Comedian Vir Das took a satirical jab at the new dress code policy announced by the Cannes International Film Festival, which restricts “naked-dress” styles and voluminous outfits. Posting on Instagram, Das humorously described his fictional outfit as a “dark-beige, 78-foot-long, off-shoulder piece”.
“I refuse to let our culture be shunted,” Das wrote, adding that he had planned to take “multiple selfies of cultural significance” at the event. His remarks were a reaction to Cannes’ updated dress code, which states 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.”
While the policy has not triggered widespread public reactions yet, it has sparked conversations online, particularly in light of Cannes’ previous controversial dress code decisions. In 2015, the festival faced backlash for reportedly denying women entry for wearing flat shoes. A year later, the city of Cannes banned burkinis from beaches, citing public order concerns during a time of heightened security threats in France.
Fashion at global events has long drawn scrutiny. Earlier this year, musician Kanye West and his wife Bianca Censori caused a stir at the Grammys when Censori appeared in a sheer dress. The couple was escorted out by police mid-event, an incident that further intensified debates on red-carpet dress codes.
While Cannes has issued the new guidelines, it remains unclear how strictly the policy will be enforced. Notably, celebrities like Julia Roberts and Kristen Stewart have previously defied the festival’s ‘no flats’ dress code in protest.