Yellow is the new black: the surprising new red carpet trend taking over Cannes

We're only a few days into the Cannes Film Festival 2016, but a surprising red carpet trend is already emerging -- yellow gowns. Four stars show us how it's done. 

The girl-next-door yellow
Kirsten Dunst managed to look chic, contemporary and demure as can be in this lemon yellow shirtdress by Dior for the Festival's jury photocall. The crisp collar and longer-length sleeves give the piece a retro Riviera air, while the golden metal Dior Couture belt keeps things utterly modern. A sleek blowdry and a lick of red lipstick are all that's needed to polish off the look.

The fearless yellow
Anna Kendrick stood out from the crowds in a figure-hugging spaghetti strap gown by Stella McCartney in bright canary yellow. A bold dress like this needs to be owned, so her glittering Bulgari necklace, perfectly set Hollywood waves and deep pink lipstick offset the summery tone of the gown wonderfully.

The classic yellow
Jessica Chastain's mid-yellow Armani Privé gown ticks all the boxes -- it oozes old school glamour, joy and its structured draped bodice shows off the star's killer waist to perfection. A dress like this needs hardly any accessorizing, and by keeping the rest of her look relatively pared-down -- a choker necklace, tousled bob and natural-looking makeup -- the actress pulls off bombshell sexiness with aplomb.

The timeless yellow
For a lesson in how to strike the balance between elegance and sexiness, look to Amal Clooney, whose lemon silk chiffon Atelier Versace gown stole the show on Thursday evening. The one-shouldered Grecian-inspired gown is both feminine and ceremonial, while the thigh-high slit is a nod to the glamour of the occasion. The light yellow hue is summery and ephemeral, and, perhaps most importantly, camera-friendly.