“Proper attire required” appears on the back of the Cannes Film Festival invitation card. Yet some seem to read it: audacity recommended! Back to the most eccentric looks seen on the Croisette.
Cannes, with its Festival, is a place steeped in history. From the start of the event, dress codes imposed themselves. When in 1939, the State created an international meeting of Cinema in France, the Côte d’Azur was not chosen at random. Where to compete with the worldly charms of Venice if not in this new seaside resort already very popular at the time? A ” Proper dress” is required to climb the 24 steps and the 60 m of red carpet. Tuxedo tie, dark in color for men, when women have to shine in a cocktail dress and heels. Thierry Fremauxthe general delegate of the Cannes Film Festival admits that the codes tend to change at the rate of the evolution of fashion: “For men, a tuxedo, but there are fairly wide tolerances for suits and ties. For women: an evening dress and they put on the shoes they want.”
The evolution remains timid and the codes quite strict, yet some celebrities have ventured to break the rules. Everything is good to get noticed, or just to be comfortable. It is not Kristen Stewart who will say the opposite. During the Cannes film festival 2018, the Twilight heroine posed barefoot after removing her Louboutins. She will then say: “there’s definitely a separate dress code. People get really mad at you if you don’t wear heels, but if you don’t ask men to wear them, you can’t ask me either“. Others before her also distinguished themselves by their rebellious attitude, like Pablo Picasso in 1955, dressed in a sheepskin coat or Coluche in 1986, disguised as a woman. Discover the slideshow of the most eccentric looks on the Croisette.
© OLIVIER BORDE
2/21 –
Kiddy Smile, Cannes Film Festival, 2019
Men are not left out. For the climb of the steps of the film “Atlantic” during the 72ᵉ Cannes International Film Festival, Kiddy Smile walks the carpet in a flared sequin jumpsuit.
© AGENCY
3/21 –
Clotilde Courau, Cannes Film Festival, 2001
Clotilde Coureau climbs the steps of the movie “Apocalypse Now” in a very Y2K look in Dior and cowboy hat.
© JACOVIDES-BORDE-MOREAU
4/21 –
Laetitia Casta, Cannes Film Festival, 2013
Laetitia Casta in Chaumet jewelry and an asymmetrical dress walks the red carpet for the film “Zulu” at the closing of the 66ᵉ Cannes Film Festival on May 26, 2013.
© ANGELI-RINDOFF-GARCIA
5/21 –
Milla Jovovich, Cannes Film Festival, 1997
The film crew of “The Fifth Element” by Luc Besson, Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, Maiween le Besco, Milla Jovovich and Gary Oldman climb the steps of the 50th Cannes International Film Festival. Among this host of stars is Milla’s outfit that captures all the attention.
© BORDE-MOREAU
6/21 –
Afida Turner, Cannes Film Festival, 2015
Afida Turner climbs the steps of the film “Mad Max: Fury Road” during the 68th Cannes International Film Festival, in a very, even too original sheath dress.
© JACOVIDES-BORDE-MOREAU
7/21 –
Victoria Abril, Cannes Film Festival, 2017
On May 17, 2017, Victoria Abril climbs the steps of the film “The Ghosts of Ishmael” during the opening ceremony of the 70ᵉ Cannes International Film Festival. Her outfit mixes genres between Africa and Asia.
© JACOVIDES-BORDE-MOREAU
8/21 –
Larisa Katz, Cannes Film Festival, 2013
For the climb of the steps of the film “Borgman” during the 66ᵉ Cannes Film Festival, Larisa Katz poses in an openwork dress that looks like a strange sculpture.
© JACOVIDES-BORDE-MOREAU
9/21 –
Julie Depardieu, Cannes Film Festival, 2016
Julie Depardieu never misses an opportunity to show how eccentric she is. The Cannes Film Festival is no exception. On May 18, 2016, for the occasion of the 69ᵉ edition, the actress climbed the steps for the film “The Unknown Girl” in a Paule Ka dress, accessorized with a Montblanc Pétales de rose necklace in white gold and pavé diamonds. His colleagues Chantal Ladesou and Julie Gayet seem very wise at his side.
