This week, Cannes Film Festival’s 2025 edition made headlines across the globe, yet no movie had even begun to play. Just 24 hours out from the opening night, a small addendum appeared in the ‘dress code’ section of its website’s FAQs. “For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival,” it read. “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. The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.” Well that was that, then. Loud and clear.

As the fashion world deified images of Bella Hadid in nearly-nude Saint Laurent, and stricken celeb stylists were resuscitated on their hotel room floors, things quickly went back to normal. Granted, it was oddly cruel of the festival (not to mention hugely regressive) to change the rules the day before the carpet, but there’s no crying over spilt milk – the show must go on. No one proved that more than Kristen Stewart, who quite literally skirted the draconian dress code today in a see-through, pink skirt, but with strategically placed tweed shorts underneath. The Chronology Of Water actor completed the Chanel look with a tweed jacket over bare skin, the single button clasping it together a sardonic nod to the new policy.

At the other end of the festival, Charli xcx also flirted with codes of indecency, using her current Magnum sponsorship deal to pay tribute to Vivienne Westwood’s iconic 1994 Café Society show, where Kate Moss munched a Magnum on the runway. After walking the red carpet in a corset and micro mini from Westwood, Charli strutted the streets of Cannes with best mate Gabriette, munching on a choccy lolly just like Moss. Elsewhere, Hadid made her first post-dress code appearance in a much more demure (and opaque) Saint Laurent column, Irina Shayk donned 1998 YSL for an unexpected red carpet serve, while 17-year-old Barbie actor Ariana Greenblatt also went archive, wearing a SS93 Chanel corset a whole 15 years her senior.

Scroll through the gallery above to see all the best looks at Cannes 2025