The 78th Cannes Film Festival may have just begun, but the red carpet drama is already in full swing — and not just because of the films. In a bold and unexpected move, reports cnn.com, Cannes organisers implemented a new dress code hours before the festival’s grand opening, banning nudity and “voluminous outfits” to streamline red carpet flow and tone down recent fashion extremes.
But Hollywood’s fashion elite had other plans.
Heidi Klum kicked things off in spectacular defiance, arriving in a dramatic petal-shaped Elie Saab gown that swirled across the carpet despite the ban. Chinese star Wan QianHui followed suit, turning heads in a breathtaking tulle creation by Wang Feng, unapologetically oversized and rule-breaking.
Meanwhile, Halle Berry took the high road, swapping her original Gaurav Gupta masterpiece for a more modest striped Jacquemus dress. “I’m not going to break the rules,” she said at a press event, though her regret was palpable.
Bella Hadid also managed to toe the line with a barely-there Saint Laurent gown that featured a thigh-high slit — a clever nod to the nudity ban without crossing it. Jeremy Strong opted for flair with a dusty rose tuxedo and matching accessories, while Irina Shayk stunned in a classic Armani Privé ensemble.
•Featured image: Heidi Klum/Gisela Schober/German Select/Getty Images
