Cannes Couture Went Off-Script

(le célèbre tapis rouge de Cannes) — the unofficial main event — where gowns, glitz, and gasp-worthy glamour command the spotlight. Designers, stylists, hair and makeup artists all unite for one mission: To land a look. A jaw-dropper. A headline. A meme. And hopefully, not a miss. But not everyone walks the fine line between fashion fantasy and fashion faux pas.

The bold flops

Bella Hadid has an estimated 30 million to her name, but her dress did not bring the dollar sparkle. Saint Laurent designed her sleeveless black dress with some interesting details — straps criss-crossed across her back to create cutouts and a deep plunge on the side of her chest. However, the front of the gown was simple. It had an asymmetrical neckline that looked misshapen, and a thigh-high slit that was cut too far to the side. Netizens titled it: Boring.

Jailhouse frock

Halle Berry showed up in a shapeless black-and-white striped Jacquemus gown that screamed jailhouse chic. She’d planned to wear an “amazing” Gaurav Gupta dress but switched at the last minute due to Cannes’ new dress code banning voluminous gowns. Sadly, while others rebelled and dazzled, the bold dress she chose was so flowy and oversized that it seemed to wear her. “If your outfit’s a mess, so is your message. Fashion is about focus — fail that, and you fail the carpet,” says Meher Castelino, a stylist.

Snooze cruise control

Tom Cruise came to the red carpet camouflaged in red. He wore a fitted, textured knit polo and matching trousers with sharp pleats, his brown dress shoes and dark sunglasses tied to give an edge, but nah! He later wore a black three-piece suit, but the Mission Impossible actor missed the mark despite his signature aviator sunglasses.

Shimmer, but no shine

Isabeli Fontana, wore a self-coloured metallic gown with a floor-length skirt with a short train, and a hip-high slit that revealed her sparkling pumps. Designer Nicolas Jebran designed her halter gown– which lacked the WOW factor. The gown was adorned with a sparkling silver piece at her left shoulder that was embedded with turquoise stones – such a dull contrast. Stylist Ayesha Kapoor says, “Simple dresses? Yawn. If you’re hitting the red carpet, bring your best — nobody remembers boring.”

See-thro sass, minus class Heidi Klum was dressed by Elie Saab, the model’s off- the-shoulder gown, had a deep V-neckline, see-through stripes, and Some of those details might have worked on their own. But together, it looks more theatrical than glamorous.

Polka dot panic

Irina Shayk arrived wearing a black Armani Privé gown with all-over white polka dots. It had a strapless neckline, off-the-shoulder puffed sleeves, and a full skirt. The dress was frilly. But Shayk wore her hair styled in a dramatic shape — a bun atop a strip of pin-straight hair — that distracted from her outfit.

Booted off the list

Alexander Skarsgard tried to go a different route with his outfit but it looks like his footwear had a mind of its own— it missed the memo. He wore a sharp Saint Laurent tux with his trousers tucked into thigh-high leather boots. The right shoes can take you places or simply feel out of place.

Parrot-dox of style

Urvashi Rautela’s Cannes red-carpet moments felt less like style triumphs and more like a dizzying sensory overload. Day one saw her dripping in Michael Cinco’s multi-jewelled gown — brilliantly bejewelled across the bust, sculpted into an ultra-snatched silhouette, then tripping into tulle overload with a turquoise-and-black train that threatened to swallow her whole. Add a sparkly tiara, matching rings, drop earrings… and, for an exclamation point, a Judith Leiber crystal parrot bag worth Rs 4.67 lakh. It was hard to tell where to look — her head? Her sparkling décolletage? That massive train? The whole thing screamed, “Look at me!” but in a “please make it stop” kind of way. Stylist Tanya Ghagroo states, “Cannes needs balance. When too many statement pieces clash, the look feels overwhelming. Sometimes, less is definitely more.”

On day two, she attempted a course correction in Naja Saade’s custom black taffeta — but even this more restrained silhouette stumbled. The corseted bodice and sweetheart neckline promised Old-Hollywood glam, yet the voluminous, ruched silk-taffeta skirt felt overinflated. Then came the wardrobe malfunction: A tear in the sheer mesh sleeve under her left shoulder that flashed a skin peek.

Closing credits

At Cannes, the camera never blinks — and neither does fashion judgment. This year’s red carpet was a masterclass in what not to do: Clashing textures, confused silhouettes, and accessories that belonged in a children’s playpen. Some stars served cinema; others served chaos. But hey, every fashion fail is just a wardrobe change away from a comeback.

So, here’s to next year: may the gowns be glorious, the glam be intentional, and the accessories—please—know when to exit stage left. On this carpet, darling, it’s not just about showing up. It’s about showing out and if you can’t, don’t come.

Tailor-made trouble

Shalini Passi’s Cannes 2025 red carpet debut aimed for edgy androgyny but landed somewhere between confused couture and costume. Her jade-hued suit—with its off-white beige base and intricate Katha embroidery—had potential, but the sheer, translucent fabric veered into awkward territory, revealing a nude slip that felt more like a wardrobe afterthought than a style statement. The pièce de résistance? A kitschy Judith Leiber puppy clutch that clashed with the otherwise serious tone of the outfit. Intended as playful, it came off more perplexing, like a fashion gamble that didn’t quite pay off.