Fan Bingbing leads trend for Chinese fashion
As a global fashion icon, Fan’s choice shone a spotlight on the rich contemporary fashion scene in China.
CANNES: For the finale of the Cannes Film Festival, diva Fan Bingbing drew gasps by appearing in a cape-back gown with floral, lattice and swallow embroidery by Chinese stylist turned designer Christopher Bu.
It was a fitting choice for the top actress widely regarded as the caped crusader for fashion sense in China.
As a global fashion icon, Fan’s choice shone a spotlight on the rich contemporary fashion scene in China, where Bu is a celebrity stylist turned designer, not unlike Brandon Maxwell in the US.
Prior to launching his namesake label in 2011, Bu had already made a name for himself as a stylist to the stars, most notably for Fan, who helped bring him into the international spotlight at the opening-night ceremony of the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, wearing his dramatic red gown embroidered with white cranes.
Notably, she also wore one of his designs to the 2015 Met Gala for the exhibition China: Through the Looking Glass. Bu has been working with the Lost In Beijing actress since 2006 and has also styled Chinese actresses Zhang Ziyi and Zhao Wei, as well as French actress Sophie Marceau.
Bingbing paired the dramatic gown with a metallic belt and some serious jewellery, including diamond shoulder- duster earrings, a ring and a cuff.
Meanwhile, Paris- and Hong Hong-based All Rights Entertainment is handling international sales on The Lady in the Portrait, the historical romantic drama that Cannes added to the festival programme as a tribute to Fan.
Fan plays the 18th century Chinese empress Ulanara at the moment she meets Jesuit Jean Denis Attiret ( played by Melvil Poupaud) one of the official painters to the imperial court. The film plays on the romantic tensions between the two, the rigid court etiquette and the most extreme cultural differences between East and West.
Portrait was directed by Charles de Meaux ( Stretch) and written by de Meaux and Michel Fessler ( March of the Penguins).
All Rights has enjoyed initial Cannes success with sales of Hostiles, an action film now in post-production that is directed by France’s Xavier Gens.
Rights were acquired for Germany, Austria and Switzerland by Splendid Films; by Twelve Entertainment for Italy; Umedia for Benelux; and for Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia with Star Films. The remaining Latin American territories were acquired by A2 Distribution.