When Simi Garewal stepped onto the red carpet at Cannes 2025 last night, it wasn’t just another glamorous appearance—it was a moment of history, personal style, and a quietly powerful aesthetic that she has championed for decades. Dressed in a custom ivory ensemble by Karleo, Garewal’s look marked not only her debut at the prestigious film festival but also the continuation of her creative partnership with the designer that has lasted over 15 years.
The relationship between Garewal and the design label Karleo goes far beyond fittings and fabric swatches. It’s been a long-standing collaboration rooted in a shared love for classic silhouettes, understated glamour, and a devotion to the colour white. From the elegant pieces she wore on her talk show India’s Most Desirable to bespoke designs created for personal milestones, their partnership has evolved into something deeply artistic—more muse and maker than client and designer. All the years of professional collaboration culminated into her Cannes debut last evening.
For anyone familiar with Simi Garewal’s on-screen presence, her affinity for white is no surprise. She has built an entire visual identity around the shade, transforming it from a fashion choice into a signature. From the flowing dresses in Mera Naam Joker to the sleek ensembles in Karz, and of course, the pristine outfits she wore while interviewing India’s most prominent personalities on Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, white has been her quiet statement in an industry often drawn to bold and bright.
Her Cannes look was no exception. Designed by Karleo, the ensemble was a contemporary take on couture with Indian soul. Made from handwoven raw silk, the outfit was anchored by a pearl-encrusted corset and layered with a dramatic, cascading jacket. The voluminous skirt, detailed with rose montes and delicate threadwork, shimmered in soft ivory tones—an ode to Indian artistry with a globally appealing silhouette.
“We met for the first time about 15 years ago to design for her show India’s Most Desirable, and the same has been a long-standing association since we are all ‘White Addicts,’” said Karleo’s head designer Leon Vaz in an interview with Vogue.
Taking readers through what went into designing Simi Garewal’s outfit, Leon explained, “We invited Simi to our studio and showed her all our design processes right from our artwork sketches to embroidery swatches to construction techniques. This gave her confidence that our aesthetics will match her specific vision for the Cannes debut. Immediately, she took the sketching pad and drew out a very rough sketch of what she wanted. After explaining it in detail to us, both of us agreed to let Simi lead this one, while we brought her vision to life.”
“The idea was simple—to represent India on the global platform—it’s all India fabrics like raw silks and Indian motifs, but applied on a modern cascading jacket,” Leon continued.
Describing Simi’s look for the event, he explained, “There is a freshwater pearl corset finished with a voluminous skirt highlighted with rose montes and silk threads. They are also made in different shades, ranging from dark ivory to light ivory.”
In many ways, Simi Garewal’s moment on the Cannes red carpet felt like a natural progression of Garewal’s long-standing style journey. It wasn’t about reinvention. Instead, it was a reaffirmation—of her identity, of elegance, and of the quiet confidence that comes from staying true to one’s aesthetic.