Cannes 2025 best looks — plus the stars who defied the new dress code

What a year for Cannes Film Festival fashion. The already-strict dress code was ramped up further for 2025, with organisers banning ‘naked’ dresses, along with overly voluminous gowns and dresses with long trains. It was claimed it is for “decency” reasons and to stop red carpet traffic building up.

It’s impact has been notable. Elle Fanning, a fashion favourite from last year’s Cannes, eschewed the nearly-naked dressing she had employed for the 2024 event in favour of several more opaque, but still super glamorous looks.

Her final gown, worn for the closing ceremony on Saturday, was a full princess moment, with tiered, powder blue ruffles, a bow waistband and embellished shoulder straps.

Elle Fanning attends the

The actor who is part of the cast of Joachim Trier’s Affeksjonsverdi (Sentimental Value), also left onlookers’ mouths agape with her Armani Privé floral gown on Wednesday.

And while red carpet traffic may be the talk of the town, we were glad to see Die, My Love co-stars Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Lawrence have been taking liberties by lingering and fooling around on their way into the Palais des Festivals. They’re the 2010s super pairing we didn’t know we needed until now.

Plus, J-Law’s style is better than ever. Her custom white Dior gown is both a rule-breaker with its long train and pure red carpet perfection.

Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson attend the

There have been some casualties of the new rules. On day one, Halle Berry was apparently forced to swap her Gurav Guptan gown for a striped Jacquemus number due to her train being too long.

Others thinking outside the box for ways to add volume to their look. Dakota Johnson delighted red carpet attendees and photographers alike with her lilac Gucci dress on Monday, giving everyone a twirl to show off her two tiers of cascading tinsel.

Dakota Johnson attends the

Meanwhile, reigning Queen of Cannes, Bella Hadid, returned to her French playground, this time with a very 2000s blonde side-part. The supermodel opted for a relatively modest, fitted black dress by Saint Laurent. It was a distinct departure from her typically daring approach to Cannes dressing.

Another Cannes regular also made a comeback: Irina Shayk has been offering dramatic look after dramatic look, dominating red carpets in dark, moody garments by Elie Saab, Yves Saint Laurent and Armani Privé.

As for the guys, Jeremy Strong has been donning to his beloved pink suiting. While Pedro Pascal provided plenty of fodder for memes wearing a simple black muscle T-shirt to the Eddington photocall. You know what you’re doing, Pedro.

(Getty Images)

Elsewhere, more men of Cannes were flexing their high fashion muscles. Kudos goes to Alexander Skarsgård for riding out the heat in a pair of over-the-knee Saint Laurent leather boots.

(Getty Images)

And that’s not all. Luckily with Cannes 2025 continuing until May 24, there are still plenty of good and great gowns to be pored over. For all the best looks, read on.

Cannes 2025 best dressed

Jeremy Strong attends the closing ceremony red carpet at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival 2025 (Getty Images)

Simone Ashley attends the closing ceremony red carpet at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival 2025 (Getty Images)

Aubrey Plaza arrives for the screening of the film

Halle Berry attends the closing ceremony red carpet at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival 2025 (Getty Images)

Elle Fanning and Stellan Skarsgard attend the closing ceremony red carpet at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival (Getty Images)

Cate Blanchett attends the closing ceremony red carpet at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival 2025 (Getty Images)

Elle Fanning attends the

Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu attends the

Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu attends the

Scarlett Johansson attends the “Vie Privée” (A Private Life) red carpet at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival (Getty Images)

Gracie Abrams arrives for the screening of the film

Paul Mescal attends the

Jason Momoa and Adria Arjona attend the

Janhvi Kapoor poses during a photocall for the film

Barbara Palvin attends the

Diane Kruger attends the

Riz Ahmed attends the

Daisy Edgar-Jones attends the

Patrick Schwarzenegger attends the

Jury Member Halle Berry attends the

Charli XCX attends the 2025 Kering Women In Motion Awards and Cannes Film Festival in YSL (Getty Images for Kering)

LaKeith Stanfield poses during the

Jennifer Lawrence poses during the

Jennifer Lawrence attends the

Emma Stone poses during the

Robert Pattinson poses during a photocall for the film

Jeremy Strong attends the

Hannah Waddingham attends the

Emma Stone arrives for the screening of the film

Bella Hadid attends the red carpet for the opening ceremony and

Irina Shayk attends the

Eva Longoria attends the red carpet for the opening ceremony and

Jeremy Strong walks onstage during the opening ceremony at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival 2025 (Getty Images)

Juliette Armanet attends the red carpet for the opening ceremony and

Juliette Armanet attends the red carpet for the opening ceremony and

Halle Berry attends the red carpet for the opening ceremony and

Wan QianHui attends the red carpet for the opening ceremony and

Robert De Niro accepts the honorary Palme d'Or from Leonardo DiCaprio onstage during the opening ceremony at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival 2025 (Getty Images)

Irina Shayk attends the

Hannah Waddingham and Hayley Atwell attend the

Pom Klementieff attends the red carpet of the movie Mission Impossible The Final Reckoning during the 78th Cannes Film Festival 2025 (Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)

Laetitia Ky attends the

Heidi Klum attends the red carpet for the opening ceremony and