Nicky Hilton and Rebecca Vallance's ‘Cinderella Moment’ at Cannes

Nicky Hilton Rothschild knows what she likes. In a world obsessed with eras and rebrands, she’s stayed remarkably consistent throughout her years in the spotlight. (A genetic superpower? It might be!) At the Cannes Film Festival this year, she and designer Rebecca Vallance paid tribute to a few of her all-time style signatures: shades of pale blue, sparkles, bows, and classic femininity. (Just look back at Hilton Rothschild's 2010 Cannes looks and you'll see how clear the throughlines are—though the glow-up is equally apparent.) She and Vallance—who are close friends and travel mates—had two marquee events on their packed schedule this time around: a Chopard dinner and red carpet gala, both glittering events calling for appropriately lavish attire. Naturally, they went with custom Rebecca Vallance designs: on night one, Hilton wore a custom sequined off-the-shoulder gown featuring handmade bows adorned with 2,000 crystals. Vallance, the fire to her ice, opted for a cherry red gown featuring 30 meters of Spanish taffeta, an epic train, and a high slit. And that was only the prelude to the red carpet. Below, Hilton Rothschild and Vallance invite us into their preparations for the big event.