© JACOVIDES-MOREAU
10/21 –
Meredith Mickelson, Cannes Film Festival, 2019
Meredith Mickelson drapes herself in a sheer PVC dress that looks just like a trash bag as she climbs the stairs to the movie ‘Rambo: First Blood’ at the 72nd Cannes International Film Festival.
© JACOVIDES-BORDE-MOREAU
11/21 –
Afida Turner, Cannes Film Festival, 2018
On May 15, 2018, Afida Turner climbs the steps of the film “Solo: A Star Wars Story” during the 71ᵉ Cannes International Film Festival. For the occasion, she is bringing out her classics: transparent lurex legging jumpsuit and 30 cm platforms!
© JACOVIDES-MOREAU
12/21 –
Kiddy Smile, Cannes Film Festival, 2019
The next day, Kiddy Smile does it again for the climb of the steps of the film “Pain and Glory” during the 72ᵉ Cannes International Film Festival and offers us an outfit that completely breaks the codes. Exit the dark suit and the bow tie, hello the color, the flowers and the dress!
© Guillaume Gaffiot
13/21 –
Sara Forestier, Cannes Film Festival, 2007
The red carpet is also a place to convey political messages. Sara Forestier, actress and activist for Amnesty International, has understood this well and takes the opportunity to denounce the proliferation of firearms with her dress sewn with weapons.
© JACOVIDES-BORDE-MOREAU
14/21 –
Elena Lenina, Cannes Film Festival, 2021
Second look for Elena Lenina, During the 74ᵉ edition of the festival, she climbs the steps of the film “Benedetta” but her hair did not seem to agree.
© ANGELI-RINDOFF
15/21 –
Coluche, Cannes Film Festival, 1986
The famous comedian Coluche arrives disguised as a woman at the screening of Pirates by Roman Polanski, opening film in 1986. ARCHIVES
© JACOVIDES-BORDE-MOREAU
16/21 –
Yseult, Cannes Film Festival, 2021
The singer Yseult poses during the climb of the steps of the film “Les intranquilles” during the 74ᵉ Cannes International Film Festival. Her total white look and her umbrella remind us of an old Victoria Abril outfit a few years ago. Umbrellas are popular in the south!
© FIZET-BORDE-MARTINEZ / BESTIMAGE
17/21 –
Bjork, Cannes Film Festival, 2000
Björk and Catherine Deneuve present “Dancer in the dark”. The singer’s coral lampion dress by Alexandre Mathieu earned her the wrath of the annual Richard Blackwell ranking, which awarded her the prize for “The worst dressed woman”.
© CYRIL MOREAU
18/21 –
Isabelle Huppert, Cannes Film Festival, 2022
For the climb of the steps of the film “Les Amandiers” during the 75ᵉ Cannes International Film Festival, Isabelle Huppert 69 years old is daring and opts for a total Balenciaga green look. Some call it genius, others think more of the mascot of a famous consumer credit brand!
© ANGELI-RINDOFF
19/21 –
MADONNA, Cannes Film Festival, 1991
In 1991, Madonna, singer and actress, climbed the steps for the presentation of her film “In bed with Madonna” dressed in her favorite tutu.
© RACHID BELLAK
20/21 –
Miss Dirty Martini, Cannes Film Festival, 2010
Linda Marraccini alias Miss Dirty Martini, climbs the steps of the closing night of the 63rd Cannes Film Festival in an ethnic and animal outfit.
© Guillaume Gaffiot
21/21 –
Victoria Abril, Cannes Film Festival, 2005
The actress does not know sobriety. She proved it once again when climbing the stairs for the film “Cache” in 2005 by parading in a Christian Dior dress designed by John Galliano.