What do Kirsten Dunst, Penelope Cruz, Uma Thurman have in common? No, it’s not the fact they are three beautiful actresses. It’s the fact that when you put them on the red carpet, they do nothing but shine. At Cannes Film Festival, people may remember the winner of the coveted Palme d’Or, but they’ll also remember the dresses that sparkled, the flawless faces and the figure-hugging numbers that played with the imagination. Here are my highlights from this year’s full-filled festival on the French Riviera:

Calvin Klein La Croisette beach party
Joanne Black style: Myla dress, YSL heels and Sergio Rossi clutch
Calvin Klein parties are a magnet for beautiful women – which makes them ideal for a bit of style spotting. There were a number of contenders for the best-dressed crown. Standing out from the star-studded crowd were both actress Vanessa Hudgens, who wore a flashy yellow Calvin Klein dress, and Jessica Chastain, whose on-trend orangey red number with red sandals and a white clutch caught more than a few eyes. Close behind were top model Laura Stone in a gold figure-hugging dress, which she matched with some beach-friendly flats, Clemence Poesy sporting a 60’s-style white mini shift dress and festival judge Uma Thurman in an embellished black dress.

Duran Duran – Belvedere party @ VIP
Joanne Black style: Jitrois leather dress, Alaia belt, YSL shoes and a Chanel bag
Those who go to see Duran Duran in anything other than a rock chic style do so at their peril. This legendary British band is just made to be followed by leather-clad fans in sexy black numbers. With access to the VIP area back stage, I was well-placed to catch all the fashion action. For a second time, Vanessa Hudgens led the way in a stunning black dress and leather jacket – teamed I’d like to add with the same YSL heels I wore! Jamie Foxx also looked cool dressed all in black – perfect for his turn behind the microphone – and jury judge Jude Law was his stylish self in a grey blazer and white T-shirt.

Charles Finch’s 3rd Annual Filmmakers Dinner @ Hotel du Cap Eden Roc
Joanne Black style: YSL jumpsuit and shoes
Find yourself with an invite to one of Charles Finch’s prestigious soirées and you know you’ve arrived. For his guest list is like no other. Setting the style standard, Charles himself was looking as good as ever in a blue shirt and espadrilles from his new brand Chucs. Add Jane Fonda – who wore a dazzling floor-length off-the-shoulder black gown – Mick Jagger and his fantastic designer girlfriend L’Wren Scott (who looked elegant in her own design) and legendary music producer Richard Perry into the mix and it’s not hard to see why the Filmmakers Dinner is still the hottest ticket in town. It was great to see top new couple Emily Browning and Max Irons getting cosy and I also have to mention Tods’ CEO Diego Della, who showed us how the smart/casual look should really be pulled off – wearing a black and white scarf as a tie, with a black shirt (collar standing up), a navy blazer and jeans.

De Grisogono Dinner
& After Party @ Hotel du Cap Eden Roc

Joanne Black style: Roberto Cavalli gown and de Grisogono diamond Earrings
Fawaz Gruosi, founder of de Grisogono, is a man who understands beauty. He also understands that when you mix dinner with diamonds, dancing and daring dresses, your parties become a mecca for sparkling fashionistas. This party was less about the clothes and more about admiring the bodies being shown off by them. Supermodel Bianca Balti, who arrived with Fawaz, has such a stunning waistline, it was nice to see it in a fringed white dress with a cut out waist. Karolina Kurkova also opted for the cut out style, revealing a little flesh with her dark chocolate brown dress. But the beautiful bodies didn’t stop there. With Goldie Hawn (in a beige floor-length silk fish skin effect Alberto Feretti dress), Ex Vogue editor Carine Roitfield in a sexy lace number, Naomi Campbell in full-length gown and Georgina Chapman in a short white piece of her own collection, there were plenty of well-toned and well-heeled wonders to observe. Designer Eva Cavalli also deserves a mention for leaving her dress at home, throwing out tradition and sporting a stylish black tux.

AmfAR Cinema Against AIDS L’Oreal Party @ Hotel du Cap Eden Rock

Joanne Black Style: Lanvin gown
Another party at Eden Roc, another opportunity for Goldie Hawn to show us just what it takes to be a leading lady in the style stakes. Wearing a soft pink Roberto Cavalli one-shoulder gown with diamante round the waist, de Grisogono earrings and a gold Shamballa bracelet, she took centre stage at this stunning event, designed to raise money for AIDS research. Of course, hers wasn’t the only stand-out performance. Also opting for a pale gown with diamante detailing was – the now Princess of Monaco – Charlene Wittstock. Supermodel Karolina Kurkova made an entrance in a short halterneck white Chanel number with gold chains, Gwen Stefani stepped out in a glitzy black halterneck gown with a fish tail and gold belt and L’Oreal model Doutzen Kroes took a turn in an orange mini dress with gold heels, a gold cuff and a blue clutch. And, not to be outdone, the men also gave us something to pour over – actor Sean Penn worked the all-in-black look (complete with skinny tie) and Renzo Rosso sported a trendy tux with a T-shirt and chain.

