Why Halle Berry’s Burgundy Old Hollywood Look at Cannes Feels Like Another Sign of the Times
Every so often the cosmos sends us a reminder that nothing ever truly changes—just like when Halle Berry sashayed onto the 2025 Cannes red carpet in a burgundy, Old Hollywood–inspired ensemble that demanded attention nobody needed. There she was on May 16 at the Palais des Festivals, wrapped in a strapless velvet gown by Schiaparelli, cinched at the waist, complete with a sweeping train and opera-length black gloves. Because when the rest of the world is careening toward chaos, the best move is apparently to lean into maximum glamour, right?
Berry’s lips were painted a matching wine shade, her hair sculpted in vintage waves worthy of a bygone era, all topped off with Art Deco diamond drop earrings that sparkled under the Riviera sun. She couldn’t resist telling People Magazine that she’s “always been drawn to that dramatic silhouette,” which, in context, reads like a confession of how we desperately cling to glitz while ignoring our own mess. The festival—which runs May 14–25—hosted dozens of other star-studded outfits this year, but let’s be real: nothing says “distraction” like a meticulously curated velvet fantasy when there are literally wildfires, floods, and political crises trending worldwide.
Critics from Vogue and WWD nodded approvingly at the nod to ’50s screen sirens, while paparazzi from Getty Images and WireImage weren’t shy about flooding our feeds. Every click means more ad revenue and less actual reflection on the climate report that dropped the same morning. In a world where we’re supposed to care about carbon footprints, Berry’s gown—though stunning—might as well have been a billboard for indulgence at the planet’s expense.
Questionable? Perhaps. But this is Cannes 2025: a festival built on cinematic dreams that too often feels like a hall of mirrors, reflecting back our own desire to look away from the real headlines. Sure, Old Hollywood’s fairytale drape had us momentarily smitten. But as we scroll past her next post, will we remember the gown—or the fact that none of this glamour stops the next headline about economic collapse?
Let’s not pretend any of this will get better. Bookmark this for the inevitable “I told you so” moment when someone tells us fashion can change the world.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Dotdash Meredith
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
