**UPDATE: **Amid the ultra-glamorous atmosphere at Cannes, some feathers were left ruffled after flat shoes were banned on the red carpet. Several women were turned away from premieres because of their distinct lack of elevated footwear, causing the likes of Emily Blunt to declare she'd rather be in Converse anyway. **
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Now Lara Stone has joined the revolt. At the glitzy amFAR gala event on Thursday evening, the Dutch model rocked up on the red carpet in - GASP - flats. And she looked ruddy marvellous!
Wearing a floor-sweeping metallic gown draped around the waist, she teamed the look with a pair of matching sandals. If this isn't proof that flats can be just as glam as heels, we don't what is. Take that, festival officials.
See all the best dressed stars at the amFAR gala here >>
20 May 2015: Emily Blunt Calls Out Cannes' No-Flats Controversy
Rumours are circuling today of a secret dress code which bans the wearing of flats. According to Screen Daily, women were reportedly denied entry at the Carol premiere on Sunday due to their lack of heels and director Asif Kapadia confirmed on Twitter that his wife, the actress Victoria Harwood, had been a victim of the new no-flats rule.
Luckily, there have already been several high-profile fightbacks against this seemingly out-of-the-blue policy. Emily Blunt, who is in Cannes to promote her new film Siccario, declared “That’s very disappointing”. Hinting at a possible moment of red carpet rebellion, Blunt continued, “we shouldn’t wear high heels, anyway. I prefer wearing Converse sneakers.” We couldn’t agree more.
Meanwhile, director Denis Villeneuve said at a press conference that he would be teaming up with fellow male luminaries to show solidarity with the women subjected to the no-flats policy, “in a sign of protest, Benicio, Josh, and I will walk the stairs in high heels tomorrow.”
Whether Cannes attendees chose heels for medical reasons or simply because they wanted to be comfortable, the festival officials might not realise that their edict not only underlines the debate surrounding discrimination against women in the film industry but goes against the tide of the huge flat shoe revival which has defined the past few years in fashion.
The biggest brands to grace the Cannes red carpet have all had big hits with their flat offerings. Christian Dior has been the go-to for numerous actresses including Natalie Portman and Emma Stone. Last year, Dior designer Raf Simons debuted the concept of couture trainers, showing sleek jewel scattered sneakers with elegant gowns. Then there’s Valentino who have dressed Sienna Miller, Charlize Theron and more at Cannes. A quick scan of their current shoe collection shows a treasure-box array of flats from leather sandals to the now iconic Rockstuds.
The dress code for Cannes evening events is described as “Black Tie”. Debretts- the definitive etiquette guide- makes no mention of heel height in their definition of Black Tie for women. Thierry Fremaux, the director of the Cannes Film Festival, tweeted a denial of the policy, stating that there was no mention of shoes in the dress code. We wonder what the policy will be on men in heels if Villeneuve and his gang turn up?
SEE ALL THE CANNES LOOKS IN THE GALLERY BELOW >>
Cannes Best Dressed
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Natalie Portman wears Dior at the 68th Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony - 13 May 2015 [Rex]
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Naomi Watts wears Elie Saab at the 68th Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony - 13 May 2015 [Rex]
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Lupita Nyong'o wears Gucci at the 68th Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony - 13 May 2015 [Rex]
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Liya Kebede at the 68th Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony - 13 May 2015 [Rex]
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Karlie Kloss wears Atelier Versace at the 68th Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony - 13 May 2015 [Rex]
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Julianne Moore wears Armani Prive at the 68th Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony - 13th May 2015 [Rex]
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Emma Miller at the 68th Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony - 13 May 2015 [Rex]
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Doutzen Kroes wears Atelier Versace at the 68th Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony - 13 May 2015 [Rex]
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Bar Refaeli at the 68th Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony - 13 May 2015 [Rex]
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Salma Hayek at the 'Tale of Tales' photocall at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 14 May 2015 [Rex]
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Sienna Miller wears Balenciaga at the 68th Cannes Film Festival jury photocall - 13 May 2015 [Rex]
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Sienna Miller wears Lanvin to the 68th Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony - 13 May 2015 [Rex]
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Charlize Theron in Valentino at the 'Mad Max: Fury Road' photocall at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 14 May 2015 [Rex]
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Naomi Watts wears Altuzarra to the 68th Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony dinner - 13 May 2015 [Rex]
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Doutzen Kroes at the 68th Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony dinner - 13 May 2015 [Rex]
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Miranda Kerr at the Magnum event at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 14 May 2015 [Rex]
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Naomi Watts in Ralph Lauren at Mad Max premiere - 14 May
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Julianne Moore wears Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci at the 'Mad Max: Jury Road' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 14 May 2015 [Rex]
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Charlize Theron
