Flats steal the spotlight: Cannes Red Carpet experiences a stylish revolution underfoot

The Cannes Film Festival, long equated with sky-high heels and tinsel glamour, saw a seismic shift this year—not in the faces above, but in the footwear below. For the first time, flat shoes confidently walked down the red carpet under ballgowns and tuxedos, transforming the red carpet into a platform for comfort, rebellion, and a hint of quirky style.

This fashion revolution follows decades of controversy. In 2015, a group of women were allegedly refused entry to a screening for wearing flats, precipitating outrage around the world and the viral #flatgate backlash. Although festival organizers claimed there never was an official heels-only policy, pressure on women to totter in stilettos was palpable. The controversy sparked a tide of red-carpet protests, with Julia Roberts famously going barefoot in 2016 and Kristen Stewart taking off her heels in front of the cameras in 2018.

Forward to 2025, and the official dress code has been revised: fancy shoes and sandals, with or without heels, are now officially allowed for evening premieres at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. But the festival's fashion police are still strict on other matters, outlawing nudity, transparent dresses, and bulked-up gowns that might block traffic.


This year, the red carpet glittered not only with diamonds but with ballet shoes, jeweled sandals, and even designer loafers. Jury president Greta Gerwig spearheaded the movement in black satin Roger Vivier flats, announcing, "I love a heel, but I also love to dance—and you can't dance in pain". Jane Fonda was seen in silver Margaux Mary Janes, Margaret Qualley in sequined Chanel ballet shoes, and directors Alice Rohrwalker and Molly Manning Walker in Prada loafers.

The social media went wild with acclamation for the new style of red carpet shoes. "Flats at Cannes? At last, the revolution we needed!" tweeted a fan, another proclaimed, "My feet are crying tears of joy just viewing."

With the festival's new regulations, Cannes is embracing a more comfortable and inclusive definition of glamour. As the curtain comes down on another year, one thing is certain: the red carpet will never be quite the same again—nor, for that matter, our feet.