7 Most Controversial Cannes Looks Of All Time

The Cannes Film Festival offers a forum for indie films and documentaries, but it is also a renowned fashion runway. Just like the Met Gala, celebrities make sure they put their best and most unique fashion foot forward at the Cannes Film Festival. More often than not, the red carpet looks have ended up causing more of a stir than any film!

Let’s take a look at some of the most controversial looks that we have seen at the Cannes Film Festival over the years: 

Ilona Staller in 1988

Being a porn star who was also a politician, Ilona Staller, a.k.a. Cicciolina, was already quite a controversial personality back in the ‘80s. She arrived at the 41st Cannes Film Festival in 1988 dressed in a barely-there cut-out dress that bared her breasts, stomach, and legs. She finished the look with a flower crown, fishnet thigh-highs, and a plush animal, a children’s toy that later became her signature. The audacious ensemble is still mocked today, but I believe Cicciolina was much ahead of her time.

Victoria Abril in 1997 

At the 50th Cannes Film Festival in 1997, Spanish actress Victoria Abril took quite a risqué as she walked the red carpet in an edgy blazer dress. The “business in the front, party in the back” dress featured a slit at the back that gave the paparazzi a cheeky display of the actress’ thong. 

Aishwarya Rai in 2004 

The film festival would be incomplete without the presence of Aishwarya Rai. However, her look at the 57th Cannes Film Festival in 2004 did not sit well with the masses. The actress wore a white Neeta Lulla gown that came with cut-out details and featured a plunging neckline. Aish was harshly chastised for wearing such provocative attire.  

Bella Hadid in 2016 

Bella Hadid graced the 69th Cannes Film Festival in 2016 wearing a jaw-dropping Alexandra Gauthier red silk sheath that caused quite a stir. While Bella is no stranger to wearing daring outfits, this one still gives her pause. Speaking of the look, the model stated that she felt “embarrassed” and thought it was “very sexual.”

Chantel Jeffries in 2018 

Chantel Jeffries left very little to the imagination as she slipped into a slinky silver gown at the 71st Cannes Film Festival in 2018. The metallic gown was held together by a dainty ring around the belly button. This daring look managed to make headlines and became one of the most talked about looks of the year. 

Fernanda Liz in 2019 

Fernanda Liz wore a yellow tulle-tiered gown made by Ali Karoui to the 72nd Cannes Film Festival in 2019. While the fairytale-like gown made her look like a princess, the bustier appeared to be too short for the model. Liz was spotted posing with her hands on her chest during the event, allegedly to protect the dress from sliding down. Despite her best efforts, the dress slipped down, revealing her bare chest. 

Bella Hadid in 2021

At the 74th Cannes Film Festival in 2021, Bella Hadid brought drama to the red carpet with a rather unconventional look. The model wore an avant-garde gown from Schiaparelli. The form-fitting black wool dress had a neckline that cut under Hadid’s chest, which was covered by a gold-dipped, rhinestone-encrusted necklace in the style of the bronchi passageway of the lungs. This outfit received mixed reviews and went viral on the internet!

The 76th Cannes Film Festival is all set to take place on May 16, 2023, and we cannot wait to see what the celebrities have in store for us this year!

Feature Image: Instagram