Cannes 2025 best looks — plus the stars who defied the new dress code

What a year for Cannes Film Festival fashion. The already-strict dress code was ramped up further for 2025, with organisers banning ‘naked’ dresses, along with overly voluminous gowns and dresses with long trains. It was claimed it is for “decency” reasons and to stop red carpet traffic building up.

It’s impact has been notable. Elle Fanning, a fashion favourite from last year’s Cannes, eschewed the nearly-naked dressing she had employed for the 2024 event in favour of several more opaque, but still super glamorous looks.

Her final gown, worn for the closing ceremony on Saturday, was a full princess moment, with tiered, powder blue ruffles, a bow waistband and embellished shoulder straps.

The actor who is part of the cast of Joachim Trier’s Affeksjonsverdi (Sentimental Value), also left onlookers’ mouths agape with her Armani Privé floral gown on Wednesday.

And while red carpet traffic may be the talk of the town, we were glad to see Die, My Love co-stars Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Lawrence have been taking liberties by lingering and fooling around on their way into the Palais des Festivals. They’re the 2010s super pairing we didn’t know we needed until now.

Plus, J-Law’s style is better than ever. Her custom white Dior gown is both a rule-breaker with its long train and pure red carpet perfection.

There have been some casualties of the new rules. On day one, Halle Berry was apparently forced to swap her Gurav Guptan gown for a striped Jacquemus number due to her train being too long.

Others thinking outside the box for ways to add volume to their look. Dakota Johnson delighted red carpet attendees and photographers alike with her lilac Gucci dress on Monday, giving everyone a twirl to show off her two tiers of cascading tinsel.

Meanwhile, reigning Queen of Cannes, Bella Hadid, returned to her French playground, this time with a very 2000s blonde side-part. The supermodel opted for a relatively modest, fitted black dress by Saint Laurent. It was a distinct departure from her typically daring approach to Cannes dressing.

Another Cannes regular also made a comeback: Irina Shayk has been offering dramatic look after dramatic look, dominating red carpets in dark, moody garments by Elie Saab, Yves Saint Laurent and Armani Privé.

As for the guys, Jeremy Strong has been donning to his beloved pink suiting. While Pedro Pascal provided plenty of fodder for memes wearing a simple black muscle T-shirt to the Eddington photocall. You know what you’re doing, Pedro.

Elsewhere, more men of Cannes were flexing their high fashion muscles. Kudos goes to Alexander Skarsgård for riding out the heat in a pair of over-the-knee Saint Laurent leather boots.

And that’s not all. Luckily with Cannes 2025 continuing until May 24, there are still plenty of good and great gowns to be pored over. For all the best looks, read on.