Power To Persuade: The Red Carpet Lives.(Christian Dior S.A. chief executive officer Sidney Toledano)(Starworks chief executive officer James Grant)

Byline: Marcy Medina With contributions from Ellen Groves

Power to Persuade: The Red Carpet Lives

Fans lined Hollywood boulevard in front of grauman's chinese Theatre, waiting hours to glimpse stars at the premiere of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," the first blockbuster of the summer movie season.

Celebrities such as Fergie, wearing Vena Cava, didn't disappoint them or the photographers and cameramen who crowded the red carpet to transmit images around the world.

That scene was replayed at Cannes last month, as throngs waited behind barricades at the Palais de Festivals to watch stars like Angelina Jolie, in Atelier Versace, alight the famous steps.

Although $1,120-a-pound caviar and pricey bottles of Veuve Clicquot are less ubiquitous on the scaled-down premiere circuit this season, the red carpet endures as a key branding …