May 21, 2025
The first entries in 2025’s list of best-dressed stars prove that the new Cannes Film Festival’s dress code was not intended to focus on the fashion of the stars.
The festival organizers announced a new set of controversial wardrobe restrictions 24 hours before Cannes regulars Eva Longoria and Bella Hadid walked the red carpet. To speed up the step-and repeat traffic, organizers banned voluminous, cascading trains. Nudity, which was perceived as an attack on celebrities wearing their favourite naked dresses, has been banned under the pretext of “decency.” Online debates erupted over the murky implications of the policy. Karla Welch, a stylist at Instagram Stories, called the restrictions “lame” and “patriarchal,” while Maeve Reilly told Vogue Business that they were “a disappointment.”
The A-listers teams were scrambling behind the scenes in the weeks leading up to the May 13 opening ceremony to make sure their clients would be able to meet the moment, whether they agreed or not. Cannes’ best dressed have so far still managed to deliver plenty of glamour. It doesn’t appear that any of the pieces they wore were last-minute requests or Hail Marys.
Bella Hadid wore a Saint Laurent gown that was a stunning combination of proportions and texture. Julia Garner wore a sequin Gucci gown. On day two, Zoe Saldana wowed in a black LBD with a matching jacket. Two long-time stars returned to the spotlight at the May 16 Eddington premier. Angelina Jolie attended her first Cannes Film Festival in more than a decade. Then, Natalie Portman in stunning custom Dior.
The next week was even more exciting, with Jennifer Lawrence wearing back-to-back Dior dresses and Rihanna arriving in a custom Alaia. It’s not over yet: the 2025 Cannes Film Festival runs through Saturday, May 25. Each day, there will be dozens of more runways and custom couture. We say bring it on! Some stylings will undoubtedly test the limits of the Cannes dress code.
The best-dressed stars at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival are updated daily with new memorable looks (and dress code-approved ones).
Elsa Hosk wearing Anastasia Zadorina
Elsa Hosk takes risks with her couture. Remember her surrealist Viktor & Rolf dress from the Cannes 2023 red carpet? This year, however, she and her stylist Dani Michelle chose to put aside the optical illusions in favour of a custom Anastasia Zadorina dress and Chopard jewellery that is perfectly elegant.
Naomi Campbell wearing Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda
How do you top a dress that was first seen on the runway many decades ago? A new couture gown with a baroque bodice, tulle skirt and intricate detailing challenges the space-saving dress codes. Naomi Campbell was at the Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of Fuori, but her ornate Dolce & Gabbana Altera Moda gown stole the show.
Scarlett Johansson in Prada
First-time directors often wear tuxedos as a sign of professionalism. Scarlett Johansson chose Scarlett Johansson, Kate Young and DeBeers Jewellery for the premiere of Eleanor the Great on May 19. The draped bodice of the drop-waist, strapless dress and the two-part train went against all conventions to look like a leader. But it worked.
Rihanna wearing custom Alaia
Rihanna is the only red carpet-competitor at the Cannes Film Festival. Her white Dior custom (and matching shades) from 2017 will live in fashion history, but her turquoise Alaia custom for the premiere of Highest to Lowest on May 19 has finally surpassed them. The asymmetric cutouts on the dress highlighted Baby No.3 and the Mediterranean beach outside the theatre. Ri, standing with A$AP Rocky in light rain, could have been reenacting her “Umbrella” music video, even sweeter with her family at her side.
Jennifer Lawrence in Dior
Die My Love star Jennifer Lawrence couldn’t get enough of her Cannes Dior gown. The actress quickly changed from a custom-made dress based on a 1949 design to a second outfit from Dior’s Fall 2024 Couture Collection. Jamie Mizrahi styled this look, which reflected the same chic understatement that characterized Lawrence’s New York City street style. The one-shoulder dress flowed like liquid off her body and pooled behind her into a dress-code-compliant train. Another small but mighty change complemented Lawrence’s new gown: a pair of dazzling wraparound Ana Khouri emerald and diamond earrings.
Alex Consani in custom Schiaparelli
The 2024 Model of the Year was ready to remind everyone of why she was awarded the title at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Alex Consani chose a Schiaparelli custom suit as a refreshing alternative to the sequin-coated, long-trained gowns that are typical of Cannes. Kevin Lanoy’s stylist skillfully balanced her circular neckline, sculptural peplum and loose black pants with pointed-toe heels. Consani’s hazy makeup and her top-model energy make this look pop.
Dakota Johnson is wearing Gucci custom.
Once a Gucci girl, always a Gucci girl. Dakota Johnson chose a strapless fringe dress from the Italian brand for the premiere of Highest 2 Lowest on May 19. Her Boucheron diamond earrings matched the sequin layer beneath her longline fringe dress. Johnson could not help but sway her dress in front of the cameras. It was a joy to watch, as she must have been feeling herself. Few guests at the film festival seemed to enjoy themselves on the red carpet, but Johnson appeared to be having a good time.
