I usually leave the trend spotting to fellow blogger Style Spy, but even I haven't missed the fact that Cannes juror Natalie Portman has worn Lanvin frocks for three of her trips down the red carpet.
Last night was the annual amfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala, perhaps my favorite party of the year to cover--and that's saying something. This year, Sharon Stone got famous friend Madonna to co-host the event, which featured an unbelievable performance by Mary J. Blige and some out of this world auction items. I was going to bid on 24 hours with Diddy and his entourage, which would have gotten me a chance to have breakfast with the rap star before heading out to shop, dine, party and record a song with him. Sadly, I don't think that the In Style finance department would have advanced me half a million dollars on my salary, so I sat on my hands as he whipped the crowd into a bidding frenzy. Another item I would have purchased had my father been an oil heir was a one-of-a-kind Chanel bag designed specifically for the event by Karl Lagerfeld. To up the ante, Madge even emptied her own purse and put items like lip gloss--"That has touched my lips," she said--inside the coveted bag, which sold for more than $473,000 dollars.
Madonna and Sharon Stone get gala guests to open their wallets really wide. Photo: Nick Sadler/startraks
Even though I now have about an hour to get ready for the amfAR gala, there was no way I was going to miss hearing Madonna speak about her documentary, I Am Because We Are, at a press conference this afternoon. It was heartwarming to hear her talk about how the experience of making the film changed her so profoundly. As a former Peace Corps volunteer who spent two years in Africa, I now have even more appreciation for the music icon.
Madonna speaks about her documentary I Am Because We Are at a press conference in Cannes.
Truth be told, it wasn't THE main red carpet at the Palais des Festivals, but I got to walk a scaled back version when I hit the Cannes debut of Madonna's documentary, I Am Because We Are last night. 
Bronwyn and People's Courtney Rubin hit the red carpet for a screening of Madonna's documentary.
The stars aligned on The Croisette yesterday when Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow both made appearances at the Palais des Festivals. Ms. Jolie and Brad Pitt have been the talk of the festival--her Kung Fu Panda co-star, Jack Black, broke the news that she is expecting twins last week--and have been spotted doing everything from shopping for their impending arrivals at baby boutique Bonpoint to dining with Mick Jagger at chic eatery Tetou.
Angelina and Brad step out for an evening in Cannes. Photo: Limelightpics.us
This may be a Partyhopper first. I just hit Chopard's annual trophy presentation, where I rubbed elbows with the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek and Adrien Brody. They'll be sweeping up the glitter from the black carpet at the Hotel Carlton for weeks to come. Inside, Andy Garcia worked up a sweat as he and his band played high-energy Latin music, which had Billy Zane smiling from ear to ear. But it's now nearing 11:30 here in Cannes and my night is far from over.
Bronwyn poses in a Lela Rose sheath outside of the Chopard Trophy Presentation in Cannes.
The forecast called for rain, but even the weather cooperates with legendary director Steven Spielberg, who is making his first appearance at Cannes since the premiere of E.T. nearly 30 years ago. The gala red carpet premiere of Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull happens tonight, but Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBoeuf and Indy himself, Harrison Ford, have already been making the rounds to talk to press and pose for photo ops. From my secret perch in the media room, I staked out a spot to get a first look at Cate's daytime ensemble, and even though the weather was sunny, she chose to pair her vibrant frock with a matching purple parasol. Tres chic.
Cate Blanchett makes her way to promote her latest movie Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull at the Palais des Festivals.
This Partyhopper has certainly earned her stripes over the last 24 hours. My epic journey to Cannes started with a three-hour wait in Manhattan traffic, a missed flight and a mad dash to an airport clear across the city to catch a different plane. Having finally arrived in Nice this afternoon, I soon learned that my bags--containing a carefully selected wardrobe for the next 10 days--hadn't made the whole trip. Still, nothing could stop me from hitting my first bash of the festival, a party at Nikki Beach to promote Petra Nemcova's upcoming documentary, Love Evolution.
Bronwyn spends her first night in Cannes catching up with Petra Nemcova during a party at Nikki Beach.
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