The Cannes Film Festival’s opening night proved that glamour cannot be constrained by regulations, as celebrities arrived in show-stopping looks that creatively navigated the event’s newly enforced dress code.
Festival organizers had issued guidelines ahead of the event, explicitly prohibiting nudity on the red carpet and restricting overly voluminous outfits that could disrupt the flow of guests. Yet, the stars demonstrated that elegance and personal style could flourish even within these parameters.
Julia Garner embraced a bold, sophisticated aesthetic in a sheer black gown layered over a detailed slip dress, while Bella Hadid opted for sleek, covered-up elegance in a floor-length Saint Laurent design—a notable departure from her previous, more revealing Cannes appearances. The evening also marked the debut of her newly blonde hair.
Halle Berry, serving on this year’s festival jury, made a stylish pivot at the last minute, swapping a gown deemed too voluminous for a striking black-and-white striped trapeze dress. She expressed support for the new rules, noting the nudity guideline was “probably a good rule.”
Elsewhere on the carpet, Alessandra Ambrosio turned heads in an avant-garde green gown with dramatic sleeves, and Lady Victoria Hervey made a feathery statement in pale pink. The night also featured a rare joint appearance by Robert De Niro and his partner, Tiffany Chen, with De Niro later using his acceptance of a lifetime achievement award to deliver pointed political commentary.
Ultimately, the evening underscored that high fashion and red-carpet spectacle remain integral to the Cannes experience, with stars skillfully adapting to the new standards without sacrificing their signature flair.