Zoey Deutch wearing custom Chanel
Zoey Deutch indeed wore her Chanel dress at the Nouveau Vague photocall, not on May 17, when it was first shown. Still, her custom design embodies everything magnifique about the Cannes Film Festival style. Deutch’s look was inspired by a Chanel dress from 1956, which shares the same striped body and bow details. It would fit perfectly on the French Riviera. Deutch’s look is inspired by a 1956 Chanel dress that shared the same striped bodice and bow details. This would be a perfect fit for the French Riviera.
Julianne Moore wearing Bottega Veneta
Since her appointment as creative director of Bottega Veneta was announced in December last year, fashion enthusiasts have been wondering what Louise Trotter would do with the brand. Julianne Moore wore a Trotter creation to The Phoenician Scheme premiere on May 18 at the Cannes Film Festival. The wraparound shape and leather fringe on the strap of her dress suggested a minimalist, sleek direction for the brand. Consensus says it bodes well for Trotter’s runway début this September.
Jennifer Lawrence in Dior
Fashionistas knew Jennifer Lawrence would be a red carpet star as soon as her horror-comedy Die, My Love was added to Cannes Film Festival’s roster. She made her first public appearance since 2023 wearing a custom Dior gown that incorporated nods to her 1920s wedding dress and archival 1949 Dior couture known as “Poulenc.” Jamie Mizrahi styled the pleated white dress in layers that resembled a stack of seashells from the Mediterranean Sea. Lawrence added a touch of New York City cool with her Sophie Buhai clutch and Aquazzura sandals.
Amal Clooney in vintage Dior
Red carpet appearances by Amal Clooney alone are rarer than shooting stars. After months of no sightings, fans of Amal Clooney’s stylish fashions got their reward when she attended the premiere of Bono: Stories of Surrender on May 16. She chose a vintage Christian Dior gown from the John Galliano period. This continues her decades-long tradition of wearing vintage couture over custom. The black dress had a low off-the-shoulder neckline, which extended into a dramatic train. Clooney did not break this year’s fabric ban. This look, paired with a side-parted blowout and diamond jewellery sprinkled on top, was elegance personified.
Kristen Stewart wearing custom Chanel
All hail the red carpet rebel of Cannes, bonjour. Kristen Stewart will be making her directorial début for The Chronology of Waterat Cannes’ 74th annual festival. She is doing it her way. This year’s look is a Chanel shortsuit in ivory, with strappy sandals, socks, and a matching cap. She attended a photocall in a sheer dress hours before the event to appear to be challenging the anti-see-through agenda of this year’s Dress Code. Stewart’s androgynous suits are another nod at the many ways women have defied tradition and won in Cannes.
Angelina Jolie wearing Brunello Cucinelli
Angelina Jolie has finally returned to the Cannes Film Festival after 14 years. She returned in a style that was refreshingly true to her current personal fashion era. She wore a Brunello Cuccinelli gown with its sculpted silhouette and glitter flecks.
Emma Stone in custom Louis Vuitton
The most anticipated Cannes 2025 arrival finally made her red carpet début on May 16, wearing a futuristic Louis Vuitton dress. Emma Stone has been experimenting with her red carpet gowns from the awards season through to the festival circuit. She’ll wear a sequined gown to subvert the mermaid look and then a red dress that has exaggerated pockets in which she can store movie popcorn. The split white bib adds a surrealistic touch to the otherwise minimalistic white column design.
Natalie Portman wearing custom Dior
What happens when you combine 700 hours of meticulous Dior atelier work with the legendary “Mexican Model” evening gown from 1951’s winter haute couture collection? Natalie Portman’s custom-made look for the Eddington premiere on May 16, of course. She altered the original dress, which was flecked in gold, to reflect a starry night in black and silver. Hand-embroidered, shimmering half-moons were placed on the skirt. You could look at the details of this dress for hours without getting tired.
Ariana Greenblatt wearing custom Louis Vuitton
Ariana Greenblatt’s first Cannes Film Festival will be memorable thanks to her second custom-made Louis Vuitton gown. Molly Dickson took this look from La Croisette to a whole new level with its exaggerated curves and skirt that extends far enough to allow Greenblatt’s hands or even her phone to rest. This dress doesn’t break the festival’s rule about trains, but it does take up a lot of space.
Irina wearing Elie Saab
Irina Shayk took the new red carpet dress code at Cannes as an invitation to reinvent black evening gowns in all their forms. She wore a feathered Elie Saab dress that was reminiscent of Black Swan on the first day. Two days later, she attended an Elie Saab screening on May 15, wearing a creation similar to Black Swan. The extravagant embellishments, feathered body, and elbow-length, sheer gloves could rival the evening’s screening as the festival’s best drama.
