Cannes Film Festival Bans Naked Dressing, New Dress Code Explained

The Cannes Film Festival has updated its controversial dress code, making its rules even stricter for the 2025 edition of the event. According to the festival’s website, guests are now prohibited from showing nudity or wearing voluminous outfits on the red carpet.

“For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the Red Carpet, as well as in any other area of the Festival,” the statement published in April says, adding, “Voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theater are not permitted.”

The website warns that the “Festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit Red Carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.”

This change comes after the sheer trend, also known as naked dressing, took over the Cannes Film Festival red carpet in 2024. Notably, Bella Hadid wore a see-through dress from Saint Laurent‘s fall 2024 runway show for “The Apprentice” premiere last year, and Naomi Campbell wore a Chanel gown featuring bands of mesh cutouts and pearl straps for the “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” red carpet.

Over the years, many stars have embraced the naked dress trend on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet, including Kendall Jenner in Schiaparelli in 2018 and Elle Fanning in Dior in 2019.

Celebrities have previously criticized the Cannes Film Festival dress code before for its requirement for women to wear heels on the red carpet.

Ahead, learn more about the annual film festival’s strict dress rules.

What is the current dress code at the Cannes Film Festival?

According to event’s website, the dress code is as follows:

“For the Grand Théâtre Lumière gala screenings taking place around 7 and 10 p.m., which are attended by the artistic teams, evening wear (long dress, tuxedo) is required. Alternatively, you may also wear “a little black dress,” a cocktail dress, a dark-colored pantsuit, a dressy top with black pants; elegant shoes and sandals with or without a heel (no sneakers) ; a black or navy-blue suit with bow-tie or dark-colored tie. Tote-bags, backpacks or large bags are prohibited during gala screenings. Lockers, open until 12:30 a.m. are available near the Gare Maritime.

For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the Red Carpet, as well as in any other area of the Festival.

Voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theater are not permitted.

The Festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit Red Carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.

For all other screenings, proper attire is sufficient.”

How has the Cannes Film Festival dress code evolved?

The Cannes Film Festival’s black tie dress code dates back to its founding in 1946. Even as times have changed, however, certain “unwritten” mandates have not.

It’s thought that the Cannes Film Festival has a longstanding rule that requires women to wear heels, as many have been turned away for refusing to do so. In 2015, multiple outlets reported that a group of women were denied entry to the premiere of “Carol,” a period romance starring Cate Blanchett, because their shoes weren’t “tall enough.”

That same year, Asif Kapadia, director of the Amy Winehouse documentary, “Amy,” confirmed on social media that his wife was also barred from entering his own premiere at Cannes because she wasn’t wearing heels, though she was eventually allowed in.

This rule seems to still be in effect as of 2019, when former Variety’s former editor in chief Claudia Eller was briefly stopped by security officials for not wearing high heels, she claimed in a video posted on Twitter.

“Last night I was stopped on the Cannes red carpet and told by this idiotic security guard that I couldn’t get into this premiere because I was wearing flats,” Eller wrote at the time, sharing a video of the encounter. “I threatened to post this video on our Variety website. I got in.”

Men’s suits are also subject to strict scrutiny: in 1960, writer Henry Miller was turned away from the red carpet for refusing to wear a dinner jacket.

At last year’s Cannes Film Festival, Vogue staffer Zach Weiss was barred from the premiere of “Jeanne Du Barry” for wearing an ensemble that was deemed “too colorful.”

“It must be noir, both the jacket and the shoes,” an official was overheard telling Weiss.

Who has broken the dress code rules on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet?

Pablo Picasso, 1953

The legendary artist wore a shearling coat over his corduroy suit at the 1953 Cannes Film Festival, though he was still allowed to walk the red carpet.

Tilda Swinton, 2004

While clutches remain the most popular silhouette for handbags on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet, Tilda Swinton bypassed protocol and opted for a large, netted tote at the premiere of “Fahrenheit 911” in 2004.

Julia Roberts, 2016

Julia Roberts forwent footwear while walking the “Money Monster” red carpet in an off-the-shoulder Armani Privé gown and an emerald Chopard necklace.

Kristen Stewart, 2018

Kristen Stewart removed her Christian Louboutin heels at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Spike Lee’s “Blackkklansman” in 2018.

“There’s definitely a distinct dress code,” she later told The Hollywood Reporter. “People get very upset at you if you don’t wear heels or whatever. I feel like you can’t ask that anymore, but it’s still a given. If you’re not asking guys to wear heels and a dress, then you can’t ask me either.”

DJ Kiddy Smile, 2019

French musician, dancer and television personality DJ Kiddy Smile critiqued Cannes’ rules on gender-fluid dressing. He was nearly turned away from the premiere of “Pain and Glory” in 2019 after wearing a floral gown.

Jennifer Lawrence, 2023

After pairing her Dior gown with flip flops, Jennifer Lawrence said she didn’t know she was breaking protocol. “I had no clue,” the actress told Entertainment Tonight last year. “My shoes were a size too big.”

Chris Hemsworth, 2024

Chris Hemsworth didn’t wear a tie on the red carpet at the premiere of “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” thereby breaking the festival’s black tie dress code.