The Cannes Film Festival, renowned for its glamour and cinematic brilliance, has long adhered to a stringent dress code, with meticulous attention paid to footwear. Traditionally, female attendees were obligated to grace the red carpet in towering heels, a mandate that has sparked controversy and accusations of sexism and anachronism.
In recent years, however, the winds of change have swept through Cannes, heralding a gradual erosion of the stiletto-only edict. A growing cohort of celebrities have defied the unspoken rule, embracing flats and more whimsical footwear choices.
Kristen Stewart, gracing the carpet in 2017, boldly asserted, “I feel like you can’t ask people that anymore.” She astutely observed, “If you’re not asking guys to wear heels and a dress, you cannot ask me either.” Julia Roberts made a barefoot statement in 2016, while Jennifer Lawrence, last year, paired her Dior couture gown with casual flip-flops, later revealing her ignorance of the protocol.
This year, the subversion of the stiletto rule continues unabated. Celebrities like Bella Hadid have embraced unconventional heels, such as her double-decker Jacquemus sandals, creating the illusion of stacked footwear. Others, like Margaret Qualley, have opted for elegant flats, such as her eye-catching sequined Chanel ballet flats.
The trend of defying footwear norms has extended to the male attendees as well. Director Yorgos Lanthimos made a striking appearance at his photo call in black fisherman sandals, a far cry from the standard dress shoe. Lily Gladstone and Greta Gerwig, both in attendance last week, showcased unexpected heel styles. Gerwig donned white Tabi pumps by Maison Margiela, while Gladstone opted for towering Gucci platform pumps, their chunky silhouette embodying a contemporary aesthetic.
Jane Fonda, an icon of grace and style, stepped onto the red carpet in metallic Mary Jane flats by Margaux, further solidifying the shift away from stilettos. This evolution signifies a departure from the years of seeing celebrities teetering on skyscraper heels, signaling the obsolescence of the dated heels-only rule at Cannes.
As the festival progresses, the question lingers: what other wonderfully bizarre footwear will grace the Cannes red carpet? Will we witness the advent of Balenciaga’s high-fashion Crocs or Alaia’s sculptural heels? The possibilities are endless, and the fashion world eagerly awaits the unveiling of the next wave of sartorial surprises.
