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Cannes Film Festival 2025 is in full swing, and while all eyes are usually fixed on cinematic brilliance and head-turning couture, this year there's a different kind of buzz—one that's less about glam and more about guidelines. As the red carpet opens along the stunning French Riviera, the spotlight isn't just on who wore what but also "what’s allowed" and "what’s not". Yes, Cannes has introduced a new set of fashion rules, and it's already stirring up drama among celebrities and fans alike.Cannes Film Festival red carpet dress code: What's banned at Cannes 2025?For the 78th edition of the world's most prestigious film festival, organisers have made one thing clear: the red carpet is no longer a free-for-all fashion fantasy. Among the most talked-about rules is an explicit ban on "naked dresses". This means no more sheer, see-through gowns that have become red carpet staples in recent years.But that's not all. Floor-sweeping gowns with dramatic trains have also been flagged. Why? According to the festival's committee, these larger-than-life outfits "hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theatre." The rules have been framed “for the sake of decency”, and organisers are determined to enforce them tightly this year.But what if you break the rules?So what's the consequence if a celebrity dares to defy Cannes’ red carpet code? A strict one.The official guideline stated, “For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival.” And, if any star tries to break the rule, then “festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules."And it's not just a hollow warning; there’s already been a high-profile example.Halle Berry's last-minute swapHollywood icon and Cannes 2025 jury member Halle Berry had to make a last-minute change at the opening ceremony. She revealed at the press conference, “I had an amazing dress by Gupta that I cannot wear tonight because it’s too big of a train.” Instead, Berry walked the red carpet in a sleek, striped black and white dress by Jacquemus. Despite the change, she seemed to support the decision, “I’m not going to break the rules. The nudity part is also probably a good rule.”Stars who broke the Cannes ruleWhile some celebrities are following the rulebook, others have clearly decided to test it, and leading the rebellion is none other than Heidi Klum. The supermodel turned heads in a dramatic Elie Saab creation featuring cascading floral ruffles and a floor-sweeping train, straight from the designer’s Riyadh couture show. It was whimsical, theatrical, and undeniably off the official style script.Not far behind was Chinese actress Wan QianHui, who made an equally bold statement. She arrived in a voluminous white gown that was dreamy to look at, but definitely not in line with the red carpet rulebook.Despite the clear violations, both stars glided down the red carpet with ease, elegance, and zero resistance from the festival staff. Which brings the question: if the rules say “prohibit”, where's the enforcement?With the festival running until May 24, 2025, the fashion guidelines are being tested in real-time. The big question now? How far will stars go to challenge the code and will Cannes actually take a stand?