Elisabetta Canalis finally puts the bikini away as she goes for full-length glamour at Cannes' AMFAR gala

Over the past few days in Cannes, fans have been treated to the sight of Elisabetta Canalis in tiny bikinis.

But George Clooney's girlfriend managed to tear herself away from her sunbathing on the French Riviera and covered up her stunning figure at the AMFAR Cinema Against Aids gala last night.

The Italian model and TV presenter, 32, wore a dramatic full-length Roberto Cavalli gown as she joined a host of A-listers at the biggest party of the Cannes Film Festival.

Notably absent was her boyfriend Clooney, who is yet to be spotted at Cannes this year.

Canalis joined stars from movies, music, modelling and European royals at the glitzy bash at the Hotel Du Cap in Antibes.

Although Canalis opted for bronze, it appears the pale and nude palette was definitely a domineering theme for many of the females in attendance.

English supermodel Naomi Campbell complemented her own fringed hairdo with a yellowy cream Givenchy dress, while Rosario Dawson wore a stunning silver Roberto Cavalli bustier gown.

Kirsten Dunst went for a more unusual transparent pink column dress, while Brooke Shields dazzled in a silk Marchesa number.

The annual AMFAR dinner and auction - which raises money for Aids charities - was dedicated to late actress Dame Elizabeth Taylor, one of the most high-profile campaigners in the fight against the disease.

Speaking at the bash, Sir Elton John called her a 'force of nature' and pledged she would remain the 'guiding star' of the vent.

While many stars opted for traditional couture, some of the guests were keen to sex up their look with plunging necklines and thigh-high splits.

Ukrainian model-turned-actress Milla Jovovich flaunted her toned legs in a racy split-to-the-thigh Atelier Versace dress, while Ronnie Wood's Brazilian polo player girlfriend Ana Araujo wore a Middle Eastern blue dress with cut-out waist.

source

Cheryl Cole finally outshines Paula Abdul as X Factor auditions roll into Chicago

After a series of wardrobe disappointments, new X Factor USA judge Cheryl Cole has finally hit the right note.

The 27-year-old looked sweet and stylish as she arrived for auditions in Chicago today.

She dressed her age in a polka dot Sonia by Sonia Rykiel smock, which she teamed with a pair of wedge heels.

And she finally managed to outshine her fellow judge Paula Abdul, 48, who wore a bizarre ensemble that included a leopard print mini-skirt and floral patterned top.

Both judges had opted for this season's most popular trend - colour blocking - for their previously outings together.

It was clear the pair hadn't conferred before stepping out on together prior to today - at the first X Factor auditions in LA both wore purple and at a Fox party earlier this week they opted for bright orange.

But Simon Cowell, who heads up the panel, says the pair are getting on famously - for now.

'They get on great,' he says. 'Cheryl adores Paula.

'She’s never worked with her before and I’d always spoken about how much fun she was so there’s a bit of a love fest going on at the moment between those two, but that will soon change.'

Cowell is thrilled to be reunited with his former American Idol sparring partner.

'What’s interesting is is she’s snappy. You know, she doesn’t like something.

'I’ve forgotten what she’s like. She doesn’t like you to disagree with her. And there were one or two disagreements.

'But that’s why we wanted her on the show. I think it’s important that everyone has their own viewpoint.  But she is good at spotting talent. I mean I thought she was really on it the last two days and I said it to her afterwards, this is the best I’ve seen you in a long time.'

He also says America are embracing Cheryl, who quit her job on the British X Factor panel to make her name Stateside.

'The audience seemed to warm to Cheryl,' he says. 'No problems with the understanding, from what we’ve heard.'

But, like many observers, he has questioned her styling in recent weeks.

'I wasn’t really taken by her hair!' he admitted.

'It was the equivalent of five gallons of hairspray and then stand in the middle of a hurricane.'

The X Factor, which will also star record executive L.A. Reid, is set to air in the U.S. in September.

source

Bollywood's smoking lady s in Cannes : Mallika Sherawat

Mallika Sherawat, billed as Bollywood's smokin' lady, is in Cannes to promote her second Hollywood film, Politics of Love.

She wore a cunningly cut and revealing couture gown by Eric Tibusch as she walked up the Cannes' red carpet. "He makes just one of a kind with each creation," said a member of her PR team.

Mallika Sherawat is in Cannes on her third visit. She came here two years ago as a side attraction to Jackie Chan for the Hong Kong film Myth.

Last year she flew solo to Cannes to capture its spotlight on her own with her first Hollywood film Hisss; she was accompanied by a 40-foot python that clung to her at her press meeting.

In 2011, she is back in even greater force on behalf of her second Hollywood film, Politics of Love. The film's descriptive one-liner is "The World's Hottest Politics just got Much Hotter."

Only a promo of the film was screened. The film taken by America's leading urban distribution company Codeblack, is set to release in the US this summer.

The film, set just before the 2008 U.S. Presidential election, has Kyle Franklin, a sexy, savvy, African American conservative falls for his Democrat counterpart, Aretha Gupta (Sherawat), a beautiful, idealistic local Obama volunteer coordinator.

At a cocktail reception for the film held on the terrace of the Grand Hotel, Mallika was centre-stage, and in complete contrast, wore a dreamy, light-blue flowing dress.

She talked of her meetings with Obama and how she has contributed to the American film scene, "- that too, with no backing, no film family links or Bollywood connections."

source