The Cannes Film Festival turned away women who weren't wearing heels, according to Screen magazine. The report set Twitter afire with #cannesheels trending in the UK.
The publication says that "multiple guests" some with medical conditions were turned away and denied access to the screening of Todd Haynes' competition entry Carol, a film about lesbian lovers, praised for its female-led cast and female producers.
Ironically, the Cannes Film Festival theme this season is "year of la femme" (year of the woman). It comes in the wake of criticism for the festival's lack of featuring female directors and filmmakers. In fact, it wasn't since 1987 that a film by a woman -- Emmanuelle Bercot's Le Tête Haute -- was chosen to open the festival.
Yesterday a producer got to the red carpet and was told she had one hour to change. From flats into heels, that is pic.twitter.com/k78tWjQzKX— Anna Mikhailova (@AnnaMikha) May 17, 2015
Another festival regular was allegedly turned away after arguing with four guards for 10 minutes, going so far as to explain she had ankle issues and could not wear heels.
"It's been ridiculous this year," she told BBC's Newsbeat. "Cannes needs to catch up with the times. Being fashionable for a woman is no longer about wearing heels. They need to train their guards better. I was wearing nice leather shoes, but told that these were street shoes and I needed to change them. I respect the rule and the location but at the same time I was in formal dress."
Not even directors or their spouses were immune to the strict rule: Amy director Asif Kapadia said his wife was stopped but later allowed in.
@muirkate happened to my wife (eventually let in)— asifkapadia (@asifkapadia) May 19, 2015
To be sure, at an historic and prestigious event such as Cannes, dress code is certainly meant to uphold tradition. Men are required to wear tuxedos and bowties, and women formal attire as well. While a certain level of taste should be respected, to police a woman's sartorial tastes and shame style decisions made based on medical reasons is ridiculous and misogynistic.
This is 2015. A woman should not be forced to wear a pair of heels to mark her as more feminine or to deem she is more of a woman.
Aside from reasons of sexism, stilettos are no longer the only fashionable shoe. If the Cannes Film Festival was abreast with current trends, they'd see a resurgence of flats, flatforms, sandals and an overall movement of comfort on the runways.
We've seen this from New York designers like Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera, all designers who've showcased their outfits with flats, flatforms, and sandals. European designers as well, from Dolce & Gabbana's embellished flats, Christopher Kane's slip-ons, Burberry's sandals and Marni's version, have made a declarative statement that fashion now is all about comfort.
Recently, Emily Blunt, in Cannes to promote her film, Sicario, was taken aback when she heard of news of flatsgate.
“I think everyone should wear flats, to be honest,” Emily Blunt said. “We shouldn’t wear high heels anymore...I prefer to wear Converse sneakers. That’s very disappointing.”
Others took it upon themselves to express their tastes however they chose, like comedian Samantha Baines who bravely opted for a pair of blinged out flats.
The red carpet was fun especially in my flats! #cannesheels #Cannes2015 pic.twitter.com/p6HWqfONBo— Samantha Baines (@samanthabaines) May 19, 2015
The outrage recently started a new hashtag, #showmeyourflats, where women are taking to social media to showcase their shoes.
#showmeyourflats - flat doesn't mean unfashionable Cannes, you can still sparkle, stud and leopard print :) pic.twitter.com/YlgSDA0PjQ— Lana (@origsugdenslut) May 19, 2015
No idea who decided #showmeyourflats was a good idea for a hashtag but now I finally have a reason to show these off pic.twitter.com/e1GsZQrHEs— Summer Ray (@SummerRay) May 19, 2015
Cannes rule is ridiculous! #ShowMeYourFlats pic.twitter.com/2TB16TwDg4— Becky Bedbug (@BeckyBedbug) May 19, 2015
I'm obvs supporting @MelissaCole's #showmeyourflats movement - like #FridayFlats but more politcal and on a Tuesday! pic.twitter.com/xFfQoQ1Lmf— EnBrogue (@EnBrogue) May 19, 2015
We're sure others will follow suit. On Sunday night at the premiere of Carol, actress Rooney Mara toppled over on the red carpet in her towering stilettos. One would think that a pair of Marni sandals would have sufficed -- or perhaps even going barefoot. Under that gown, who's staring at the shoes anyway?
