Every year, the red carpet at Cannes is where fashion debuts, deals are made, and reputations are built or broken. What if I told you the red carpet started as a death trap? In 458 BC, a Greek king, Agamemnon, struts home from war and his wife rolls out a crimson carpet. The Red was for gods, not mortals. Agamemnon walks it that night? He’s dead. The red carpet wasn’t glamour—it was a warning.
WATCH | The Red Carpet Was a Death Trap Before It Became Fashion’s Stage
In 2025, the 78th edition of the prestigious film festival, Cannes updated its dress code just days before the festival, banning nudity and voluminous outfits with large trains for “decency” and “efficiency". The move sparked debate, with stylists scrambling and stars like Halle Berry forced to swap outfits at the last minute.
From the start, the red carpet wasn’t about celebration. It was about power. About transgression. That’s where it all began. For centuries, the colour red itself was a symbol of exclusivity. In medieval Europe, red dye was incredibly expensive and made from kermes insects or madder, using complex processes in the Middle East with materials like olive oil. They were not just glamorous but definitely elite. So red meant wealth, prestige and divine association. The first modern red carpet wasn’t for actors but was for passengers.
In 2025, the 78th edition of the prestigious film festival, Cannes updated its dress code just days before the festival, banning nudity and voluminous outfits with large trains for “decency” and “efficiency". The move sparked debate, with stylists scrambling and stars like Halle Berry forced to swap outfits at the last minute.
And for women, heels are still culturally encouraged.
It’s not the first time the carpet’s been political. In 2015, women were turned away for not wearing heels. Since then, stars have used the carpet to push back through protests, through fashion, and through the act of simply showing up differently.
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