Cannes Film Festival Bans Nude Dresses and Oversized Gowns on Red Carpet

CANNES, France — The Cannes Film Festival appears to have drawn a red line for the red carpet.

Organizers unveiled a new dress code Monday, with rules prohibiting nudity as well as oversize gowns and trains.

“For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other areas of the festival,” the festival wrote. The notice appeared on the website Sunday.

“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,” the statement read.

This comes a year after security personnel had an on-camera altercation with Dominican actress Massiel Taveras as a guard urged her to move down the carpet quickly at “The Count of Monte Christo” premiere. Taveras was wearing a gown with a train that was several feet long and printed with the face of Jesus Christ that took over much of the red carpet.

Bella Hadid has championed nude looks on the Cannes red carpet, including a Schiaparelli scoop dress with a gold and rhinestone lung-shaped necklace in place of a top in 2021, and a body-hugging sheer dress from Saint Laurent last year.

Models Natasha Poly, Irina Shayk and Heidi Klum have also worn barely there sheer or bandage-style looks, and model Leila Depina donned a chain dress over thong underwear in 2023.

The film festival’s new rule comes a decade after “flatgate,” when a group of women were turned away from the premiere of Cate Blanchett’s “Carol” because they were not wearing high heels. Three years later, Kristen Stewart famously removed her heels on the red carpet and went barefoot up the stairs.

“There’s definitely a distinct dress code, right?” Stewart said at the time. “People get very upset if you don’t wear heels or whatever. I feel like you can’t ask people that any more — it’s a given. If you’re not asking guys to wear heels and a dress, you cannot ask me either.”

The dress code has since been updated to allow for flats: it now reads “elegant shoes and sandals with or without a heel (no sneakers).” The rules also ask for evening attire, but add that a “little black dress” is sufficient.

The festival also banned selfies on the red carpet in 2017, which has caused considerable interference by security guards who do not allow non-celebrities to linger on the red carpet.