The Cannes Film Festival has announced a new dress code banning nudity on the red carpet starting in 2025. The festival’s “festival-goers charter” document states that “for decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival.”
The rules allow for attire such as a “little black dress,” “cocktail dress,” “a dark-colored pantsuit,” “a dressy top with black pants,” and “elegant shoes and sandals with or without a heel.” However, the festival will prohibit access to anyone not respecting these guidelines. This decision is likely to impact the trend of “naked” dresses, which create the illusion of nudity through sheer and translucent fabrics.
In recent years, celebrities like Bella Hadid, Nadia Lee Cohen, and Vicky Krieps have worn revealing outfits on the Cannes red carpet that might now violate the new dress code. The festival’s guidance does not clarify whether printed images of nudity or partial exposure, such as a revealed nipple, would breach the new rules. The updated regulations also ban “voluminous” outfits with large trains, suggesting a shift towards more conservative fashion on the red carpet.
New red carpet dress code
Cannes Film Festival organizers seem intent on maintaining a certain level of decorum and avoiding the kind of exhibitionism that has occasionally overshadowed the festival’s proceedings. The effect of these new rules on the fashion landscape at Cannes remains to be seen and could mark the beginning of a more modest era in red carpet fashion.
The debate over red carpet fashion is not new, but Cannes is drawing a clear line this year. Festival organizers emphasize the importance of maintaining a certain level of decorum while allowing attendees to showcase their style within defined guidelines. With these new rules in place, the festival hopes to strike a balance between glamour and decency, ensuring that the red carpet remains a respectful and elegant affair.
Celebrities and their stylists will need to adapt to these changes while still making a statement at the prestigious event.
