Cannes 2025: Why Nice airport style is officially cooler than the red carpet
Where else can you wear vintage Vans and still upstage a couture gown—all due to the Cannes 2025 dress code restrictions?
Move over, red carpet. The new hotspot for showcasing fashion at the Cannes Film Festival is not the Croisette, but Terminal 2 at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport. That’s right. While some are rehearsing their best “I’m just here for the art” pose at the Palais, the real showstoppers are arriving 45 minutes earlier… at baggage claim.
Forget the gowns and the glitter. Celebrities are proving that the coolest way to Cannes in 2025 is by nailing an “effortless yet meticulously curated” airport look. Whether you call it jet-set chic, stealth wealth, or “model-off-duty-core,” one thing is for sure: don’t overlook it. These looks are hotter than the Croisette at noon.
Supermodel Vittoria Ceretti: Runway Queen of Row 14A
If there’s a patron saint of airport chic this year, it has to be Italian supermodel Vittoria Ceretti. She arrived at Nice Airport wearing possibly the most talked-about outfit of the festival, and it didn’t include a gown, heels, or even a stylist (just kidding, we know there was at least one involved).
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Dressed in straight-leg faded jeans, a classic white tee, a cocoa-coloured leather bomber, and Vans Old Skool checkerboard sneakers, Ceretti gave us all a masterclass in casual glam. The look was completed with a dainty gold chain, dark sunglasses, and an attitude that exudes, “I don’t try hard; I just win”. While other celebrities were still stuck in customs, she had already claimed victory in the unofficial Cannes Cool Contest.
Actor Jeremy Strong in Monochrome and Other Unexpected Airport Heroes
It turns out that it’s not just models who are crushing the arrival game. Actor Jeremy Strong landed in a monochrome cocoa-brown get-up, complete with matching headphones and loafers. It was the epitome of “method actor goes minimalist,” and somehow, it worked.
Meanwhile, top model Alessandra Ambrosio glided in like a human espresso martini: smooth, rich, and a little extra. Her all-white airport ensemble, which included a silk neck scarf, exuded the elegance of an in-flight Chanel ad.
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Actress Andie MacDowell made a case for her all-black look, complete with sunglasses, reminiscent of a noir film star between shoots. Who needs paparazzi when you look this stunning while waiting for your Uber?
The New Dress Code Drama: Cannes, but Make It…Restrictive
Now, before you blame the red carpet for falling flat, let’s be fair: it’s not entirely the carpet’s fault. Cannes 2025 has introduced a stricter-than-thou dress code that’s got even A-listers raising their perfectly arched brows.
The rules are clear: no visible nudity, no dramatic volume that makes it difficult to sit, no high slits that threaten public scandal, and—wait for it—no trains that might disrupt red carpet traffic (or dignity). Basically, if your outfit could double as a sailboat, it’s a no-go.
Actress Halle Berry discovered this firsthand. Originally planning to wear a Gaurav Gupta gown with a sculptural train, she made a last-minute switch to a sleek Jacquemus dress for the official premiere. Later, however, she defied the rules by appearing in a sheer Celia Kritharioti gown with a train—red carpet rules be damned.
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Chinese actress Zhao Yingzi, on the other hand, learned the hard way: she was escorted off the carpet for wearing a sheer gown with a thigh-high slit, which had festival organisers clutching their pearls.
Suddenly, the freedom of sneakers and denim at the airport is looking very appealing.
Airport Fashion: The Never-Ending Elite Sport
Let’s be honest: the Cannes red carpet is starting to feel like the stricter cousin of the Met Gala—lots of couture, no chaos. But the airport? That’s where fashion gets fun again.
It’s where stars can mix designer fashion with vintage finds, wear flat shoes without apologies, and let their personalities shine through their outfits. There are no red carpet photographers demanding poses, no stifling rules, and—most importantly—no judgment if your bag is oversized and your pants are wrinkled (as long as it’s intentional, of course).
In today’s digital world, where getting “spotted at arrivals” earns just as many likes as “best dressed of the night,” airport looks are no longer the underdogs. They’re the blueprint.
Comfort Is Cool (Finally)
The airport aesthetic is not just a rebellion; it’s a revelation. Celebrities aren’t just trading heels for sneakers; they’re rewriting the rules of red carpet glamour.
In 2025, luxury isn’t about drama or dazzle. It’s about intention—owning your narrative, even if that narrative includes a neck pillow and a slightly suspicious coffee stain.
Unlike red carpet gowns, which are zipped, snapped, and returned to PR closets faster than you can say “haute couture,” these airport looks feel lived-in. They’re authentic and approachable, making it seem like you might actually run into Vittoria Ceretti while waiting in line at Pret. Spoiler alert: you probably won’t. But it’s nice to imagine!
Angelo Ruggeri
Journalist and Master, Styling, Business, Design Courses Tutor, Milan