Crackdown in Cannes.
The Cannes Film Festival 2025 kicked off today in France, and its famously glamorous red carpets are getting a bit of a makeover.
Ahead of the event, the fest’s organizers revealed some changes to its official charter pertaining to dress code.
This year, they put the kibosh on looks that are too small or too large, writing, “For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival.”
The memo continues, “Voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theater are not permitted.”
Lastly, there’s a warning: “The Festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.”
Per usual, evening wear — defined as a “long dress” or “tuxedo” — is required, although guests also have the option of choosing a cocktail dress, “dark-colored pantsuit” or “dressy top with black pants.”
As for the men, Team Cannes has been known to turn away looks that are “too colorful.”
Footwear has always been a hot topic of conversation at the film fest, too, with Kristen Stewart going viral in 2018 for taking off her heels in protest of the event’s high heel requirement. However, the event’s organizers have seemingly since changed their tune.
“Elegant shoes and sandals with or without a heel” are acceptable, per the charter. (We’re guessing Jennifer Lawrence’s flip-flops still wouldn’t make the cut.)
The new ban has already affected A-listers like Halle Berry, who admitted she had to swap her gown for the opening ceremony at the last minute because its train was too large.
The Cannes red carpet is known for skin-baring looks, too — though there have been limits in the past.
Model Bella Hadid has become the queen of Cannes in recent years thanks to her jaw-dropping looks, which have included a slit-up-to-there red Alexandre Vauthier gown from 2016 that now makes her “embarrassed” as well as the striking Schiaparelli couture gown she wore in 2021 that eschewed a top in favor of gold “lungs.”
And who could forget when Hadid made her red carpet comeback last year in a totally sheer Saint Laurent number after a yearlong hiatus?
Let’s hope there’s still plenty of drama to come — yards-long trains or not.
