Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry encountered an unexpected fashion setback at this year’s Cannes Film Festival after her original outfit was deemed non-compliant with the event’s newly tightened dress code. The actress, who is serving on the festival’s prestigious jury panel, had planned to wear a dramatic couture piece by Indian designer Gaurav Gupta, but was informed at the last moment that her outfit’s voluminous train violated new red carpet guidelines.
“I had an amazing dress by [Gaurav] Gupta to wear tonight, and I cannot wear it because the train’s too big,” Berry said during the official Cannes jury press conference, as reported by Variety. Despite the disappointment, the X-Men star said she was willing to adapt. “I had to make a pivot. But the nudity part, I do think, is probably also a good rule.”
Berry later appeared at the Grand Théâtre Lumière in a sleek black-and-white halter-neck gown by French label Jacquemus. The look, though elegant and structured, steered clear of the volume and skin exposure now restricted by the updated festival protocol.
Halle Berry attended the festival along with fellow jury members – Succession fame Jeremy Strong, Indian film director Payal Kapadia, South Korean filmmaker Hong Sangsoo, Italian actor Alba Rohrwacher, French-Moroccan Leïla Slimani, Congolese documentarist Dieudo Hamadi, and Carlos Reygadas from Mexico, with Juliette Binoche as the president of the jury.
Cannes Film Festival sets new strict dress code
According to the new dress code rules issued by the Cannes Film Festival, “This year, the Cannes Film Festival has 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.”
Organisers have also clarified that access to red carpet screenings may be denied to anyone whose clothing causes delays, disrupts the flow of arrivals, or makes others uncomfortable.
The new dress code, which took effect on May 12, is part of an effort by the Cannes Film Festival to enforce longstanding but previously unspoken rules about attire. The 2025 charter explicitly bans full nudity and oversized garments on the red carpet — a move organisers say aligns with the event’s institutional values and French legal standards.
The guidelines extend beyond the main red carpet appearances. For evening screenings between 7 and 10 p.m., guests are expected to wear elegant attire — think cocktail dresses, tailored suits, or chic evening wear. Sneakers are explicitly banned, with only refined footwear, including dress shoes and heeled or flat sandals, being acceptable.
Meanwhile, Indian cinema continues to enjoy strong representation at Cannes 2025, with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan returning as a red carpet staple. Joining her this year are Alia Bhatt, Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter, veteran actress Sharmila Tagore, and Nitanshi Goel of Laapataa Ladies fame.