Cannes Film Festival: Break These Rules and Face the Consequences!

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Halle Berry regrettably had to change the dress she intended to wear for the 2025 Cannes Film Festival due to a violation of the event’s dress code. The reason being, the gown she had chosen by Gupta was too extravagant with its large train, which is now considered inappropriate according to a new rule in the festival charter that forbids such outfits from causing traffic congestion or seating complications at the Grand Théâtre Lumière.

At the press conference on May 13, Berry explained her predicament to reporters: “I had an incredible dress by Gupta lined up, but I can’t wear it because its train is too big.” She added that she would comply with the rules and make necessary adjustments, stating, “So, I had to adapt my plans.”

On the red carpet for the festival’s opening ceremony, Berry wore a black and white striped silk organza dress by Jacquemus instead. However, she still got an opportunity to wear her Gupta gown at a festival dinner held at another venue.

Yet, there were more rules for festival attendees to abide by. Not just wearing clothing, but it seems that was also a sensible restriction, as Berry pointed out.

During the festival, they continue to uphold their stance on fashion. As a representative of the organization explained to The Hollywood Reporter on May 12th, “rules that have been in place for some time” are still being followed, and the goal isn’t to control clothing choices but rather to prevent full nudity on the red carpet, aligning with the festival’s guidelines and French law.

And while you may get banned for disrespecting the rules, some haven’t been afraid to test them.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to highlight that figures like Heidi Klum and Wan QianHui gracefully strutted their stuff on the red carpet, turning heads with their striking train trailbacks.

As stars strut their stuff on the festival’s crimson walkway, let me share with you the guidelines for the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

In this version, “turn the red carpet into a runway” is replaced by “strut their stuff on the festival’s crimson walkway,” which aims to convey the same idea in simpler language and maintains the same tone.

If stars are planning to attend either of the evening screenings at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, they should consider dressing up in formal attire like a long gown or tuxedo. For some fashion ideas, you might want to check out the stylish Giorgio Armani tux that Michael B. Jordan wore to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival screening of his movie “Fahrenheit 451”.

Even though it wasn’t a formal event, just like the festival charter suggests, I, as an ardent fan, would have donned a little black dress if I were Emma Stone at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival press event for “Irrational Man”. Instead, she stunned everyone in a lace-sleeved LBD by Oscar de la Renta, proving that even a casual occasion can be transformed into a fashion statement.

Pay attention to the section in the charter about “graceful footwear, such as shoes and sandals, with or without a heel.”

Although there’s no official rule that women have to wear high heels at the Cannes Film Festival red carpet, it seems to be an unspoken norm.

Last year on the Cannes red carpet, Variety’s former Editor in Chief Claudia Eller tweeted, “I was told by a foolish security guard last night I couldn’t enter this premiere because I was wearing flats. I threatened to post this video on our Variety website. I got in.”

Some actresses like Julia Roberts, Pamela Anderson, and Kristen Stewart have defied the norm by removing their shoes and walking barefoot on the red carpet.

The Twilight alum, Kristen Stewart, told The Hollywood Reporter in 2017, “There’s definitely a certain code here. People get very upset if you don’t wear heels or something like that. But I feel like you can’t ask people that anymore. It’s just assumed. If you’re not asking guys to wear dresses and high heels, you can’t ask me either. That’s nice because that wasn’t the case four years ago. Now, it’s great, you can’t do that anymore.”

Though “graceful footwear, such as shoes and sandals with or without a heel” are now acceptable at the gala screening, the Cannes website clarifies that sneakers are not.

Although Salma Hayek was permitted to carry a small clutch at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, the regulations explicitly state that oversized bags such as tote-bags, backpacks, or large bags are not allowed during gala screenings.

Heidi Klum wasn’t hesitant to bid adieu to a rule in the 2025 Cannes Film Festival charter that disallowed extravagant outfits, especially those with long trains, which can obstruct guest movement and create seating issues in the theater: “Outfits with large trains are not allowed.

Are you a fan of the chic nude dresses similar to what Bella Hadid wore at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival? If so, you might notice fewer of these outfits gracing the red carpet next year. This is because, for decency reasons, the festival’s charter explicitly bans nudity not only on the Red Carpet but also in any other festival area.

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2025-05-21 10:19