Cannes Film Festival Bans Nudity and Oversized Outfits on Red Carpet

Red carpet fashion is being strictly regulated by Cannes.  Just a few days before the 2025 Cannes Film Festival kicks out, there is a buzz about the official dress code modification.  The days of extravagant train-sweeping dresses and daring sheer designs are long gone.  The new regulations forbid complete nudity on the red carpet and clothes that are overly big, particularly if they impede traffic or make it difficult to sit in a theatre.

 Anyone whose attire doesn't satisfy the new requirements may now be turned away by  Cannes festival employees.  Officials claim that this is more of a formal affirmation of long-standing, covert policies than a whole new regulation.  The change aims to comply with French public decency rules and respect the festival's institutional standards.

Following years of striking, bare-skinned red carpet appearances by Bella Hadid, Elle Fanning, and Kendall Jenner, this move was made.  In 2022, a protester made news around the world by going topless on the carpet in one notorious incident.  Although there is no proof that a single incident caused the shift, subsequent fashion scandals, such as Bianca Censori's almost nude Grammys appearance, have probably stoked the debate.

Image Courtesy: Getty Images

 Nudity is just one aspect of the crackdown.  Dresses that take up a lot of room and are dramatic are also being examined.  A prime example of what Cannes wishes to avoid is Tems' cloud-like gown from the 2023 Oscars, which obscured the vision of the guests behind her.

Strict style etiquette has long been maintained by the Cannes festival, particularly for its prestigious evening screenings at the Grand Théâtre Lumière.  Black-tie or formal evening attire is required of guests; the dress code even covers shoe and bag sizes.  After the festival received criticism for excluding women who were not wearing heels, celebrities like Emily Blunt spoke out, which ultimately led to the regulation being loosened.

 However, problems around image control are nothing new to Cannes.  The festival has often ejected protesters or attention-seekers who deviate from the event's well-planned appearance, and it outlawed red carpet selfies in 2015, calling them "ridiculous."

Image Courtesy: Getty Images

The key concern still stands as the 2025 Cannes festival takes place from 13th–24th May: Will the regulations be applied consistently, or will some celebrities and brand advocates still be able to get around them?  Given the involvement of influential partners like Chopard, L'Oréal, and Kering, it is not surprising that some eye-catching outfits continue to find their way up the red carpet.

 There is no doubt that everyone will be watching Cannes, not only for the movies but also for any potential fashion fireworks.

–Farheen Ali