Bella Hadid took a momentary respite from the 79th Cannes Film Festival on Thursday to relax on a luxury yacht. The 29-year-old American supermodel has balanced high-fashion tributes with pointed political statements during her time on the French Riviera.

The Schiaparelli tribute to Jane Birkin's 1969 Pucci dress

The ivory lace gown worn by Bella Hadid during the screening of La Bataille De Gaulle on Tuesday was far from a spontaneous choice. According to a press release issued by Schiaparelli, the fashion house behind the custom creation, the look was the result of hours of meticulous planning. The ensemble served as a direct homage to the legendary Anglo-French singer and actress Jane Birkin, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 76.

Specifically,the design referenced a 1969 red carpet appearance where Jane Birkin wore a white crochet dress by Pucci. While the original Pucci look was famously the result of a last-minute wardrobe fix, the report says that Bella Hadid opted for a more modern and sleek interpretation of the aesthetic, blending vintage inspiration with contemporary couture.

The Palestine key necklace and the memory of the 1948 Nakba

Beyond the couture, Bella Hadid has utilized her visibility at the festival to highlight geopolitical struggles. As the source reported, the model caused a stir by wearing a Palestine key necklace over a cropped Tom Ford top. this specific accessory is a symbol of resistance against oppression, referencing the 750,000 Palestinian-Arabs who were forced from their homes during the 1948 Nakba, often carrying only their house keys.

This gesture is part of a broader trend of celebrity-led political signaling at luxury events. Bella Hadid previously made a similar statement during the 2024 Cannes Film Festival by wearing a dress fashioned from a Keffiyeh.. By integrating these symbols into her wardrobe, Hadid is effectively transforming the red carpet into a site of political discourse, challenging the traditionally apolitical nature of high-fashion showcases.

Dominating La Promenade de la Croisette without a film role

The 79th Cannes Film Festival has seen Bella Hadid become one of the most talked-about figures on La Promenade de la Croisette, despite the fact that she has little to do with the films being screened in-competition. Her presence demonstrates the evolving nature of the festival, where the "celebrity guest" can wield as much influence and media gravity as the filmmakers and actors themselves.

On Thursday, Bella Hadid stepped away from these high-pressure duties to enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the top deck of a luxury yacht. Sporting a striking swimsuit and heavily tinted sunglasses, the supermodel's brief escape from the spotlight highlights the grueling pace of the festival's promotional cycle, even for those not tied to a specific film premiere.

The silence of the Cannes organizers regarding the Keffiyeh and key accessories

While the reporting details the "stir" caused by Bella Hadid's political accessories, several key details remain unverified. It is currently unknown if the organizers of the Cannes Film Festival have issued any internal guidance or reprimands regarding the display of political symbols like the Palestine key necklace on the red carpet.

Furthermore, the source does not provide a response from the brands involved—such as Tom Ford or Schiaparelli—regarding whether these political statements were coordinated with their marketing strategies or were independent choices made by the model. Whether these accessories were welcomed or tolerated by the festival's strict protocol remains an open question.