The Cannes film festival is underway and the organisers are bucking the “naked dress” fashion trend so popular on award show red carpets around the world.
Their new dress code spells out that: “for decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well any other area of the festival.”
They haven’t stopped there noting 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.”
These directed have raised eyebrows, as Cannes has for decades been perceived as the centre of cutting edge fashion as well as avant garde movies.
From Brigitte Bardot in her bikini in the 1950’s to the likes of Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Cameron Diaz and Didi Stone exposing nipples, Cannes has become synonymous with daring fashion.
So, why the change of heart?
According to BBC’s Style, there has been a rise recently of “cultural conservatism” and an ‘uptick in the policing of women’s bodies in the name of decency.”
BoringNotCom a famous blog states that although, “the quiet return of conservatism is real,” and “bare skin is banned on the red carpet, yet once inside, it’s right there on the screen. Almost always female, of course.”
Perhaps, the answer is less about what people should wear and more about the movies. To the annoyance of the festival, Cannes has become an unofficial fashion week that rivals Paris, Milan or London in showcasing new style trends.
For a festival that takes the films it shows very seriously, its relegation to being famous as a catwalk must be galling.
Let’s see if the stars attending the festival follow the dress code, or show some flesh in defiance of the new directives.