What rules? Stars defy Cannes Film Festival dress code

Nudity has become the norm in the entertainment industry, with stars like Bianca Censori and the Kardashian-Jenner sisters pushing the envelope to the limit. 

However, the organisers of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in France decided to bring back decency to the red carpet with strict dress code rules. 

Top of the list: no nudity and voluminous outfits. 

The former needs no further explanation, while the latter has more to do with long trains and billowing garments causing major traffic jams on the red carpet. 

So, imagine our surprise when the opening night of the Cannes Festival kicked off with some well-known celebrities already flouting the rules.

At the top of the list was German model Heidi Klum, who arrived on the red carpet in a stunning, and clearly voluminous, gown.  

Her pink floral dress even featured an elaborate train. 

Miss Klum, the rules clearly state: “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." 

We don't blame her for ignoring the dress code because her Eli Saab dress was a 10/10. Joséphine Bonaparte would be proud. Viva la (fashion) revolution.

If Klum brought the drama, then Chinese actress Wan QianHui brought the spectacle. She didn't just break the rules, she set the rulebook on fire. 

Her cascading, cloud-like outfit turned heads on the red carpet for all the right - and wrong - reasons. 

We don't expect her to get an invite in the mail for Cannes 2026, showstopper or not.

In Wan and Klum's defence, they probably heard about dress code changes a little late. Actress and festival jury member Halle Berry admitted that she had to change her dress at the last minute. 

“I had an amazing dress by [Gaurav] Gupta to wear tonight, and I cannot wear it because the train’s too big. I had to make a pivot. But the nudity part I do think is probably also a good rule, Reuters quoted her as saying. 

Her backup dress did not have the wow factor a la Klum and Wan. 

Break the rules next time, Berry! 

Here's a look at what some of the stars wore, including a few rule breakers. 

Heidi Klum

Wan QianHui

Farhana Bodi 

Eva Longoria

Alessandra Ambrosio 

Bella Hadid

Irina Shayk

Aliia Roza

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Main image credit: Instagram/Wan QianHui