Once Upon a Time: 30th amfAR Cannes Gala

Presented at the amfAR Gala Cannes in May 2024, Once Upon a Time was curated by Carine Roitfeld for CR Fashion Book at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc. The runway featured 28 one-of-a-kind couture looks, each inspired by a different fairy tale and created by some of the world’s leading fashion houses.

Designers reimagined classic stories through fashion — with Chanel channeling Maleficent, Dior the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio, Prada Thumbelina, and Miu Miu Rapunzel, among others. The result was a striking blend of fantasy and craftsmanship: voluminous gowns, intricate embroidery, metallic accents, and dramatic silhouettes that combined to tell a collective story of transformation and imagination.

Curated to benefit amfAR’s research efforts, Roitfeld’s runway has become a celebrated annual event, raising millions for AIDS research while showcasing couture as both art and philanthropy.

Offered here as a complete collection, Once Upon a Time represents a moment in contemporary fashion history where creativity, storytelling, and philanthropy meet on one runway.