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Cannes Film Festival Announces Far More Conservative Dress Code

Cannes Film Festival enforces a conservative dress code for 2025, banning nudity, voluminous outfits and sneakers on the red carpet

However, as its highly anticipated arrival on Tuesday, May 13, draws near, a notable shift in red carpet protocol suggests a more restrained sartorial landscape this year, courtesy of the institution’s newly enforced dress codes. As seasoned Cannes observers are well aware, the significance of footwear on this particular red carpet is not to be underestimated, a lesson infamously underscored in 2015 when women attending the premiere of Carol were “denied entry” due to their flat shoes, a direct contravention of the festival’s long-standing high-heel policy. While Cannes’ heart beats for cinema, its enduring allure is also intrinsically linked to the dramatic fashion moments, those unexpectedly naked ensembles (think Milla Jovovich ‘s iconic 1997 Jean Paul Gaultier sheer dress) and grand, statement-making confections (like Bella Hadid ‘s free-the-nipple statement in see-through Saint Laurent from 2024) that have historically defined its red carpet narrative.

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