The 2025 Cannes Film Festival opened last week with an updated dress code, explicitly stating that “for decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet.” Many expected this regulation to signal a retreat from the event’s traditionally sensual fashion flair, especially in a country celebrated for its embrace of style and subtle provocation. Yet, despite these tightened guidelines, Cannes still found a way to keep things interesting—albeit in a more humorous, meme-worthy direction.
Historically known for its glitzy displays and daring fashion statements, Cannes has been a place where both actresses and actors push sartorial boundaries under the Mediterranean sun. In 2023, for instance, the premiere of Pedro Almodóvar’s Strange Way of Life saw male stars like Jason Fernandez, Manu Ríos, and Jose Condessa don suits that boldly revealed skin, including bare chests and toned arms. However, this year, when asked how the new nudity policy would apply to such menswear styles, the Cannes press office gave a standard response: the dress code aimed not to limit attire generally, but to prevent full nudity in alignment with institutional norms and French law. No further clarification was offered.
Despite the regulatory constraints, the spirit of seduction was not entirely absent from the red carpet. Rather than overt sensuality, this year’s menswear theme was more tongue-in-cheek and leaned into a more mature, charismatic archetype—what could best be described as the “fashion daddy.” Men over 40 became unexpected style icons, taking playful fashion risks designed to intrigue, amuse, or inspire admiration. Whether these looks sparked genuine attraction depended on personal taste, but they were undeniably eye-catching.
Jeremy Strong, serving as a Cannes jury member, embraced the trend early. He appeared in a pastel pink ensemble by Haans Nicholas Mott, complete with a raw-hemmed jacket, trousers, and a matching bucket hat in a shade reminiscent of steak tartare. This was just the beginning of his lineup of soft, romantic outfits. Meanwhile, Pedro Pascal, widely regarded as Hollywood’s leading “fashion daddy,” delivered a daring sleeveless look by Calvin Klein, revealing arms and a subtle tease of his torso. A$AP Rocky combined elegance and maturity in a white single-breasted Miu Miu suit and later took on a more literal fatherly role, walking the carpet alongside his pregnant partner, Rihanna, for the premiere of Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest.
Alexander Skarsgård brought a method-dressing approach to the festival. Promoting his role in the queer biker drama Pillion, where he plays a dominant leather-clad character, Skarsgård collaborated with stylist Harry Lambert to echo the film’s themes through his wardrobe. His looks included black leather trousers, a vintage “bootlicker” graphic tee, and a Saint Laurent tuxedo paired with fetishistic thigh-high leather boots. This deliberate overlap of costume and red carpet attire further emphasized the blurring line between cinematic storytelling and fashion marketing.
During a guest appearance on the British morning show Lorraine, Skarsgård explained his style choices: “I’m wearing a lot of black leather in the movie, so I thought it would be appropriate to have a little black leather on the carpet.” For the TV spot, he opted for a cheeky ensemble of S.S. Daley plaid microshorts, G.H. Bass loafers, and white tube socks pulled high, joking, “I wanted to be sexy today and I thought, ‘There’s nothing sexier than a middle-aged man in a British schoolboy uniform.’” His self-aware humor and clear enjoyment of the moment underscored the light-hearted, self-parodying nature of the year’s dominant menswear trend.
Ultimately, Cannes 2025 reminded the fashion world that sex appeal on the red carpet doesn’t always come from revealing skin. Sometimes, it arrives in the form of charm, confidence, and clever styling from men who are unapologetically grown—and having a good time.
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