The opening day of the 78th Cannes Film Festival was marked by glamour, glitz—and a notable snub of the event’s newly imposed dress code. Despite the organising committee’s efforts to enforce stricter guidelines aimed at ensuring “decency” and easing movement on the red carpet, several high-profile celebrities blatantly disregarded the rules, showcasing extravagant outfits that defied the new restrictions.
Ahead of the festival, the Cannes committee introduced fresh dress code rules, stating, “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 theatre are not permitted.” These measures were intended to maintain decorum and practical logistics during the bustling event.
However, these guidelines did little to curb the festival’s signature flair for sartorial drama. The Day 1 red carpet featured an array of bold and voluminous gowns, with some celebrities openly flaunting the new rules. American actress and model Heidi Klum arrived in a maximalist floral Elie Saab gown complete with a long train, a clear violation of the dress code. Klum’s choice set the tone for the evening, where extravagance took precedence over compliance.
Chinese actor and influencer Wan QianHui also defied the dress code in an all-white strapless gown with a billowing, cloud-like, tiered skirt that was anything but discreet. Eva Longoria graced the carpet in a strapless metallic gown featuring a long black train, further highlighting the festival’s penchant for dramatic fashion statements.
Not all celebrities were as carefree, however. Halle Berry, a member of this year’s festival jury, was compelled to change her outfit at the last minute due to the new rules. Berry revealed at a press conference, “I had an amazing dress by Gupta to wear tonight, and I cannot wear it because the train’s too big.” Her experience underscores the tension between creative expression and event regulations.
Influencer and ‘Dubai Bling’ star Farhana Bodi also turned heads in a sparkling pink gown adorned with sculptural ruffles and a flowing petal cape from Atelier Zuhra, reinforcing that many attendees chose style over strict adherence.
This year’s festival will also see a significant presence of Indian celebrities on the red carpet, including Jacqueline Fernandez, Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Nitanshi Goel, and Shalini Passi. Payal Kapadia, who made history in 2024 as the first Indian to win the Grand Prix award at Cannes for her film All We Imagine As Light, returns this year as a jury member, adding to the festival’s international prestige.
While the organising committee aims to balance decorum with spectacle, Day 1 of Cannes 2025 made it clear that for many stars, the allure of bold fashion outweighs the lure of rule-following.
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