Cannes bans long trains and nudity on the red carpet

Hollywood star Halle Berry had to change her outfit for the Cannes Film Festival’s opening night after the event introduced a new red carpet dress code banning long trains and nudity. Meanwhile, several attendees appeared to ignore the rules entirely.

The new regulations forced Berry to leave her original gown in her wardrobe. “I had an amazing dress to wear tonight by Gupta, and I cannot wear it because the train is too big,” the Oscar winner told reporters, referring to Indian designer Gaurav Gupta. Gupta, known for dramatic gowns worn by stars like Cardi B at the Met Gala, had designed Berry’s original look.

“Of course, I’m going to follow the rules,” added Berry, who serves on this year’s Cannes jury for the Palme d’Or.

Other stars, however, didn’t seem to comply. German model Heidi Klum wore a bold pink gown with a train stretching at least three meters (10 feet), while Chinese actor and influencer Wan Qianhui arrived in an enormous cloud of white taffeta.

Berry, who won her Academy Award for Monster’s Ball, also supported the new nudity restrictions. “The nudity part is probably also a good rule,” she said.

This year marks the first time Cannes has officially published its red carpet dress code. “It is not about regulating what people wear but to ban total nudity on the red carpet, in line with French law,” a festival spokesperson told AFP.

The Cannes red carpet has long been known for its daring fashion moments. In 2021, model Bella Hadid made headlines with a sculptural, skin-baring Schiaparelli gown that went viral on social media.

Stilettos get the heel

In addition to outlining guidelines on revealing clothing, Cannes clarified its rules on footwear following years of controversy. The festival faced criticism over claims that women were required to wear high heels.

Several celebrities—including Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett and Isabelle Huppert—have made headlines for defying the unwritten heel rule, opting for flats or going barefoot instead. Kristen Stewart made a memorable statement in 2018 when she walked onto the red carpet in stilettos and then removed them in front of photographers.

The dress code now explicitly allows “elegant shoes or sandals with or without heels,” a change that jury president Juliette Binoche praised as “a very good idea.” The French Oscar-winner joked she was speaking from “experience.”

FashionNetwork.com with AFP