TheCannes Film Festivalis known for being one of themost glamorous red carpetsin the world. A-list movie stars, top supermodels and more gather to screen and discuss some of the biggest films of the year, and because of the festival’s strict dress code, they usually bringtheir sartorial A-Game.
According toVogue World, men must wear tuxedos with bow ties (seeBrad PittandLeonardo DiCaprio), while ladies are required to pair their evening dresses with heels. But what happens when someone tests the decades-old dress code? Parisian DJ,Kiddy Smile, just found out.
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
Smile was on-hand to perform at an after party and walked two red carpets during his time in Cannes. After attending last year wearing a tuxedo, he decided to switch up his approach this time. He arrived to the premiere ofAtlanticsin a high-shine jumpsuit featuring holographic fringe and a plunging sheer neckline — a look which he actually sewed himself!
“The night before, I actually didn’t sleep because I was sewing my outfit,” Smile toldVogue Worldin a new interview.“I was very nervous because I’m not very good at tailoring and sewing, but I had no choice — I don’t fit sample sizes unless I ask in advance, and I was very, very nervous because of the protocol.”
So how was he allowed onto the red carpet without wearing a tuxedo? He toldVogue Worldthat a photographer called him onto the carpet for a photo when he reached the entrance, and he was able to sneak past officials at the door, adding that he most likely wasn’t stopped since he was early in the lineup of celebrity arrivals.
But the next day proved to be trickier. He arrived to the premiere ofDolor y Gloriain an even more dramatic outfit — a floral-print orange and pink pleated, tiered ball gown with plunging neckline. When he got to the door an attendant asked if it was traditional African outfit. When Smile explained that it wasn’t, the attendant told him he could not enter the carpet. A female supervisor then joined the conversation and told Smile she wanted him to walk the carpet.”
“It’s just hilarious to me that if you’re a black person, and you wear something that looks like a gown, people are going to ask you if it’s a traditional outfit,” Smile toldVogue World.
He added: “For men, you have to wear a black tuxedo and a bow tie. There’s something very old school about it. I’m a cis man but if you’re gender-fluid or nonbinary, there is no space for you to exist within this protocol.”
After testing the boundaries of the dress code, he said he’s “happy” he was able to do it.
“I’m so happy that I got to do this, and be myself, and wear something that looks like me, that’s representative of my personality,” Smile said. “I think it’s good that a festival like that is starting to think about how the world is opening up, and it’s good that these institutions are starting to bend their rules a little bit for people that don’t feel like they’re welcome in those spaces.”
While Smile demonstrated one of the strongest stances against the tuxedo and bow tie policy, a few actresses have been bending the rules in recent years when it comes to the footwear policy.
Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty
The following year,Julia Roberts made her first Cannesappearance one to remember. She walked the carpet in an off-the-shoulder black Giorgio Armani Privé gown while barefoot.
James Gourley/REX/Shutterstock
She opened up about the issue toThe Hollywood Reportersaying that wearing heels is still an unwritten rule. “There’s definitely a distinct dress code, right?” she said. “People get really upset at you if you don’t wear heels, or whatever. But you can’t ask people that anymore. It’s kind of a given. Like, if you’re not asking guys to wear heels and a dress, you cannot ask me either.”
Between actresses breaking down dressing norms and Smile’s bold commitment to staying true to his style, it seems that the Cannes old school red carpet dress code is slowly fading away.
source: people.com
