The 78th Cannes Film Festival has implemented a new dress code, prohibiting nudity and voluminous outfits on the red carpet and other festival areas. This decision, communicated in a letter to attendees, aims to ensure proper traffic flow and maintain decency. The ban includes outfits with long trains that could impede movement.
This new rule builds upon previous Cannes red carpet regulations, such as the ban on selfies introduced a decade ago to prevent congestion. The festival aims to prevent incidents like a 2022 topless protest and incidents similar to the one at the Grammy Awards, where Bianca Censori wore a revealing outfit.
The festival's red carpet is a major focal point, attracting significant media attention and sponsorship from brands like Chopard, L'Oréal, and Kering. Past controversies include incidents where women wearing flats were denied entry, prompting celebrities like Julia Roberts and Kristen Stewart to walk the red carpet barefoot in protest.
Despite the updated guidelines, the festival maintains that they are not seeking to regulate fashion, but rather to prohibit complete nudity in line with French law. The dress code for attendees includes formal attire, such as tuxedos and long gowns, with guidelines for suitable accessories and footwear. Bags of a large size are also prohibited.