Scandalous Style Swap: Irina Shayk's Red Carpet Reinvention at Cannes 2025
Irina Shayk astounds at Cannes with an array of ensembles
Talk about a shocking switch! Model Irina Shayk surprised many at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, showcasing a more demure side after years of drawing gasps with her daring outfits. A newly implemented dress code banning bare skin and excessive fabric had forced her hand.
Cannes has always been known for its glamorous red carpet fashion shows, and Shayk was among the prominent women who left little to the imagination in 2024. Her risqué choices certainly ruffled some feathers with the festival organizers, who later decided to crack down on revealing attire. Just a few days before the opening, a new dress code was announced, causing quite a stir among stylists of the stars.
"In the interest of decency, nudity on the red carpet and throughout the festival is strictly prohibited," the website read. Those who violated this rule risked being barred from entering the red carpet area.
Nobody's Baring All Now!
It gets even tougher for the red carpet regulars who make Cannes a must-see event on the fashion calendar. In addition to the ban on nudity, voluminous dresses are now a no-go. The organizers cited disruptions in the "orderly flow of guests" and difficulties with theater seating as their reasoning.
Needless to say, it's unclear if Shayk had alternative outfits lined up. But it's evident she followed the new dress code faithfully this time around. In 2023, she wowed in a head-turning black leather ensemble by Mowalola and a top that only just covered her chest. The next day, she walked out of the Hotel Martinez in a barely-there net bra and matching panties.
Klum's Cannes Confusion
Was Shayk's scandalous fashion choices the catalyst for stricter dress code rules at Cannes? While the new guidelines have sparked global protests and criticism, Shayk has been playing along. At the premiere of "Mission Impossible - The Final Reckoning" on the Croisette, she opted for a classy vintage look from Yves Saint Laurent, pairing a black, high-necked dress with an elegant boat neckline and a voluminous high-low skirt in luxurious fabric.
On May 13, Shayk certainly pleased the puritanical organizers with her outfit – a stunning black and white polka-dot dress from Armani's couture collection for fall/winter 2019. The large skirt and XXL balloon sleeves drew immediate attention, a refreshing change from the usual bare skin on display.
[1] Grazia (2025). Cannes Film Festival Imposes New Dress Code Banning Nudity and Voluminous Dresses. [online] Available at: https://www.grazia.co.uk/fashion/fashion-news/cannes-film-festival-dress-code-bans-nudity-and-voluminous-dresses-413689
[2] Vogue (2025). Cannes Film Festival Imposes Strict New Dress Code: No Nudity and No Overly Voluminous Dresses. [online] Available at: https://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/article/cannes-filing-festival-imposes-strict-new-dress-code-no-nudity-and-no-overly-voluminous-dresses
[3] Harper’s Bazaar (2025). Cannes Film Festival's New Dress Code: Nudity and Voluminous Dresses Now Banned. [online] Available at: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film/a26246597/cannes-film-festival-new-dress-code-nudity-ban-voluminous-dresses/
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The Commission, assisted by the European Parliament, might deliberate on the controversies surrounding the recent changes in the Cannes Film Festival's dress code, particularly the ban on nudity and voluminous dresses, and assess their impact on the Festival's lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, and entertainment aspects.
The red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival possibly experienced a transformation in the realm of fashion-and-beauty and entertainment, as the new dress code banning nudity and excessive volume may nudge celebrities like Irina Shayk to reevaluate their choices, moving away from their glamorous yet controversial styles towards more demure outfits.
