Organisers of this year’s Cannes Festival cast a conservative shadow over the red carpet with the release of a new dress code noting that, “for decency reasons, nudity is prohibited.” The rule was seen as an attempt to tamp down on so-called naked dressing, a trend that in recent years has inspired more people to wear less coverage as a way to get attention.
Whether it stopped people from showing skin was debatable. But it certainly didn’t stop stars from making waves with their appearances. Some, like actor Jeremy Strong, took Cannes as an opportunity to test colour palettes: He wore a range of pastels (purple, green, salmon) that would rival the selection at an Easter egg hunt. Others, like model Bella Hadid, used the festival to debut new hair (she went blond).
Of all the clothes on display at Cannes, which on ended Saturday, these 15 looks were some of the most memorable for a myriad of reasons – nakedness mostly not among them.
Isabelle Huppert: Most Brat
The fine threads used to construct the actor’s Balenciaga gown had the delicacy of natural hair, but the chemical green colour now firmly linked to Charli XCX and her Brat album.
Pedro Pascal: Most ‘Sun’s Out, Guns Out’
It seemed as if the actor knew that, by wearing a simple outfit of black pants and sleeveless top, he would draw attention to his bare, toned arms.
Rihanna and ASAP Rocky: Most Umbrella
Huddling beneath an umbrella in their Alaïa and Saint Laurent finery, the couple, who have recently been teasing the birth of their third child, brought a certain song of Rihanna’s to mind.
Dakota Johnson: Most Hippie Chic
Wearing a tiered, fringed Gucci dress, long straight hair and heavy bangs, the actor could have been mistaken for playing the role of 1960s Cher on the red carpet.
Spike Lee: Most Hometown Pride
The director brought his enthusiasm for the New York Knicks to the French Riviera in an orange-and-blue-striped Cointel suit paired with a blue hat trimmed in orange ribbon.
Kylie Verzosa: Most Butter Sculpture
The actor’s Mark Bumgarner dress featured the pale yellow shade of the season and a three-dimensional floral skirt, giving it the appearance of edible artwork seen at state fairs.
Alexander Skarsgard: Most Kinky Boots
Thigh-high leather Saint Laurent boots were not the only risky (risqué?) fashion choice taken by the actor, who was in Cannes promoting his new film about queer bikers. He also wore blue sequin pants.
Angela Bassett: Most Girl With a Pearl Pantsuit
Pearls were among the opulent embellishments dangling from the actor’s Yara Shoemaker ensemble, a look that has graced more than one festival this year (Blake Lively wore it at South by Southwest in March.)
Benedict Cumberbatch: Most Pinned Together
The actor made the rounds with his injured arm in a couple of stylish slings, but the most elegant might have been the black silk version affixed to his Prada tuxedo with a custom brooch by the brand.
Emma Stone: Most Bib
An oversized collar on the actor’s white Louis Vuitton gown stood in for a statement necklace – and stood out for its resemblance to an adult-size bib.
Cécile de France: Most Matisse
Traces of Henri Matisse’s Blue Nudes were detectable in the palette and figurative print of the Belgian actor’s Schiaparelli frock.
Humaid Hadban and Mohammed Hadban: Most Double Vision
Gentle Monster eyeglasses and glittery pins were elements uniting the ensembles of the Emirati fashion influencers, who go by the Twins Hadban and have a thing for identical outfits.
Coco Rocha: Most Dressed
The model’s Ionut Razvan gown, which involved several layers of what looked like men’s dress shirts, seemed the opposite of naked dressing.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
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