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The French Riviera is once again basking in cinematic glory as the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival rolls out its iconic red carpet. With every click of the camera and every swish of a designer gown, the event continues to cement its status as a holy grail for cinephiles and fashion aficionados alike. However, this year, the glam fest came with a twist—some very specific new fashion rules that sparked both obedience and rebellion among A-listers.
Hours before the festival commenced, Cannes organizers dropped a sartorial bombshell: nudity was strictly off-limits. This meant a resounding no to the “naked” dress trend that has dominated red carpets from Hollywood to Harare. In addition, voluminous gowns with extravagant trains were banned in the name of “traffic control”—a decision that left many designers scrambling and stylists sobbing into their steamer trunks.
Actress Halle Berry was among the rule followers, revealing she had to scrap a dazzling Gaurav Gupta gown due to its oversized train. “I’m not going to break the rules,” she said, with the reluctant compliance of a student handing in a group assignment solo. But for every Halle, there was a Heidi. Supermodel Heidi Klum showed up in a dress that practically needed its own postal code, defying the regulations in full glamour mode. Chinese actress Wan QianHui joined her in the rebellion, both of them sashaying their way into the festival’s fashion history books.
Despite the rules, creativity flourished. Cannes saw reimagined tailoring that challenged gender norms, thigh-high boots for men that had more drama than a telenovela, and even denim couture that turned recycled jeans into runway-worthy masterpieces. The red carpet, though restricted, still managed to serve drama, elegance, and a touch of anarchy—just the way Cannes likes it.
In a world where red carpets often feel like déjà vu, Cannes 2025 redefined glamour by embracing restraint and ingenuity. Fashion may have had new rules, but the game stayed just as fierce.