UPDATE: In an interview with Leisure Tonight that was revealed on June 8, 2023, Jennifer Lawrence revealed the precise motive she wore flip-flops to the 2023 Cannes Movie Pageant crimson carpet.
Regardless of hypothesis that she wore the footwear in protest of Canne’s alleged “no flat shoes” coverage, it seems that the A-lister’s footwear alternative was purely for consolation and security. Within the interview, Lawrence defined that the heels she was initially sporting have been a dimension too large. When it got here time for her to descend the notorious Cannes crimson carpet steps, she thought that she’d fall if she wore heels. So, she made the sensible choice to vary into a smart pair of flip-flops.
“I was not making a political statement,” mentioned Lawrence. “Not that I wouldn’t — I had no idea that there was a whole controversy with people wearing flats or walking down the red carpet barefoot… I’m all for making a statement, I would just want it to be on purpose.”
Though it turns on the market wasn’t a deeper that means behind Lawrence’s Cannes footwear alternative in any case, there are numerous different celebs who’ve appeared to take a stand in opposition to the supposed no flat footwear “rule” at Cannes.
This 12 months’s Cannes Movie Pageant is nicely underway and the star-studded occasion has already gifted us with numerous glamorous, high-fashion superstar seems to be. Jennifer Lawrence definitely lived as much as that customary along with her vibrant Dior robe worn on the crimson carpet on Might 20 — however it was the flip-flops she paired with the look that basically captured audiences’ consideration.
At first look, one might imagine that the distinctive footwear alternative is a nod to Lawrence’s “relatable” superstar persona and a want to prioritize consolation over fashion. However, there truly could also be a deeper that means behind the star’s choice to swap out her crimson excessive heels for the black flip-flops that she wore to stroll down the carpet’s well-known steps.
It’s broadly recognized that the gown code for Cannes crimson carpets is formal, black tie apparel, however there seems to be an unwritten rule that ladies are anticipated to comply with to attend the festivities: they have to put on excessive heels.
Whereas the origin of this unofficial guideline is oft-debated, there’s little question that prime heels have lengthy been considered a staple of femininity and attractiveness for girls. A 2022 research discovered that ladies in excessive heels have been considered being extra sexually engaging and of a better social standing than ladies who have been sporting flats. And but, whereas sky-high stilettos might complement an outfit, generally an elegant, snug pair of flats is the extra accountable name in case you don’t need to be in ache all evening.
Nobody is aware of this higher than the A-listers who typically should attend hours-long occasions in constricting clothes and uncomfortable footwear. As such, there are a number of different well-known feminine celebrities who’ve challenged this sexist “rule” on previous Cannes carpets — and a few have been extra direct with their statements than others.
Isabelle Huppert and Cate Blanchett in 2023
Jennifer Lawrence wasn’t the one star to seemingly rise up in opposition to the rule at this 12 months’s Cannes Movie Pageant. French film star Isabelle Huppert gave a delicate nod to the absurdity of the rule by sporting nude Anatomic heels by Balenciaga on the premiere of Killers of the Flower Moon. This wasn’t simply any previous pump although, the design and color of the heel have been made to imitate a naked human foot, which completely made it appear to be Huppert was defying the “only high heels” rule on the carpet.
@byclaytondavis Cate Blanchett introduced the Breakthrough award to ZAHRA AMIR EBRAHIMI on the Cannes Movie Pageant. Taking off her heels to face with the ladies of Iran. #Cannes ♬ unique sound – Clayton Davis
Cate Blanchett took probably the most direct stances of all when she introduced the Breakthrough Artist Award to Iranian-French star Zahra Amir Ebrahimi at this 12 months’s pageant. Earlier than introducing Ebrhaimi on stage, Blanchett made observe of the sexist “ban” as she mentioned, “I am going to take my heels off, in honour of the women of Iran. This is to stab all the people that stand in the way of women’s rights.” Ebrahimi needed to flee Iran when she was in her twenties after an intimate video of her and her boyfriend was leaked and a felony case was made in opposition to her for having pre-marital intercourse. As the 2 artists shared a hug onstage, it grew to become abundantly clear that Blanchett talking out in opposition to the pageant’s “no flat shoes” ban was truly a a lot bigger political assertion on the necessity to communicate out on gender inequalities for all.
Kristen Stewart in 2018
Kristen Stewart additionally made an announcement in opposition to gender inequality within the vogue world on the crimson carpet for Blackkklansman on the 71st annual Cannes Movie Pageant in 2018. Equally to Roberts, Stewart ditched her Louboutin stilettos halfway by her look and walked the remainder of the carpet barefoot — and the star was rather more outspoken concerning the alleged excessive heel rule. “I feel like you can’t ask people that any more. If you’re not asking guys to wear heels and a dress, you cannot ask me either,” she advised reporters. “I get the black-tie thing but you should be able to do either version — flats or heels.”
Julia Roberts in 2016
As she walked the crimson carpet for the premiere of Cash Monster again in 2016, Julia Roberts infamously kicked off her heels halfway by the occasion and concluded her look barefoot. When requested about her choice to ditch the footwear, Roberts mentioned, “A lot was happening from my ankles up. Let’s not forget all that. A lot of time and effort went into ankles up.” Whether or not this act of rise up was a direct response to the “no flat shoes” rule at Cannes, its timing definitely makes it seem to be it was an announcement. In 2015, only one 12 months earlier than Roberts walked the carpet barefoot, a gaggle of ladies have been allegedly not allowed right into a screening of a movie at Cannes as a result of they have been sporting flat footwear.