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Eva Longoria wears Georges Hobeika at the Global Gift Gala at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 14 May 2015 [Rex]
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Zoe Kravitz wears Valentino at the 'Mad Max: Fury Road' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 14 May 2015 [Rex]
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Michelle Rodriguez wears Zuhair Murad at the 'Mad Max: Fury Road' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 14 May 2015 [Rex]
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Liya Kebede wears Proenza Schouler at the 'mad Max: Fury Road' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 14 May 2015 [Rex]
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Salma Hayek wears Alexander McQueen to the 'Tale of Tales' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 14 May 2015 [Rex]
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Rachel Weisz at 'The Lobster' photocall at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 15 May 2015 [Rex]
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Miranda Kerr at the Magnum party at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 14 May 2015 [Rex]
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Emma Stone at the 'Irrational Man' photocall at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 15 May 2015 [Getty]
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Cate Blanchett wears Giles Deacon at the 'Carol' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 17 May 2015 [Rex]
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Erin O'Connor wears Ralph & Russo Couture at the 'Carol' premier at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 17 May [Rex]
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Eva Longoria wears Atelier Versace at the 'carol' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 17 May 2015 [Rex]
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Natasha Poly wears Atelier Versace at the 'Carol' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 17 May 2015 [Rex]
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Poppy Delevingne wears Burberry at the 'Carol' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 17 May 2015 [Rex]
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Rooney Mara at the 'Carol' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 17 May 2015 [Rex]
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Salma Hayek at the 'Rocco and his Brothers' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 17 May 2015 [Rex]
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Cate Blanchett wears Alexander McQueen at the 'Carol' photocell at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 17 May 2015 [Rex]
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Rooney Mara wears Alexander McQueen at the 'Carol' photocall at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 17 May 2015 [Rex]
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Cate Blanchett at the 'Carol' after party at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 17 May 2015 [Rex]
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Rooney Mara at the 'Carol' after party at the 68th cannes Film Festival - 17 May 2015 [Rex]
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Natalie Portman wears Rodarte at the 'A Tale of Love and Darkness' photocall - 17 May 2015 [Rex]
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Natasha Poly wears Michael Kors at 'The Sea of Trees' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 16 May 2015 [Rex]
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Sienna Miller wears Valentino Haute Couture at 'The Sea of Trees' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 16 May 2015 [Rex]
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Diane Kruger wears Dolce & Gabbana at the 'Maryland' photocall at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 16 May 2015 [Rex]
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Cheryl Fernandez-Versini wears Ralph & Russo at the 'Irrational Man' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 16 May 2015 [Rex]
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Emma Stone wears Dior at the 'Irrational Man' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 15 May 2015 [Rex]
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Michelle Rodriguez wears Zuhair Murad at the 'Irrational Man' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 15 May 2015 [Rex]
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Naomi Watts wears Peter Pilotto at 'The Sea of Trees' photocall at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 16 May 2015 [Rex]
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Rachel Weisz wears Louis Vuitton to the 'Lobster' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 15 May 2015 [Rex]
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Lea Seydoux wears Miu Miu at the 'Lobster' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 15 May 2015 [Rex]
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Melissa George wears Schiaparelli Haure Couture to the 'Irrational Man' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 15 May 2015 [Rex]
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Diane Kruger wears Prada to 'The Sea of Trees' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 16 May 2015 [Rex]
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Charlotte Le Bon at the 'Inside Out' photocall at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 18 May 2015 [Rex]
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Andie MacDowell wears Ralph & Russo at 'The Sea of Trees' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 16 May 2015 [Rex]
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Adriana Lima wears Ulyana Sergeenko to the 'Sicario' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 19 May 2015 [Rex]
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Cate Blanchett wears Armani Prive to the 'Sicario' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 19 May 2015 [Rex]
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Doutzen Kroes wears Dior to the 'Sicario' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 19 May 2015 [Rex]
