Cannes 2025: Celebrities Push Back Against New Red Carpet Dress Code

Summary Bullet Points:

Cannes Film Festival 2025 enforces a new red carpet dress code banning nudity and voluminous trains.
Celebrities like Heidi Klum and Wan QianHui defy the rules with dramatic fashion statements.
Others, including Halle Berry, adapted to the new guidelines.
Bella Hadid and Jeremy Strong stood out with bold style choices at the opening ceremony.
The fashion-policy clash sparks debate on tradition vs. self-expression at the iconic event.

Cannes Opens with a Clash of Fashion and Regulation

The 78th Cannes Film Festival has kicked off with cinematic prestige — and red carpet rebellion. Hours before opening night, organizers announced an updated dress code banning both nudity and voluminous outfits that obstruct guest movement. This effectively ended the recent wave of “naked dresses” on the Croisette — or so they thought.

Yet just as the red carpet was unfurled along the Promenade de la Croisette, stars like Heidi Klum and Wan QianHui stole headlines for deliberately flouting the new policy with sweeping trains and sheer silhouettes.

Style Rebels Take the Spotlight

Klum arrived in a fiery ensemble with a full-length cascading train, a bold move echoing Cannes’ past flair despite this year’s restrictions. Wan QianHui followed suit, embracing traditional glamor over practicality. These moments ignited conversation on the evolving intersection of fashion freedom and institutional control at global film events.

Meanwhile, Halle Berry acknowledged the restrictions during a press event, saying she skipped her original Gaurav Gupta gown out of respect for the new rules. “I’m not going to break the rules,” she said, though she admitted disappointment over not showcasing the dramatic piece.

Elegant Alternatives Shine Through

While some stars broke ranks, others adapted in equally eye-catching ways. Bella Hadid turned heads in a form-fitting Saint Laurent gown and debuted striking honey-blonde hair. Over in menswear, Jeremy Strong chose a dusty rose tuxedo, and earlier that day, appeared at the Jury photocall in a matching monochrome tracksuit and bucket hat, blurring the lines between haute couture and casual flair.

The dress code enforcement is part of Cannes’ attempt to keep red carpet traffic smooth and uphold the festival’s reputation for traditional elegance. However, the move has sparked a backlash for perceived over-policing, especially regarding gendered standards of “decency.”