Bella Hadid stepped onto the Cannes red carpet for the premiere of Antonin Baudry's La Bataille de Gaulle, stopping the festival in its tracks. The 29-year-old supermodel delivered a look that had cameras flashing before she even finished her first pose.
It wasn't just another dramatic Cannes outfit moment. This one tapped into fashion history, festival rules, and the ongoing obsession with sheer dressing on the red carpet.
A Red Carpet Moment That Defies Dress Code
Hadid attended the premiere of Antonin Baudry's new historical drama La Bataille de Gaulle, a film centred on Charles de Gaulle and a key moment in French wartime history. The screening formed part of Cannes' official programme, which regularly attracts major film industry names alongside global fashion figures.
While the film brought the cinematic prestige, Hadid's arrival brought the fashion headline energy. And she remains one of the most consistent stars when it comes to delivering memorable looks year after year.
This time, she wore a striking Schiaparelli white gown that leaned into sheer lace craftsmanship and bold structure. The dress was form-fitting and sculpted, made from an intricate circular-patterned lace or crochet knit that revealed as much as it concealed.
The neckline plunged dramatically into a deep V, stretching down to the waist. Right at the centre sat a bold black embellishment — part floral, part jewel — that acted almost like a visual anchor for the entire look.
Jane Birkin's 1969 Look Reimagined
The gown was a nod to fashion history.
It reimagined a look worn by British-French style icon Jane Birkin at the Union of the Artists Gala in Paris back in 1969. Birkin's influence on fashion has remained incredibly strong decades later, especially when it comes to effortless, slightly undone elegance mixed with bold femininity.
Birkin is also famously linked to one of fashion's most iconic accessories, the Hermès Birkin bag. It was created in her honour and now a global luxury staple.
bella hadid wearing a custom schiaparelli take on jane birkin’s crochet dress at the cannes film festival ✶ pic.twitter.com/o59NEeMo0c
— DUDA (@saintdemie) May 20, 2026
Cannes 2026 vs 'Naked Dressing' Trend
Cannes has a formal dress code that explicitly discourages nudity on the red carpet, along with overly revealing outfits. In recent years, festival organisers have reiterated guidelines aimed at maintaining a certain level of formality during official screenings.
But fashion, as always, finds a way to reinterpret the rules.
Sheer fabrics, illusion panels, and strategically placed embellishments have become a defining part of what's often called 'naked dressing.' This is a fashion trend where clothing gives the illusion of exposure without fully crossing into it. It's been seen everywhere from Cannes to the Met Gala.
Hadid's gown sits right in that conversation. While technically structured and covered in key areas, its transparency and cut-outs push the boundaries of what reads as 'covered' on camera.
Bella Hadid's Ongoing Fashion Influence
Bella Hadid has become one of those rare models who doesn't just wear fashion. She actively shapes it.
Whether she is walking the runway in Milan, Paris, or New York for designers like Chanel, Marc Jacobs, and Givenchy, her presence is consistently front-row news. She also stars in campaigns for luxury heavyweights such as Dior, Versace, Saint Laurent, and Schiaparelli. Fashion insiders and industry references regularly highlight her as a defining figure of modern modelling.
And then there's Cannes—where she's practically built a second reputation for herself, turning up in archival couture looks that always manage to feel both nostalgic and completely current.
Beyond fashion, she has also stepped into entrepreneurship with Orebella, her wellness and fragrance brand. It marks a shift from model to full-fledged creative force.
