Organisers of this week’s Cannes Film Festival have updated their red-carpet dress code to effectively ban the trend of ‘nude dresses’ and cumbersome, over the top outfits.

“For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival,” the festival’s official Charter now says.

“Voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theatre are not permitted,” it says.

“The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.”

A spokesperson for the iconic French festival confirmed the charter was updated to reflect “certain rules that have long been in effect”.

They said the goal of the update was “not to regulate attire per se but to prohibit full nudity on the carpet” in accordance with the institutional framework of the festival as well as French law.

Stars like Elle Fanning, Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner, are just some of the celebrities to have sported extremely revealing dresses at Cannes in recent years.

Red carpet nudity became a major discussion earlier this year when  Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori appeared at the Grammys posing for photographers in a transparent sheath dress that effectively left her naked.

While “voluminous outfits” may need more interpretation, one example could be Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems and her enormous Oscars gown in 2023 that was criticised by other guests for impeding their view of the proceedings.

Last year, singer Kelly Rowland was captured on video in what appeared to be a heated argument with a security guard on the Marcello Mio red carpet at Cannes.

As she walked up the stairs, the female security guard, dressed in a black pantsuit, approached and held her arm up, appearing to usher Rowland up the stairs.

Cannes security officials are notoriously strict with dress codes and celebrity behaviour.

Screenings at the prestigious Grand Theatre Lumiere are black tie and evening wear only with organisers suggesting tuxedos and long dresses for women, alternatively a “little black dress, cocktail dress, dark-coloured pantsuit, a dressy top with black pants, elegant shoes and sandals with or without a heel, a black or navy-blue suit with bow-tie or dark-coloured tie” are acceptable.

“Tote-bags, backpacks or large bags are prohibited.”

In 2015, several female attendees were turned away at the Palais for failing to wear heels to the screening of the Cate Blanchett’s Carol.

Stars including Emily Blunt, who was not one of the women refused entry, called the situation “very disappointing”.

“Everyone should wear flats to be honest. We shouldn’t wear high heels,” she said.

In 2018, festival director Thierry Frémaux banned selfies from the Cannes red carpet, calling them “grotesque”.

The Cannes Film festival runs from May 13 to 24