The Cannes Film Festival’s newly enforced dress code has already made waves, with actress and jury member Halle Berry revealing she had to abandon her red carpet gown at the last minute. The Oscar-winning star had planned to wear a dramatic creation by Indian designer Gaurav Gupta for the 2025 opening ceremony, but had to switch outfits due to new regulations.

“I had an amazing dress to wear tonight by Gupta, and I cannot wear it because the train is too big,” Berry told reporters. Known for his bold silhouettes, Gupta has previously dressed stars like Cardi B and crafted statement pieces for the Met Gala. Berry added, “Of course, I’m going to follow the rules.”

The new dress code—introduced this year and publicly written for the first time—bans nudity and extravagantly long trains on the red carpet. Festival organizers explained the move was not meant to regulate fashion but to align with French laws prohibiting public nudity.

While Berry complied with the new rules, not everyone did. German model Heidi Klum appeared in a voluminous pink gown with a train nearly 10 feet long. Chinese actor and influencer Wan Qianhui also walked the carpet in an enormous cloud-like white taffeta dress, seemingly in open defiance of the guidelines.

Berry, who won an Academy Award for Monster’s Ball, expressed support for the policy, especially the nudity ban. “The nudity part is probably also a good rule,” she said.

Cannes has long been known for its high-fashion red carpet moments, many of which have sparked debate. Bella Hadid’s daring Schiaparelli dress in 2021, for instance, made global headlines. However, the festival has faced criticism over the years for inconsistent and sometimes outdated dress expectations, including the controversial high heels-only policy for women.

This year, that footwear rule was also revised. The festival now allows “elegant shoes or sandals with or without heels,” a change applauded by French actress and jury president Juliette Binoche, who joked she was speaking “from experience.”

Though some celebrities are challenging the new regulations, Berry’s choice to adapt gracefully has set an example of cooperation, highlighting the delicate balance between fashion freedom and formal protocol at one of cinema’s most prestigious events.