For years, the Cannes Film Festival’s red carpet was synonymous with sky-high stilettos—until a 2015 uproar dubbed #FlatGate challenged the unspoken rule. Though organizers denied a heels-only mandate, the backlash sparked a movement. Now, nearly a decade later, flats are not just tolerated but celebrated at the festival, signaling a broader shift in fashion.
From Rebellion to Acceptance
In 2016, Julia Roberts went barefoot on the Cannes red carpet. Kristen Stewart later sidestepped expectations by swapping heels for flats mid-event. Even Jennifer Lawrence’s accidental 2023 flip-flop reveal under her Dior gown kept the conversation alive. Today, the festival’s official dress code explicitly permits “elegant” shoes “with or without a heel,” paving the way for stars like Jane Fonda (in silver Margaux Mary Janes) and Margaret Qualley (Chanel ballet flats) to embrace comfort without compromise.
Flats Shed Their “Unfashionable” Stigma
Once dismissed as frumpy or impractical, flat shoes are now having a renaissance. Pinterest reports a 190% surge in U.S. searches for “ballet flats” this May compared to 2023, while Google Trends shows global interest in “Mary Janes” doubling. The shift mirrors cultural moments like Barbie, where Margot Robbie’s arched-foot crisis humorously framed flats as taboo, and And Just Like That…, where Carrie Bradshaw mourned her heel-dependent identity.
Designers are taking note. Tory Burch revived its iconic Reva ballet flat in 2024 after a seven-year hiatus, betting against the “Dadcore” sneaker trend that once dominated. “It’s a misconception that dressy means heels,” model Inès de la Fressange told Vogue in 2015. “Did ancient statues wear stilettos?”
The Red Carpet’s New Normal
With Cannes 2024 featuring Prada loafers and lace-up flats, the festival’s once-rigid glamour standards are evolving. As searches for heels grew just 53% compared to flats’ meteoric rise, one thing is clear: comfort is no longer the enemy of style.
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