The Cannes Red Carpet Gets Covered Up

What do you do when your red carpet dress is no longer allowed at the Cannes Film Festival? Well, that’s a question more than a few stylists are desperately trying to figure out.

On Monday, May 12, the 2025 Cannes Film Festival announced that the risqué naked dress trend, along with excessive trains, are prohibited from this year’s red carpet.

“For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the Red Carpet, as well as in any other area of the Festival,” the organization outlined on their website. “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.”

Of course, over the last few years, the naked dress has become a red carpet staple. As seen at the Met Gala, Oscars, Grammys and more, the style has almost become a rite of passage for a celebrity looking to cause a stir on social media or simply show off their jaunts to the gym. But what makes this ruling more alarming is that it’s coming on the wave of a cultural conservatism. In a time when women’s bodies are being policed more than ever, it’s disheartening to see that the typically lawless land of fashion isn’t safe.

Does this mean we’ll never again get Bella Hadid in a scantily clad, brown sheer gown by Saint Laurent? Or Elle Fanning in a translucent butter-yellow gown? Not necessarily. Celebrities, after all, are natural-born rebels (as are their stylists). Used to bending more than a few rules, we wouldn’t be surprised if someone snuck in a bare back or two onto the red carpet. This is Cannes — it’s 30°C and you’re five minutes from the beach! Who wouldn’t take that as an excuse to show a little skin?

We’ll be keeping up with the best Cannes fashion for the coming days and updating our red carpet roundup regularly. Scroll below to see our favourite looks from Cannes 2025.

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Photography by Getty Images

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Cate Blanchett in Louis Vuitton