The Cannes Film Festival has just announced a major shakeup to its red carpet dress code.
Ahead of the 2025 festival, the iconic cinematic event has banned guests from wearing outfits that showcase full nudity or ‘voluminous’ ensembles.’
‘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,’ per the festival’s new rules.
‘The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.’
The Hollywood Reporter reports that a rep for the festival said the charter was updated to reflect ‘certain rules that have long been in effect.’
The rep shared that the festival’s intention was ‘not to regulate attire per se but to prohibit full nudity on the carpet’ per the institutional framework of the festival as well as French law.
The update comes as red carpet looks have trended towards the sheer and revealing in recent years, with Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori famously wearing a completely see-through dress to The Grammys this year.
Cannes has always had strict dress codes, specifically for screenings at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, where the most glamorous events are usually held.
Black tie and evening wear is required for those screenings. The guidance reads: ‘little black dress, cocktail dress, dark-colored pantsuit, a dressy top with black pants; elegant shoes and sandals with or without a heel; a black or navy-blue suit with bow-tie or dark-colored tie. Tote-bags, backpacks or large bags are prohibited.’
The backlash online to revealing looks has made it clear that many people agree with Cannes’ stance and aren’t comfortable with the evolution of modesty standards.
There’s a long list of celebs who have ditched bras in the past, including Doja Cat, Kendall Jenner, Dua Lipa, Rihanna, and Miley Cyrus – all of whom have faced criticism for the bold choice.
User @tabxssum wrote: ‘I’m sorry I just find sheer dresses like these where you can see the boobs/everything but the nipple is so unprofessional/tacky. It also looks so cheap.’
@DutchDidNothingWrong agreed, commenting: ‘Getting sick of famous people doing acts of exhibitionism at formal events.’
User @Perfect_Restaurant_4 put it plainly, writing: ‘Too much nips. I’d be so embarrassed to talk to her with all her boobs right there. Topless on a beach/around the pool fine, but not boobs out at a formal occasion.’
Others argued that baring it all makes stars seem desperate. @Felonious_Minx wrote: ‘I have the reflex to dislike “naked” type clothing right off the bat now because it is so common and screams desperation for attention.’
But some have argued that nipple-baring looks can be empowering for women. Olivia Wilde, for example, said in a 2021 interview with Vogue that she supports ‘freeing the nipple.’
Wilde said: ‘Absolutely. It’s culturally specific because obviously in other countries there’s less of a fear of the nipple. I think that we can all really benefit from making sure that we don’t allow the stigmatisation of women’s bodies to infect our own perspective of ourself.’
She went on to call out society’s ‘puritanical perspective’ on women’s nipples, reflecting on how breastfeeding changed her relationship with her breasts.
She said: ‘If we are allowed opportunities to celebrate our body, it has an effect. It has an effect on how we treat one another and how we treat ourselves. I wish that in this country, we weren’t so terrified of women’s bodies in the way that we are and have this kind of puritanical perspective on nipples.’
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