STYLE

By GRAZIA INTERNATIONAL

16 May 2025

In Saint Laurent, Bella Hadid Teases The New Dress Code At Cannes

Plus, all the other incredible red carpet moments from the Cannes Film Festival.

bella-hadid-cannes-film-festival-2025 — CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 13: Bella Hadid attends the red carpet for the opening ceremony and “Partir Un Jour” (Leave One Day) screening at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 13, 2025 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)

The Cannes Film Festival is officially underway, with stars finally hitting the red carpet following a last-minute brow-raising dress code change. With this year’s ban on nudity, voluminous dresses and dramatic trains, an uptick in curiosity over the incoming looks can be expected. Fortunately, it seems the new rules are yet to affect the sartorial prowess we have all come to expect at the iconic festival year after year.

At Cannes, fashion rules have oft been broken, and nude moments have long been toed if not embraced. It seems this year was no different, with a few rebels among the crowd at the Croisette. Though skin-baring and traffic-stopping gowns aside, there were show-stopping looks abound.

A crowd favourite at the festival, Bella Hadid returned to the opening ceremony this year in a black custom Saint Laurent gown. While the model is no stranger to a nearly nude look, with her sheer dress last year grabbing headlines, this year she skirted around the concept, with a thigh high slit and low back on the silk number. Complimenting the look were strappy Saint Laurent heels and Chopard jewels. To top it all off, she showed off her new warm-blonde locks in a side part.

Hers was not the only look staying just within the new dress code. Fellow model Heidi Klum attended the festival in a large floral Elie Saab gown with a dramatic fluttering train—despite large trains being banned this year, it seems the festival isn’t enforcing this rule too heavily. The stunning floral illusion gown also featured a leg baring slit and was worn with Lorraine Schwartz jewels.

heidi-klum-cannes-film-festival-2025 — CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 13: Heidi Klum attends the red carpet for the opening ceremony and “Partir Un Jour” (Leave One Day) screening at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 13, 2025 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage)

On the other end of the spectrum, some stars decided to avoid risks altogether. Halle Berry, actress and a member of the festival jury this year, appeared on the red carpet in a chic Jac quemus black and white striped number. However, it turns out the high-neck gown was not her first pick.

“I had an amazing dress by [Gaurav] Gupta that I cannot wear tonight because it’s too big of a train,” Berry explained to Variety. “I’m not going to break the rules. The nudity part is also probably a good rule.” This statement comes not too long after Berry’s own sparkling, nearly-nude look on the Met Gala red carpet this year.

halle-berry-cannes-film-festival-2025 — CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 13: (L-R) Jury Members, Leïla Slimani, Halle Berry and Hong Sang-soo attend the red carpet for the opening ceremony and “Partir Un Jour” (Leave One Day) screening at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 13, 2025 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)

It’ll be interesting to see the ensembles that come out of the festival’s two weeks, and whether stars will continue to go against the grain or adjust to the festival’s new, prudent ethos.

Nonetheless, scroll on to see more of the key looks that have come out thus far.