Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry revealed she had to make a last-minute wardrobe change after being caught off guard by the Cannes Film Festival’s newly tightened red carpet dress code. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Berry said her original outfit was deemed non-compliant due to its dramatic train.
“I had an amazing dress by [designer] Gupta to wear tonight, and I cannot wear it because the train’s too big,” said Berry, who is serving as a jury member at this year’s festival. “I had to make a pivot. But the nudity part I do think is probably also a good rule,” she added, referencing updated guidelines that now prohibit both nudity and oversized garments that could obstruct other attendees or complicate seating in the theater.
Festival organizers stated they reserve the right to deny red carpet access to anyone who fails to follow the revised dress code.
In recent years, red carpet fashion at Cannes has increasingly pushed boundaries, with celebrities opting for extravagant trains, sheer fabrics, and revealing ensembles. Controversy over dress codes also made headlines earlier this year when Kanye West and his wife, Bianca Censori, drew attention at the Grammy Awards—Censori appeared in a sheer dress with no undergarments beneath an oversized coat.
The Cannes updates also include a more inclusive footwear policy. Elegant flat shoes are now explicitly permitted on the red carpet, a change welcomed by jury president Juliette Binoche. “On the heel side, I think it’s a very good idea, by experience,” the French actress remarked on Tuesday.
The new dress code reflects the festival’s effort to maintain decorum and ensure smooth proceedings, even as celebrity fashion continues to evolve.
