phemen of fashion police coming after women for ir sartorial choices on red carpet events, is thing new. Be it Barbra Streisand's sheer dress at 1969 Oscars, or Bjork's swan dress in 2001, gatekeepers of fashion have never stepped back from telling women 'what to wear', and most importantly, 'what T to'. One may argue that wearing risque costumes is a strict - at any formal award ceremony or film festival, and celebs would do well to stick to mandated dress code of high heels, cocktail dresses or ballgowns. 

But is only media to blame for creating such unfair rules against women's choices? Or does problem lie deeper? Is it only celebrities who break dress code in out-of- box costumes who are villified? Or does policing extend to even those women who try (and fail) to stick to set sartorial mandates? In wake of ongoing Cannes Film Festival, we take a closer look at what women have said, done (and worn!) in defiance of draconian dress code at prestigious film festival.

Women are expected to behave differently than men

At Cannes 2023 premiere of her film May December, Natalie Portman spoke of ' different ways that [we as] women are expected to behave... compared to men'. Be it regarding how women are 'supposed to look or carry [mselves]', Portman made a point about how ' expectations are different' for women as compared to men... even 'at this festival' and how women are 'defined by social structures' that are imposed upon m. Natalie's co-star in film Julianne Moore furr backed her up saying that "women are t a mirity group. We're 50% of population. So it's important we’re treated as such."

(Im: Natalie Portman in a shimmering ballgown at Cannes 2023. Source: Cannes 2023 fan p/twitter)

actresses did t specifically mention which aspect of mandated festival protocols y were pointing at. However, it's secret that antiquated dress code of 'only gowns and heels' for women at Cannes Film Festival, has been a continuous point of contention. In 2015, a group of women with medical issues were denied entry to premiere of Todd Haynes's 'Carol' - because y chose to wear flats; y suffered medical conditions that did t allow m to wear heels at all. In defiance of this draconian dress code, Julia Roberts (Cannes 2016) and Kristen Stewart (Cannes 2018) kicked off ir heels on red carpet.

(Im: Kristen Stewart taking her stilettos off on Cannes 2018 red carpet. Source: Kristen Stewart fan p/Twitter)

(Im: Julia Roberts walks barefoot up steps of red carpet at Cannes 2016. Source: Julia Roberts fan p/Twitter)

Cate Blanchett went barefoot in 2023, and though it was officially in support of Iranian women, actress perhaps made a much larger point regarding way women were treated differently - be it in society in general, or at Cannes Film Festival in particular. Most recently, Jennifer Lawrence wore flip-flops at Cannes 2023 premiere of 'Anatomy of a Fall' and lifted hem of her gown while she walked. All of se actions raised many eyebrows and actresses were policed for ir choices. 

(Im: Jennifer Lawrence dons flip flops with her gown at Cannes 2023. Source: Jennifer Lawrence Fan Club/Twitter)

"If you're t asking guys to wear heels... n you can't ask me eir"

American Osteopathic Association says in an article that "High heels put foot at an angle and pull muscles and joints out of alignment, so effects aren't limited to feet." Reports confirm how wearing high heels causes arthritis, joint pain and ankle sprains. Several women find heels painful and uncomfortable to wear. Add to that a long and heavy evening dress, and it is practically impossible to walk around or move, without getting tangled up in dress or falling down, leading to even more 'wardrobe malfunction' moments. 

Yet, Cannes mandates high heels and evening dresses for ladies on red carpet. This, in spite of fact that this mandate is so unfairly biased against anatomical realities of women's bodies. In contrast, men seem to have it much more comfortable in ir fitted, -frills tuxedos and flat, well-polished shoes. This clear inequity (in terms of sartorial regulations) that Cannes Film Festival has been adhering to, was perhaps best summed up by 2018 Cannes jury-member Kristen Stewart when she said, "If you’re t asking guys to wear heels and a dress, n you can’t ask me eir."