It's Frock o' Clock in Cannes: Mallika, Nicole, Blake

Mallika Sherawat opened the Indian innings on the red carpet of this year's Cannes film festival wearing this beautiful blue Pucci gown. This full-sleeved, high-necked dress is uncharacteristically modest for the actress but, other than erring on the side of prim, it's hard to find fault with her look.

Actress Nicole Kidman, star of the opening film Grace of Monaco, was stunning in strapless and glittering blue Armani. She later shared a dance with French actor Lambert Wilson at the opening ceremony.

Actress Blake Lively was statuesque in wine Gucci Premiere, flashing a lot of leg and some thigh

American actress Jane Fonda looked stunning in this red Elie Saab embroidered gown.

French actress Audrey Tautou cut a gamine figure in an embellished Prada dress and pixie cut.

French actress Laetitia Casta was lovely in pale cascading Christian Dior.

Actress Zoe Saldana was simple and stunning in white Victoria Beckham.

Chinese actress Ziyi Zhang wore a marvellous black and white Stephane Rolland dress with a geometric cutout bodice and trailing skirt.

French actress Adele Exarchopoulos, who starred in last year's Cannes winner Blue Is The Warmest Colour, wore Louis Vuitton.

Chinese actress Gong Li wore black Roberto Cavalli, sheer in part.

Victoria's Secret model Karlie Kloss wore a Valentino dress only a supermodel could have carried off.

Nobody knew quite what Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian's little sister, was doing at Cannes but she certainly looked lovely and very un-Kardashian-like in black and white Chanel.

Nineties supermodel Nadja Auermann looked like time had stood still in strapless Dolce & Gabbana.

French actress Chiara Mastroianni, daughter of legendary actors Marcello Mastroianni and Catherine Deneuve, wore shimmering dark grey.

Marcello Matroianni, in a still from the Fellini film 8 ½, stares out from this year's official Cannes poster.