Cannes Fashion Throwback: Iconic Red Carpet Looks That Would Be Banned In 2025

Over the years, Cannes has become a global style spectacle, with celebrities, models and influencers invited not only to celebrate film, but also to take part in the festival’s famously glamorous red carpet fashion.

However, this year brought significant changes. Just before the 2025 festival began, organisers introduced new rules banning visible nudity and gowns with long, sweeping trains. The aim was to keep the red carpet looking polished and safe. Yet, this marks the end of an era for some of the most daring and dramatic looks in Cannes history.

Now that the festival has drawn to a close, let us take a look back at some of the most unforgettable outfits from past years, dresses and designs that, under today’s rules, would not stand a chance on the red carpet.

La Cicciolina’s 1988 Bare All Ensemble 

Ilona Staller, the Italian Hungarian performer and former adult film star,  appearance at Cannes remains one of the most talked about and controversial moments in red carpet history. She arrived wearing a barely there white dress with bold cutouts. She completed the look with lacy stockings, gloves, a flower crown and a stuffed Popples toy, a children’s toy that would soon become her signature. The combination was provocative yet whimsical, blurring the lines between fashion, performance art and shock spectacle.

Bella Hadid’s 2021 Lung Dress 

Bella Hadid is no stranger to turning heads at Cannes, but her 2021 look took red carpet risk to another level. She wore a dramatic black Schiaparelli gown with a neckline plunging below the bust, leaving her chest exposed except for a sculptural gold necklace shaped like lungs. It was bold, artistic and instantly iconic.

Massiel Taveras’ 2024 “Jesus Dress” 

Massiel Taveras made headlines in 2024 with one of the most dramatic Cannes entrances in recent memory. She wore a flowing white gown featuring an enormous train hand painted with an image of Jesus. The theatrical fabric caused chaos on the iconic steps and even prompted security intervention.

Cameron Diaz’s 2002 Versace Moment 

Cameron Diaz brought edge to the Cannes red carpet when she attended the Gangs of New York premiere in a sheer, sparkly black Versace gown. Featuring a single shoulder strap and a daring thigh high slit, the dress boldly revealed her black underwear beneath. At a time when the “naked dress” trend was still emerging, this look became a statement in its own right.

Victoria Abril’s 1997 Blazer Surprise 

Victoria Abril made a memorable statement at Cannes in 1997 with what seemed like a classic black blazer and red tie, until she turned around. The back of her blazer was dramatically cut away, revealing her thong underwear in a bold, unexpected twist. Playful and provocative at the time, this cheeky reveal would now be deemed too risqué under the festival’s 2025 dress code.

Winnie Harlow’s 2018 Metallic Train 

For the premiere of Solo: A Star Wars Story, Winnie Harlow wore a custom metallic silver gown by Jean Louis Sabaji, featuring bold cut-outs and a sweeping floor-length train. The train was so long it required assistance to be carefully arranged for photos on the carpet.