Where: Royal Albert Hall
Joanne Black style: Mage leather dress, Chanel bag, Chopard diamonds and Balmain heels

Mr Gorbachev is a man who certainly knows how to celebrate. So it is no surprise that his 80^th birthday concert was an evening to remember. When I met him just two years ago, I jokily told him that Irish people and Russians both love to drink – although we prefer whiskey to vodka. It seems I am not alone in my observations – Bono made the same connection, choosing a shot of vodka to toast Mr Gorbachev in his video message.

Hosted by Sharon Stone and Kevin Spacey, the concert was a stylish affair. Ms Stone set the standard with a stunning figure-hugging blush pink Christian Dior gown accessorised with Damiani diamonds. I also spotted Goldie Hawn in the crowd – which featured everyone from Arnold Schwarzenegger to Israeli President Shimon Peres. Hawn looked young and cool in a long black gown with matching scarf. Ukranian-born actress Milla Jovovich deserves a mention for pulling off a funky look with her short lace and silk dress.

From my exclusive box, it wasn’t just the style that caught my attention. I was well-placed to enjoy the real highlight of the evening – which came in the form of Dame Shirley Bassey, who brought the house down by singing her classic James Bond song, Diamonds are Forever.

Paris is a catwalk to which all are invited – but only the best-dressed are accepted. This city of chic is perfect if you want to shop, eat (two of my favourite hobbies) and experience the best in women’s fashion. By staying at the Hotel George V – not to mention dining at venues such as L’Avenue and Le Matignon thanks to the owner my good friend Gilbert Costes – I was well-placed to see it all.

Of course, no trip to Paris would be complete without a glimpse of the latest A/W fashion scene. Although the Galliano scandal cast a rather dark shadow over this year’s proceedings, the collections did not disappoint. Here are my highlights:

Show: Chanel
Joanne Black style: Sharon Wauchob trousers, Alexander Wang top, Proenza Schouler Jacket, Balmain boots, YSL bag, Chanel necklace, sunglasses and gloves

Chanel ready to wear will be seeing a lot of me this season. The collection was every bit as exciting as the sensational show opening – think volcanic rocks from a science fiction film and a Chanel logo that opened up like a drawbridge to reveal some rather stunning models.

Once the stage smoke had cleared, we were treated to a much younger themed collection without the usual pretty pastel shirts and jackets. In came the short bolero jackets, flat boots, kitten heels and even a backless black sparkly all-in-one evening number that would rival most gowns on the red carpet. Model Freja Beha Erichsen rocked the runway in a cool street chic look, with rolled up trousers and flat mountain climbing boots. It certainly wasn’t hard to pick out great pieces – it was just difficult to keep track of everyone with all these flat shoes! I nearly missed designer Karl Lagerfield because things were moving so fast.

Top spots include Vogue editor Emmanuelle Alt who was chatting to Kanye West (she wore Isabel Marant canvas boots, which I’d just bought the previous day). It was also good to see Alexa Chung and Lily Allen flying the Chanel flag.

Show: Celine
Joanne Black style: Celine dress jumper, Jitrois leggings, Prada boots and Chanel sunglasses

Automotive interiors and walnut dashboards provided the inspiration for Phoebe Philo’s A/W collection – and what a collection it is! This woman designs the way I like the dress. Philo knows how to make fitted boyish-themed clothes work and her trousers seem to slide on effortlessly.

The year’s warm autumn colours – browns, burgundy, creams, orange, mustard etc – have turned more than a few heads. Up in the front row I spotted the American Vogue team Grace Coddington, Tonne Goodman and Andre Leon Talley wrapped up in a LV blanket. Top photographers Mario Sorrenti and Patrick Demarchelier also made an appearance, reinforcing the appeal of this Brit star’s work.

With Celine in my life, I think my A/W wardrobe is pretty much sorted. I already have a wish list the length of my arm – including a blue, grey and burgundy sweatshirt, a jade green and black silk layered top and some fantastic black trousers. That’s if I have room after buying up the leather burgundy coat and doctor bag.

Show: Martin Margiela
Joanne Black style: Balmain trousers, Joseph top, Prada boots, YSL bag, Isabel Marant earrings and Chanel sunglasses

A bare industrial building behind the Palais de Tokyo made the perfect setting for Margiela’s latest collection. With a dark vibe and models walking down the runway at a pace that would rival a funeral march, it was hard to miss any of the show’s pieces – which were all based on the study of a dress.

It’s amazing what you can create when you start with a dress. A few well-placed cuts, openings and zips – not to mention a range of materials from heavy wool and felt padded fabrics to ponyskin and cashmere – has enabled this fashion house to add new meaning to an often simple piece of clothing. I have my sights set on a plum and red number and will definitely be adding a few of their accessories – including a large leather clutch – to my ever-expanding wardrobe.