Ariana Greenblatt wearing custom Cong Tri
Many of the dresses on the Cannes red carpet are over-indexing with sculptural shoulders or sparkling embellishments. Cong Tri designed a dress for Ariana Greenblatt that went in the opposite direction of best-dressed. The pale pink halter dress was only made to stand out by its bias cut, silky train, and long enough train.
Zoe Saldana wearing Saint Laurent
The glow of Zoe Saldana, who won an Academy Award in 2013, hasn’t yet faded. The star made a major appearance on the Cannes red carpet for Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning premiere on May 14. In a black Saint Laurent dress with a scoop neck and strappy heels, the star continued her Emilia Perez look. The leather jacket draped over her arms looked a chic, insouciant feel. It was as if she had rushed out of the door to put on the final layer. This understated style could only be achieved by a trophy-holder.
Angela Bassett wearing Burberry
Burberry’s comeback is well underway, at least with A-listers. Cardi B, Law Roach and Beyonce all wore Burberry at the Met Gala. Gen Z celebrities have been vacationing in bikinis that were last seen during the early 2000s. Angela Bassett attended the Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning premiere in Cannes on May 14. She added to the Burberry Renaissance tally. She chose Burberry for an outfit that commenters on Instagram called “coven couture”. It featured a black, tight-fitting bodice with dramatic navy and black fringing along the sleeves and the skirt. The dress was hypnotically moving as Bassett walked up and down the carpet to the theatre.
Hayley Atwell wearing Giambattista Valli Couture
Hayley Atwell may have been the star of a series dedicated to missions that seem impossible, but she pulled off the sculptural Giambattista Vali gown at the Mission Impossible The Final Reckoning premiere. The star paired her dramatic dress, which has an oversized bow and a large trumpet skirt, with simple drop earrings and an updo. The star’s Cannes style is unique.
Eva Longoria in Elie Saab
Some celebrities consider all-white, crisp outfits to be their Cannes Film Festival staple. Eva Longoria’s stylist, Maeve Reilly, has a more daring staple: bright, colourful sequins. Longoria’s emerald-green sequin Elie Saab gown, which she wore on the red carpet to follow her nude sequin dress from May 13, was so heavily covered in sequins that it almost looked liquid. Chopard’s Wickedgreen earring set was the perfect complement to her Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning gown.
Halle Berry wearing Celia Kritharioti
Halle Berry handled a fashion obstacle in a chic manner on the first day at Cannes. Halle Berry had originally planned to wear Gaurav Gupta. Still, she traded it in for a Jacquemus runway dress because she was afraid of “breaking the rules” by wearing her original look. The next day, Berry attended the Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning premiere wearing a Celia Kritharioti gown that was full of volume but didn’t trip the Cannes dress code alarm. The black, strapless bodice was paired with a pink gingham skirt. The dress is bubbly and effervescent, and Berry can exercise her right to take space on the red carpet.
Bella Hadid is wearing Saint Laurent.
It was decided within hours of the opening day of the Cannes Film Festival that a newly blonde, Bella Hadid, would be on the list for the best dressed more than once. She had a great début at the premiere of Partir UnJour on May 13, in Saint Laurent, by Anthony Vaccarello – the same house that gave her her memorable first appearance at last year’s circuit. The black satin gown with its cross-back, combined with the rhinestone heels and large emerald earrings, showed great restraint. The dress was perfectly balanced in terms of what it revealed and covered, despite the fact that the back was cut low and the slit sky-high.
Julia Garner wearing Gucci
Julia Garner is attending the Cannes Film Festival for the second time. It’s her best and most Gucci. She greeted photographers wearing a look from the Pre-Fall 2025 collection. For the opening ceremony, she changed into a bespoke draped gown by the house. She didn’t have to wear a naked dress that exposed her body to attract fashion editors: the contrast between the sequins on her base layer and the sheer black fabric draped over it was enough to grab their attention.
Eva Longoria wearing Tamara Ralph Couture
Eva Longoria is the undisputed queen of the Cannes Film Festival. She has been attending for 20 years and is known to “colour outside the lines” when it comes to her red carpet look.
Longoria spent the morning in an ultra-skintight sequin dress. She then changed into a Tamara Ralph Couture gown, which featured mirrorball panels and a thin, black train. The high-gloss fabric and the contrasting textures added all the drama that one would expect from Cannes without alerting the dress code police.
Irina Shayk wearing Armani Prive
In 2023, the last time Irina attended the Cannes Film Festival as a model, she wore a leather top and skirt with a low rise by Mowalola paired with a massive Messika diamond pendant. She embraced the new dress code two years later with an Armani Prive look that was diametrically opposite. Her strapless dress sparkled with silver all over, and a half-updo with elbow-length gloves added some old-world appeal. It’s this kind of swerve which makes the changing style of Cannes more welcoming. Namely, it allows us to see a celebrity we think we are familiar with in a completely new style.
0 Comments