Story perspectives

Bella Hadid Stuns Cannes in Schiaparelli Gown, Meets Nudity Ban

5/22/2026

Summary

Bella Hadid Cannes

Bella Hadid attended the Cannes “La Bataille de Gaulle” premiere in a custom ivory Schiaparelli gown.
The gown featured trompe-l’œil lace embroidery, a black bow, and required 130 artisans working 22,160 hours.
Cannes banned red-carpet nudity, and Hadid’s look with cleavage and underwear complied with the rule.
Stylist Mimi Cuttrell paired the dress with archival pieces, including a 1999 baby-blue Prada vest and a 2003 Elie Saab top.

Summary

Celebs Defy Dresscode

The 2025 red-carpet dress code, which bans nudity, voluminous gowns, large trains and forbids sneakers, gives staff wide discretion because its wording is vague.
Celebrities have worn sheer outfits exposing nipples, prompting critics to say the rule backfired and officials to warn that ejecting a star could spark a PR disaster.
The regulation follows earlier mandates such as the now-relaxed “no flats” rule, which changed after Kristen Stewart’s 2018 protest.

Summary

Cannes Expands

The 2026 Cannes Film Festival ran May 12-23 and added jewelry, wellness and technology sections on La Croisette.
Luxury fashion houses prioritized existing film partnerships over new initiatives, reflecting slowed sector growth.
Magnum staged a runway show with Law Roach that highlighted emerging label Weinsanto.
Nespresso hosted a beachside activation with global ambassador Dua Lipa.
L’Oréal Paris global president Laetitia Toupet likened Cannes’ audience reach to the Super Bowl and the Olympics.

Summary

Geena Davis Hosts

Geena Davis hosted the 2026 amfAR Gala Cannes at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc.
The chairs included Pedro Almodóvar, Angela Bassett and Carine Roitfeld.
The gala has raised over $950 million for HIV/AIDS research since its founding.
Performances by Robbie Williams, Zara Larsson and PinkPantheress accompanied couture worn by Heidi Klum, Lizzo and Eva Longoria from Sophie Couture and Robert Wun.
The gala ran alongside the Cannes Film Festival, amplifying global AIDS awareness.

History

Historical Context

The first Cannes Film Festival opened on 20 September 1946, running to 5 October and featuring films from 21 countries under jury president Georges Huisman. After World War II, the event emphasized creativity over competition; the festival later added a red-carpet in 1987, a practice that evolved into the strict dress code enforced in the 2025-26 edition. This continuity shows how early regulatory choices still shape celebrity fashion.

1 of 5

Bella Hadid Cannes

Bella Hadid attended the Cannes “La Bataille de Gaulle” premiere in a custom ivory Schiaparelli gown.
The gown featured trompe-l’œil lace embroidery, a black bow, and required 130 artisans working 22,160 hours.
Cannes banned red-carpet nudity, and Hadid’s look with cleavage and underwear complied with the rule.
Stylist Mimi Cuttrell paired the dress with archival pieces, including a 1999 baby-blue Prada vest and a 2003 Elie Saab top.

1 / 5