From the red carpet to pre-awards parties, Oscars week is all about style. In the ‘City of Angels’, you’ve got to be well-dressed if you want to impress – and get invites to all the right parties.

There’s nothing like a week of glamorous events to give your wardrobe a workout. Here’s what I packed for my stay at the Beverley Hills Hotel:

Balmain dress: I wore this with Sergio Rossi heels at the Soho House Grey Goose party. It was a real crowd pleaser – and conversation starter with a few celebs – and made a great addition to the suitcase.
Lanvin jumpsuit: This number kept me warm when it started to rain on the way to the Kevin Spacey Foundation event. With my Christian Louboutin heels and YSL accessories, I was all dressed up and ready to talk to the man himself.
Jitrois leather dress: Faced with a room full of leading ladies at the Charles Finch and Chanel party, I knew I had to pull out all the stops. Wolford tights, my Louboutin heels, Stephen Webster earrings and a hint of Chanel helped me complete the look.
Lanvin gown: No trip to Elton John’s viewing party would be complete without a fabulous gown, which I wore with my Prada fur, Chopard diamonds, YSL heels and a Sergio Rossi clutch.
Extras: I even found time to add a few new accessories, popping into vintage shop Decades for some fab earrings and the Chanel boutique on Rodeo Drive for a pair of stunning gloves – with that famous chain detail.
Chucs bikini: a must for all those morning after pool sessions.

With nights spent living out my A-list fantasies and days spent relaxing poolside, there were more than a few highlights from this week with the stars. To celebrate, here are my Style Academy Awards:

Best dressed man: Ok, so I’ve narrowed it down to a shortlist. First up is Jon Hamm who looks great even when he’s not playing Don Draper! I liked his beige suit and jade green shirt look when I caught up with him at the Grey Goose party. He said he’d just been at an Irish party and had discovered the expressed ‘cead mile failte’, which means a hundred thousand welcomes. Also worth a mention is Piers Morgan (looking sharp in a black suit, white shirt and blue tie) and Gerard Butler, who looked every inch the movie star in a grey suit, white unbuttoned shirt and black cashmere coat at the Weinstein pre-Oscars party.

Best dressed woman: It’s another list! Olivia Cole looked cool in a Temperley number with a Paul & Joe blazer at Soho House and Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz showed everyone what a great personal trainer can do – Lopez was sporting a LBD that complemented her shapely pins and Diaz gave us all a treat by stepping into a mini dress. I also think Hayden Panettiere dazzled at Elton’s party in a long white gown with built in gold top.
Best celebrity spot: Too many to mention really, but highlights include having lunch sitting on the table next to designer Valentino and spotting Leonardo DiCaprio (hiding under a baseball cap), Serena Williams (wearing a short grey leather jacket over a tennis-style mini dress) and Helen Mirren (in a fitted top and yellow skirt) at Soho House.
Best use of sparkle: And the winner is… Heidi Klum. In glittery shoes and a Julien Macdonald gown, she sparkled on that red carpet.
Best red carpet look: Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz deserve the title in this category. Both leading ladies opted for colourful, figure-hugging numbers that accentuated their stunning body shapes. Johansson wore a backless purple lace Dolce & Gabbana  dress and Cruz stepped out in true star style in a red sequinned L’Wren Scott dress, which she accessorised with Jimmy Choo and Chopard jewels.
Best use of Chanel (at the Chanel party): With a room full of ladies dressed in Chanel – everyone from Cate Blanchett to Uma Thurman – it was hard to pick a winner. I have to single out Naomi Watts though for her short cream skirt, see through top and soft pink bolero-style jacket, which she paired with cool ankle boots.
Best celeb chat: It’s got to be Kevin Spacey! We talked about his recent trip to Dublin and all the hot spots he visited.
Best sexy number: Sharon Stone kept it simple in a black Dior dress and really let her stunning looks do the talking.

Phew! After all that style, I need a rest.

Where: Bond Street
Joanne Black Style: Stella McCartney top, Alaia belt, Stephen Webster earrings and Jitrois leggings

I bring great news! Tory Burch is now in Bond Street. Ok, so not exactly the designer herself – known for making New York chic affordable – but the next best thing – her newest store.

Described as ‘the next big thing’ back in 2005 by Oprah, Tory Burch has built up a rather enviable following in recent years. The high street loves her; celebrities such as Chelsea Clinton and Rachel Weisz love her, and Irish stylists love her. What more could a fashion label ask for?

Judging by the fab launch party in January, Tory is going to do great things for the London fashion scene. She approaches dressing women of any age in such a great way – blending trendy and stylish looks really well and offering great print and colour combinations. It’s no wonder then that the party had such a star-studded line up – including Thandie Newton, Laura Bailey and Joely Richardson.

Whether or not you’re a fan of her ballet flats, you’ll need to make some time to visit the new two-level store – which comes complete with lime green floors and mirrored walls. It’s as fashionable as the collection. Enjoy.