end the evening with a DJ set by Martin Solveig in full black tie on the decks.

We wrap ourselves in metallic house blankets as the ocean spray whips up previous the pool, over the terrace and into the pink uplit pine timber, which we women can’t resist whatever the Mistral wind.

GONE WITH THE WIND

My white Tony Ward robe is flying in all instructions, and I assist a lady beside me tie her hair right into a small low bun; one other factor I’d suggest is a smooth up-do over an enormous blow-dry.  

The local weather down right here is both scorching and humid or all of the sudden chilly and windy. One other necessity is – if potential – cozy sneakers.

‘Cannes toes’ is one thing my supervisor and expensive good friend Elaine Foran complains about every year; you’ll double your step depend in a day, however watch out for the blisters on prime of yesterday’s blisters. 

Speaking of toes: ever since Cary Grant dangled his over a balcony right here, the Carlton Cannes lodge has retained its standing because the jewel of the Croisette, the place film stars have resided for a lot of a competition.

© Jacopo Raule

And the lodge’s signature fluffy white slippers make you are feeling as should you’re strolling on a cushion of air as you relaxation your drained toes, aching from carrying all these vertiginous heels.

As I write this, overlooking the well-known flags that adorn the entrance of the lodge and gazing out to sea, I really feel fully immersed within the splendour of the South of France.

MINGLING WITH THE STARS

At the side of the Carlton, Self-importance Honest hosts the chicest seashore lunch possible. I sit reverse Ed McVey, who performed Prince William in The Crown and is right here for his first ever Cannes.

We share tales from our journeys up to now – by some means venturing into the fantastic thing about Devon, the place Ed is from, and Nutribullets – earlier than actor Colman Domingo, wanting dapper in white silk, and I run out to the sand to take photos by the waves, whereas chatting about appears to be like for the well-known amfAR Gala the next day. Dinner, hosted at Rüya on the Carlton, is attended by the intense younger issues of Bridgerton, together with the gorgeous actress and mannequin Hannah Dodd.

© Marco Bahler/amFAR

The next night, I slip right into a Dolce & Gabbana mirror robe teamed with a pair of skyscraper heels to attend the amfAR Gala, however on the final minute, I sprint again to get some sling-back kitten heels – in all probability the most effective choice I’ve ever made.

It’s in contrast to me to go for consolation over something, however hours later, when the opposite visitors have given up and placed on slippers, I’m nonetheless standing robust till 5am. After the red-carpet images, I’m pacing down the backyard path of the Eden Roc lodge in the direction of the 71 gin bar after I hear somebody shout: ‘Twin!’ 

I flip round to see my brother from one other mom, the actor and singer Evan Ross – Diana Ross’s son, who’s with a beaming Colman and Kelly Rowland. Colman is the selfie king, snapping away and providing AirDrops on the spot, as we excitedly share our photos.

Kelly and I chat about being ‘boy mothers’, since she has sons aged 9 and three at residence, and we plan a play date at Longleat for the following time they’re within the UK. On the crimson carpet, I introduce them to my former Strictly Come Dancing castmate Alex Scott and her associate Jess Glynne, who’s making ready to open the present with some upbeat tunes. We snicker about how a lot my sequin costume appears to be like like a disco ball, glowing within the sundown.

ALL IN A GOOD CAUSE

Internet hosting amfAR’s thirtieth version this yr is Demi, who pays a lovely tribute to Elizabeth Taylor. A legendary star of stage and display, Elizabeth was additionally identified for her dedication to the combat in opposition to HIV/Aids.

In 1985, she teamed up with Dr Mathilde Krim and a small group of physicians and scientists to type the American Basis for Aids Analysis (amfAR).

© Neilson Barnard

The aim of tonight’s occasion is to boost hundreds of thousands to assist consign Aids to historical past, with an public sale of 18 tons starting from spot work by Damien Hirst to holidays within the Maldives. 

On the bar, I stumble upon Sarah, Duchess of York; she’s nervous about going up on stage however does an amazing job. She helps public sale Chris Levine’s pink portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, prompting cheers when she opens with the phrases: ‘This was my mother-in-law.’

Then she tells everybody who’s speaking to be quiet and focus on the reason for supporting medical analysis. Because the public sale will get underneath approach, supermodel Heidi Klum tells everybody within the room to dig deep. One enthusiastic visitor is inspired to maintain going, and auctioneer Simon de Pury convinces him to bid in opposition to himself – from €400,000 to €500,000 – to purchase your complete Carine Roitfeld runway assortment.

A trio of dainty canapes is served as a starter, with a connoisseur spécialité du chef of boeuf brulee as a fundamental course, which style photographer Mert Alas and I christen a ‘posh cottage pie’.

However the true stars of the present are the tumblers stuffed with crunchy breadsticks, of which I eat about ten to maintain myself going till Cher performs.

ROLLING BACK THE YEARS

She is unimaginable – and my Frow seat is true subsequent to the a part of the stage that protrudes into the viewers, affording me a killer view of her excellent physique and costume and wig modifications, from platinum blonde hair to raven black. I even spot a tattoo on her derriere beneath her fishnet tights and rock star thong, paired with a crystal-embellished leotard and leather-based cropped jacket. 

She says she was round 50 when she recorded Consider, which feels younger to her now, however she needn’t fear about age – at 78, she’s nonetheless going robust and her efficiency is an inspiration.

© Dave Benett

Subsequent cease is the afterparty – a secret home occasion for what seems like 1,000 folks, the place Hale Zero and DJ Ruckus hold the occasion going underneath a full moon. Cher heads straight over there, together with a number of others together with Travis Scott. To be sincere, I’d keep even later if it weren’t for the Chopard safety guard who has accompanied me for the night, to maintain not me however my dazzling diamond earrings secure.

He suggests we make our exit round 4am, and contemplating Elaine and I’ve a Dior magnificence assembly very first thing, it’s in all probability a great name. Safely in mattress again on the Carlton, I collapse into mattress like Truffles the sloth again at Longleat Safari Park. That’s a wrap for me, Cannes – it’s been emotional. See you once more, similar time subsequent yr.