The Cannes Film Festival red carpet is perhaps the most rigidly controlled red carpet in the world and now, the festival has added a new stipulation: no nudity.
While nudity was never previously endorsed at the festival, Cannes updated its dress policy on the eve of its 78th edition to read that ‘nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival’.
While a no-shirt-no-service policy is standard in places far less glamorous than Cannes, the policy tweak sparked widespread attention Monday because of the recent trend of sheer and ‘nude dresses’, such as Bianca Censori’s Grammys appearance.
Asked for clarity on the policy, Cannes press officers said the festival ‘made explicit in its charter certain rules that have long been in effect’.
“The aim is not to regulate attire per se, but to prohibit full nudity on the red carpet, in accordance with the institutional framework of the event and French law,” it said. Cannes also noted that “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.”
Still, skin has often been flashed at the French Riviera festival by celebrities like Bella Hadid, Naomi Campbell and Kendall Jenner, and dress policies have long been flouted by celebrities. For evening premieres at the Palais’ Grand Théâtre Lumière, black tie and evening wear are required. Though not in recent years, Cannes security officials have sometimes turned away women for not wearing heels.
The festival also banned selfies in 2018 – Cannes director Thierry Frémaux called them ‘grotesque’ – but A-listers sometimes snap a quick photo on the Palais steps.
The festival kicked off on Tuesday.