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Emily Blunt wears Stella McCartney to the 'Sicario' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 19 May 2015 [Rex]
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Irina Shayk wears Atelier Versace to the 'Sicario' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 19 May 2015 [Rex]
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Emily Blunt wears Peter Pilotto to the 'Sicario' photocall at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 19 May 2015 [Rex]
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Adriana Lima at the De Grisogono Party to the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 19 May 2015 [Rex]
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Joan Smalls wears Givenchy to the De Grisogono Party at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 19 May 2015 [Rex]
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Karlie Kloss wears Oscar De La Renta to the De Grisogono Party at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 19 May 2015 [Rex]
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Natalie Portman wears Lanvin to the De Grisogono Party at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 19 May 2015 [Rex]
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Natasha Poly at the De Grisogono Party at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 19 May 2015 [Rex]
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Cara Delevingne wears Saint Laurent to the De Grisogono Party at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 19 May 2015 [Rex]
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Ashley Graham at the Cash and Rocket tour party in Cannes - 19 May 2015 [Rex]
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Selita Ebanks at the Cash and Rocket tour party in Cannes - 19 May 2015 [Rex]
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Adriana Lima wears Mugler at the Chopard Party at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 18 May 2015 [Rex]
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Irina Shayk wears Misha Nonoo to the Chopard Party at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 18 May 2015 [Rex]
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Poppy Delevingne wears Chanel Haute Couture to the Chopard Party at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 18 May 2015 [Rex]
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Uma Thurman wears Prada to the Chopard Party at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 18 May 2015 [Rex]
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Chiara Ferragni wears Calvin Klein to the IFP and Calvin Klein Women in Film party in Cannes - 18 May 2015 [Rex]
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Doutzen Kroes at the IFP and Calvin Klein Women in Film party in Cannes - 18 May 2015 [Rex]
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Emily Blunt wears Calvin Klein at the IFP and Calvin Klein Women in Film party in Cannes - 18 May 2015 [Rex]
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Natalia Vodianova wears Calvin Klein to the IFP and Calvin Klein Women in Film party in Cannes - 18 May 2015 [Rex]
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Rachel Weisz wears Calvin Klein to the IFP and Calvin Klein Women in Film party at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 18 May 2015 [Rex]
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Sienna Miller wears Calvin Klein to the IFP and Calvin Klein Women in Film party in Cannes - 18 May 2015 [Rex]
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Eva Longoria wears Gabriela Cadena to the 'Inside Out' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 18 May 2015 [Rex]
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Lily Donaldson wears Saint Laurent to the 'Inside Out' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 18 May 2015 [Rex]
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Rachel Weisz at the 'Youth' photocall at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 20 May 2015 [Rex]
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Natasha Poly at the Chanel and Vanity Fair dinner at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 20 May 2015 [Rex]
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Cara Delevingne wears Chanel to the Chanel and Vanity Fair dinner at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 20 May 2015 [Rex]
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Rachel Weisz at the 'Youth' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 20 May 2015 [Rex]
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Lara Stone wears Gianni Versace to the 'Youth' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 20 May 2015 [Rex]
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Karlie Kloss wears Louis Vuitton to the 'Youth' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 20 May 2015 [Rex]
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Joan Smalls at the 'Youth' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 20 May 2015 [Rex]
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Doutzen Kroes at the 'Youth' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 20 May 2015 [Rex]
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Chanel Iman wears Donna Karan Atelier to the 'Youth' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 20 May 2015 [Rex]
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Anja Rubik wears Atelier Versace Couture to the 'Youth' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 20 May 2015 [Rex]
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Petra Nemcova wears Zuhair Murad to the 'Youth' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 20 May 2015 [Rex]
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Kendall Jenner wears Azzedine Alaia to the 'Youth' premiere at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 20 May 2015 [Rex]
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Jane Fonda wears Schiaparelli to the 'Youth' premiere at the 68th cannes Film Festival - 20 May 2015 [Schiaparelli]
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Kendall Jenner at the launch of the 'Fendi By Karl Lagerfeld' book in Cannes - 21 May 2015 [Getty]
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Chanel Iman at the 'Dope' photocall at the 68th Cannes Film Festival - 22 May 2015 [Rex]