Cannes 2025: A New Dress Code Dethrones Nudity and Excess on the Red Carpet Where the world’s most glamorous once dared to bare, modesty now reigns.
- Luxe magazine Switzerland
- May 14
- 2 min read
Cannes 2025: A New Dress Code Dethrones Nudity and Excess on the Red Carpet
Where the world’s most glamorous once dared to bare, modesty now reigns.
In the grand theatre of global cinema, the Cannes Film Festival has long served as both a cultural showcase and a catwalk of audacious self-expression. Yet in 2025, the legendary red carpet once synonymous with sartorial provocation has undergone a dramatic transformation. The festival’s organisers have declared a new era of elegance: nudity and voluminous garments are now formally banned.
This unprecedented shift in protocol, confirmed by multiple reputable sources including AP News, Vogue, and Cosmopolitan, marks a significant redefinition of what it means to be fashionable under the Mediterranean sun.
“Decency and Safety”: The Official Word
In an official statement issued ahead of the 77th edition of the festival, the new dress code was outlined with clarity:
“Nudity is not permitted on the red carpet, nor in any official festival area. Additionally, oversized outfits or those with exaggerated volume are discouraged, as they impede the movement of guests and complicate logistics.”
While some critics see this as an act of sartorial censorship, festival officials frame it as a practical and cultural necessity one shaped by public order laws in France and increasing concerns over crowd control. This follows recent events in which revealing ensembles and activist nudity caused both headlines and headaches.
The Cultural Context: A Response to Recent Provocations
This policy update comes in the wake of controversial fashion moments like Bianca Censori’s barely-there ensemble at the 2025 Grammy Awards and disruptive topless protests at previous editions of Cannes, where activists used nudity as political theatre.
Even icons of the industry such as Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner, once lauded for pushing boundaries, may find themselves reimagining their fashion playbooks. This year, Halle Berry’s demure yet striking appearance was widely praised, seen by many as a masterclass in navigating this new aesthetic order.
Whispers of Disparity: Who Must Obey?
Despite the official tone of uniformity, questions remain about whether the rules will be applied equitably. American singer Kelly Rowland made headlines after a tense exchange with security on the red carpet prompting discussion about possible double standards in enforcement, particularly along racial and celebrity-status lines.
Publications such as InStyle and India Times have explored whether this is truly a new code for all, or merely another costume drama in which some stars remain exempt.
The End of Excess or the Birth of Subtle Grandeur?
While many mourn the loss of fashion’s most dramatic flair, others welcome the return to refined elegance. Cannes, after all, has always thrived on both spectacle and symbolism. If 2025 signals the end of sheer panels and ten-foot trains, perhaps it also signals the rise of a more intelligent glamour where sophistication whispers louder than skin.
Time will tell whether this evolution tempers creativity or births a new era of innovation under constraint.
