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Iconic look: Kate Moss's grey dress by Narciso Rodriguez at Cannes, 1997

One year after Carolyn Bessette's wedding, Narciso Rodriguez dressed another icon of the 1990s, this time in grey.

10 May 1997. Cannes.

Kate Moss walked the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival with Johnny Depp in a sleeveless heather-grey shift dress by Narciso Rodriguez, with a boat neckline, nude strappy sandals, long drop earrings and a small black handbag.

Kate Moss in a sleeveless grey shift dress by Narciso Rodriguez with Johnny Depp in a tuxedo on the red carpet at Cannes, 10 May 1997 — Kate Moss and Johnny Depp at the Cannes Film Festival, 10 May 1997

The event

In May 1997, the Cannes Film Festival celebrated its 50th edition. Among the films in competition was The Brave (film, 1997), the first film directed by Johnny Depp. He also starred in it, with Marlon Brando.

Poster of The Brave (film, 1997), directed by Johnny Depp, with Marlon Brando and Johnny Depp — Poster of *The Brave* (film, 1997)

On 10 May, Johnny Depp arrived for the screening with Kate Moss, then his girlfriend. She was 23, and already one of the most famous models in the world.

Kate Moss in her grey shift dress holding hands with Johnny Depp in a tuxedo among the crowd at Cannes, 10 May 1997 — Kate Moss and Johnny Depp at the Cannes Film Festival, 10 May 1997

The dress

The dress was a simple shift, sleeveless and knee-length, with a wide boat neckline. It was cut on the bias, in a heather-grey fabric that looked like wool, with a slight stretch. It closed with a zipper at the side.

The skirt flared slightly at the hem.

Kate Moss in her sleeveless grey dress with a boat neckline, smiling at Johnny Depp, Cannes, 1997 — Kate Moss and Johnny Depp at Cannes, 1997

Kate Moss standing on the red carpet in her sleeveless grey knee-length dress and nude strappy sandals, Cannes, 1997 — Kate Moss in her dress by Narciso Rodriguez, Cannes, 1997

It was designed by Narciso Rodriguez. The year before, he had made Carolyn Bessette's white slip dress for her wedding to John F. Kennedy Jr. In 1997, he launched his own label, and won the CFDA's Perry Ellis Award for best new designer.

The accessories

On her feet, she wore nude strappy sandals with a slim heel.

She added long drop earrings. In her hand, she carried a small black handbag with a short handle, of a kind more often seen on the arm of Queen Elizabeth II than on a model of the 1990s.

Close view of Kate Moss with long drop earrings, red lipstick and the boat neckline of her grey dress, Cannes, 1997 — Kate Moss at Cannes, 1997

The finishing touches

Her hair fell loose to her shoulders, parted in the middle. Her lips were red.

Kate Moss in her grey Narciso Rodriguez dress, carrying a small black handbag, walking with Johnny Depp through the crowd at Cannes, 1997 — Kate Moss and Johnny Depp at Cannes, 1997

The story

Years later, a grey shift dress came up for sale on 1stDibs. It came from the Narciso Rodriguez showroom, without a label, and the seller described it as the dress Kate Moss wore at Cannes in 1997.

Narciso Rodriguez's sleeveless heather-grey shift dress of 1997, shown on its own — The grey shift dress by Narciso Rodriguez, 1997

In 1996, Narciso Rodriguez had dressed one of the most watched brides of her time, and he gave her the simplest of silhouettes, elegantly plain. In 1997, he dressed one of the most famous models in the world, and once again, he gave her the simplest of silhouettes, elegantly plain. Both looks became iconic, and neither has been forgotten.