Red carpet's most fashionable trends seen at the Cannes Film Festival 2025

The Cannes 2025 chapter is far from over but that has not stopped the esteemed invitees to turn the red carpet into their personal runways. Marking the annual film festival as a significant fashion event wouldn't be wrong to say, would it? Although the last-minute dress code rules may have altered plans, celebrities found no reason to believe they can't make a fashion statement nevertheless. Fashion trends of all kinds dominated the spot. Classics, retro, statement-making and rebellious in many cases— you name it, this year's fashion appeal was more than just about what you wore, but rather, how you wore it. We track all the latest red carpet trends from the Cannes Film Festival in the week that was. 

6 RED CARPET TRENDS SPOTTED AT CANNES 2025 

1. Shoulder-baring classics

Is it fair to state that Angelina Jolie's return to the film festival after nearly a decade also stirred a return of the classic strapless gowns? Debateable, perhaps, but certainly not hard to believe considering that the return of this elegant trend was seen on many. Seen on regulars like Natalie Portman in a recreation of an archival Dior gown, Angelina Jolie in a Brunello Cuccinelli and our very own debutant Nitanshi Goel in a custom Jade by MK among others definitely made it a notable trend. 

2. Puffed up and pretty

With the new dress code in place, it would be a red carpet moment rather incomplete without a little drama. Celebrities like Jacqueline Fernandez, Alessandra Ambrosio and Irina Shayk thought alike when it came to bringing volume without defying the rules. They wore it on the sleeves, quite literally. With voluminous sleeves making a return to Cannes, it would be a remiss not to declare it as a fashion statement-making trend for the season. 

3. Creature couture 

When long trains and immodestly sheer gowns were dismissed from the red carpet, celebrities turned to other unique ways to make an entry. For celebrities like South Sudanese model Mitchell Akat Maruko Raan and Chinese actress Wan QianHui, the ordinary just wasn't going to make the cut. They turned to 3D props to make their outfits come to life. The former chose a leopard suit with a prosthetic leopard head protruding from the chest and the latter chose a panther wrapped around her slick black gown. 

4. All suited up 

Sharp tailoring was never just for men and now was the perfect time to prove it. Some women at Cannes made a strong case for it. Andie Macdowell and Payal Kapadia in particular. There were many sartorial serves on the red carpet but nothing more strong with a quite attitude than the adoption of androgyny as the new-age armour of confidence in the light of rules and decorum. 

5. Structural stunners 

Structured gowns with bold, architectural elements held our intrigue through and through. Turning celebs like Emma Stone in a custom Louis Vuitton and Eva Longoria in Tamara Ralph into a walking art installation, these silhouettes definitely carved a niche for themselves. 

6. Character clutches 

Who said you can only get people talking by the outfit you wear and not the accessories you carry with it? Statement clutches shined bright on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet. Most famously Judith Leiber's uniquely crafted crystal-embellished ones as seen on Urvashi Rautela, Angela Basett and Shalini Passi. 

All images are courtesy Getty.