This year’s Cannes Film Festival came with a fashion rulebook.
Naked dresses? Not allowed. Long trains? Out. Sneakers, backpacks, oversized totes? Absolutely not. Voluminous gowns? Nope.
But let’s be real; when has couture ever played by the rules?
Here’s who shook things up at Cannes 2025 -- one jaw-dropping outfit at a time.
IMAGE: Qianhui Wan floated in like high-fashion mist with layers of net, frothy ruffles and a dramatic train at the opening ceremony.
Banned but worn: Over-the-top volume.
Photograph: Stephane Mahe/Reuters
Banned but worn: Over-the-top volume.
Photograph: Stephane Mahe/Reuters
IMAGE: Farhana Bodi lit up the carpet in a shimmering Barbie-esque gown.
Banned but worn: Voluminous fashion.
Photograph: Stephane Mahe/Reuters
Banned but worn: Voluminous fashion.
Photograph: Stephane Mahe/Reuters
IMAGE: Elaine Zhong's gown spoke in curves, layers and high drama.
Banned but worn: Volume overload.
Photograph: Stephane Mahe/Reuters
Banned but worn: Volume overload.
Photograph: Stephane Mahe/Reuters
IMAGE: Iris Mittenaere’s black ensemble left little to the imagination.
Banned but worn: Revealing silhouette.
Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters
Banned but worn: Revealing silhouette.
Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters
IMAGE: Heidi Klum twirled in like a couture tornado.
Banned but worn: A train that had its own zip code.
Photograph: Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters
Banned but worn: A train that had its own zip code.
Photograph: Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters
IMAGE: Saga Gardarsdottir played peek-a-boo with a daring knit dress that left little to guess.
Banned but worn: Nudity clause ignored.
Photograph: Manon Cruz/Reuters
Banned but worn: Nudity clause ignored.
Photograph: Manon Cruz/Reuters
IMAGE: Charli XCX was all about attitude and edge.
Banned but worn: Revealing outfit.
Photograph: Stephane Mahe/Reuters
Banned but worn: Revealing outfit.
Photograph: Stephane Mahe/Reuters
IMAGE: Elsa Hosk brought in vintage luxury with a sweeping white gown trimmed with fur.
Banned but worn: Trailing gown.
Photograph: Stephane Mahe/Reuters
Banned but worn: Trailing gown.
Photograph: Stephane Mahe/Reuters
IMAGE: Frederique Bel served fierce with sequins, cutouts, a deep neckline and yes, a French fry clutch.
Banned but worn: Immodest styling.
Photograph: Stephane Mahe/Reuters
Banned but worn: Immodest styling.
Photograph: Stephane Mahe/Reuters
IMAGE: Veena Praveenar Singh glided in organza like a noir dream.
Banned but worn: Oversized silhouette.
Photograph: Stephane Mahe/Reuters
Banned but worn: Oversized silhouette.
Photograph: Stephane Mahe/Reuters
IMAGE: Llucia Garcia showed up shimmering and barely covered.
Banned but worn: Naked dress.
Photograph: Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters
Banned but worn: Naked dress.
Photograph: Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters
IMAGE: Halle Berry went bold in a pink-black colour-block gown -- structured, sculpted and totally Cannes-unapproved.
Banned but worn: Gown with exaggerated shape.
Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters
Banned but worn: Gown with exaggerated shape.
Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters
IMAGE: Balqees Ahmed Fathi sparkled like a disco ball in Oscar De La Renta.
Banned but worn: Giant ball gown.
Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters
Banned but worn: Giant ball gown.
Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters
IMAGE: Franziska Nazarenus turned heads in flowing white.
Banned but worn: Voluminous gown.
Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters
Banned but worn: Voluminous gown.
Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters
IMAGE: Aliia Roza brought full-blown fantasy in a disco-glam gown.
Banned but worn: Train, train, baby.
Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters
Banned but worn: Train, train, baby.
Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters
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