Cannes Film Festival has made headlines for banning nudity and voluminous dresses on its red carpet. But the event has a long history of dress code controversy.

Cannes

The Cannes Film Festival has recently introduced restrictions on red carpet attire, prohibiting nudity and voluminous dresses. The official reasoning for the new rules cites decency and the need to prevent outfits that may restrict guest movement. Despite these changes, some festival attendees continue to challenge or adapt to the dress code.

Historically, Cannes has experienced numerous dress code controversies. When the festival was first set to debut in 1939, it was intended as a black-tie affair, but the event was postponed due to the outbreak of World War II. By 1946, the festival was active, with actress Michelle Morgan making headlines for wearing a bikini. The late 1940s saw the "affair of the ties," a debate over whether black-tie attire should be mandatory at all screenings, resulting in filmmakers feeling slighted if their events were deemed less formal.

Strict enforcement of evening wear and elegance has defined Cannes' red carpet for over eight decades, with occasional exceptions. Pablo Picasso was reportedly allowed entrance in a sheep shirt in 1953. In later years, Madonna and Victoria Abrel challenged the boundaries with unconventional outfits. Not all rule-breakers acted intentionally; some, like women turned away for wearing flat shoes in 2015, were caught unaware by the regulations. That same year, Jennifer Lawrence wore a Dior dress concealing flip-flops, while Kristen Stewart's actions were interpreted as a direct protest.

Recent attempts to enforce stricter dress codes have seen mixed responses. In the wake of the nudity and voluminous dress ban, model Bella Hadid appeared in a high-slit dress that some have interpreted as a subtle response to the new guidelines. Despite increased enforcement, reports suggest that the impact of the updated rules on red carpet fashion remains limited.



Why guests keep breaking the rules on this red carpet

The Cannes Film Festival, a star-studded event of cinema and glamour, is making headlines for banning outfits. I had an amazing dress by Gupta to wear tonight, and I cannot wear it because the train is too big. But this red carpet is no stranger to controversy and faux pas. First due to launch in 1939, Cannes was marketed as a black-tie affair, but was quickly postponed when Germany invaded Poland the very day of the premiere. The German army on the march echoes in Europe. Cannes was in full swing in 1946, and well-dressed festival-goers were immediately awestruck when actress Michelle Morgan showed up in a bikini. Indeed, the late 1940s saw the, quote, affair of the ties, a controversy where only certain screenings required black-tie attire, allowing other patrons to dress for beach weather. Filmmakers felt slighted, believing that the more relaxed dress codes deemed their screenings less important. Over the last 80-odd years, the dress code has been historically strict, requiring evening wear and elegance. There have been some exceptions to the rules. In 1953, Pablo Picasso was allowed to enter draped in a sheep shirt. In 1991, Madonna appeared in a pink Jean-Paul Gaultier dress, only to strip and reveal a cone-shaped bra and underwear on the carpet. And in 1997, Victoria Abrel attended in a peek-a-boo blazer. But not all rule-breakers have been rebels. Many have fallen foul of the dress code by accident, only to be turned away. In 2015, the festival received backlash after reportedly refusing entry to women wearing flat shoes. Later, Jennifer Lawrence appeared in an elegant red Dior dress, only to reveal it hid flip-flops. She claims this was not in protest of the rules, but this move by Kristen Stewart certainly was. Now, in 2025, Cannes is cracking down on two red carpet trends that have been surefire ways for celebrities to stand out by banning, quote, nudity and voluminous outfits. The new code cites decency and restricting guest movement. Bella Hadid, famous for her somewhat revealing outfits at Cannes, appeared to wink at this new dress code with a high-slit dress. And so far, it looks like the new rules aren't doing much anyway.

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