Everything we know about Cannes' ban on sheer and over dramatic ensembles on the red carper

After the sartorial magic of the Met Gala, fashion moguls were eagerly looking forward to the next big fashion moment—the Cannes Film Festival. One of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, Cannes is known not just for its cinematic brilliance but also for its glittering red carpet. Because let’s be honest—Cannes is just as much about the fashion as it is about the films. So much so that this Riviera red carpet has become a runway in its own right, hosting some of the most iconic fashion moments in history.

From Bella Hadid’s gravity-defying Schiaparelli lung necklace gown in 2021 to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s butterfly-inspired Michael Cinco extravaganza in 2018, and of course, Julia Fox’s string of sheer ensembles over the years, Cannes has long been the playground for bold, dramatic, and occasionally (borderline) outrageous fashion. And surprisingly, these are the very moments that turn red carpets into cultural flashpoints. But in a move that completely stunned the fashion world—and everyone around—the Cannes Film Festival has reportedly placed a ban on sheer fabrics and oversized silhouettes for its 2025 memo.

The announcement came just a day before the event, via an internal memo that quickly made its way through social media. The document outlined a stricter-than-ever dress code for red carpet screenings, citing “logistical efficiency,” “guest safety,” and “red carpet visibility” as the key reasons behind the sudden change. Moreover, it also addressed concerns around appropriateness and public perception. “For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival,” it stated, sparking a flurry of speculation about which past looks may have triggered this clause. The organisers were quick to clarify the intention wasn’t to police creativity, but rather to uphold the image of the festival, adding, “The intention is not to regulate fashion but to maintain a standard of presentation in line with French law and the identity of the festival.”

The statement also took aim at extravagant, oversized silhouettes—specifically those with floor-sweeping trains that have become red carpet staples. “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. The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules,” it read.

As one would expect, the reaction from the fashion circuit was swift and chaotic. Stylists and designers took to Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), airing their frustration and confusion—some even hinting at last-minute scrambles to find backup outfits. For celebrities flying in with months-in-the-making couture looks, the timing couldn’t have been worse. 

Naturally, the fashion world was quick to speculate on the real reason behind the sudden—and somewhat last-minute—crackdown. And crowd control seems to be the most plausible reasoning for this sudden ban. In both 2023 and 2024, gowns with extravagant trains—gorgeous as they were—reportedly caused significant bottlenecks at the red carpet entrance, pushing screening schedules back by up to 15 minutes. Photographers, too, struggled to get clean shots as layers of sheer fabric blurred lenses and flooded frames. For an event already packed with back-to-back premieres and press calls, the organisers may simply be trying to restore some much-needed order.

There’s also the question of tone. Cannes, at its core, is a celebration of cinema, rooted in tradition and prestige. And while the red carpet has always been a fashion moment, some argue it’s begun to eclipse the films themselves. The rise of ultra-sheer and barely-there outfits has sparked debates around appropriateness, with critics questioning whether such bold style choices sit comfortably within the festival’s legacy.

That said, it’s hard to ignore the impact these very looks have had on red carpet history. Bella Hadid’s now-iconic “naked” Schiaparelli moment, Deepika Padukone’s voluminous tulle gowns as a jury member, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s dreamy, Cinderella-esque Michael Cinco creation in 2019—these were not just outfits, they were statements. If the new rules remain, we may be witnessing the end of an era: one where the Cannes red carpet dialled up the drama and fashion was allowed to flirt unapologetically with excess. A more restrained, perhaps minimalist, chapter might be just around the corner.

All images: Getty Images 

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