To kick off the Cannes Film Festival, Vogue100 partnered with Giambattista Valli to host a dreamy dinner. Steps from the Promenade de la Croisette, the Carlton Beach Club was transformed for the occasion. A long table, draped in butter-toned linen, stretched across the glass enclosure. Blossoms, in vibrant shades of red and purple, filled the room with the romanticism that Valli has personified throughout his career. Through the translucent walls, the setting sun glittered over the Mediterranean Sea.

At 7 p.m., guests began to arrive, and a flurry of pink gowns soon swept the pale dock. Three years ago, Vogue100 celebrated Giambattista Valli’s tenth anniversary of Haute Couture with a lavish party at the Hôtel d’Évreux. Then, esteemed guests like editor Hamish Bowles, pop star Robbie Williams, and socialite Ivy Getty toasted the occasion. The philanthropists, creatives, and executives who make up the rarified Vogue membership have proved loyal supporters of the brand. The beachside soirée proved an intimate reunion, though no less elegant.

The designer himself greeted his guests with characteristic warmth and charm. Dressed in a white jacket and an ever-present smile, Valli held court with muses, clients, and associates. Giambattista Valli—both the man and the brand—seemed right at home at the Cannes Film Festival.

Born in Rome, Valli studied at the Istituto Europeo di Design and Central Saint Martins. After time at Fendi and Ungaro, he launched his eponymous label in Paris in 2005. In 2011, he gained the honor of joining the Fédération de la Haute Couture—one of the few non-French designers to do so. Unsurprisingly, stars like Kendall Jenner, Selena Gomez, and Diane Kruger have donned his dreamy dresses at the festival over the years.

After his latest show, Valli told Vogue backstage that he strived to make dresses that feel “like a caress” and “offer a sense of comfort, a moment of elegance, and calm.” The breezy beauty of the dinner—beautifully adorned women laughing, drinking,  and savoring the moment—captured that sentiment. As always with Valli, relaxation fused with elegance.

A feast of local flavors—truffle risotto, sea bass, and pomme Charlotte—delighted guests. Wine, including bottles of Studio Miraval and Domaine de Cristia, poured freely throughout the raucous party. The dinner concluded with a countryside lemon tart served with melty meringue and tangy cream. Even after dessert, the party continued, with guests heading off to the Carlton to continue the revelry.