The Venice Film Festival is the big sister of Cannes. Less flashy, more gung-ho, celebs – fresh and splotchy from their summer vacations – tirelessly jump off speedboats as they make their way to premieres through the city’s canals. This does not mean that “sensitive” appears anywhere in the dress code. Venice fascinates. The sense of electricity in the air at the height of the fall film season is reflected in style, as stars go the extra mile to pose against the picturesque setting.
Think back to Lady Gaga’s Veneto moment in Valentino with pink feathers A star is born promotion path. “The energy surrounding the premiere was on another level, there was thunder, lightning, rain!” Gaga’s stylist Sandra Amador recalls. “I don’t know that we will ever be able to repeat a moment like this. It was so intense, emotional, beautiful and surreal all at the same time.”
Past Venice fashion highlights also include Gwyneth Paltrow giving it a good blush, bow-embellished Prada in 2011, Madonna’s Miu Miu moment the same year and that quintessentially fabulous Dior look by Jennifer Lawrence in 2017 .This year’s attendees have big fashion shoes to fill. But Hollywood’s new guard is hungry for it.
Step up Timothée Chalamet, the 26-year-old known for his electric Tom Ford tailoring and Haider Ackermann-directed suits. Chalamet will be in town to promote Luca Guadagnino Bones and all, in which he plays an angry teenage cannibal alongside Chloë Sevigny (fingers crossed for her turnout to shake things up on the wardrobe front as well). Expect interesting cuts (remember his quilted Louis Vuitton harness?), potentially bare chest (hello Oscars 2022) and thoughtful jewelry (his vintage Cartier brooch is still our favorite).
The double whammy of Timothée and Harry Styles on the red carpet might be too much for some to handle. Styles will change Love on tour stage for the step and repeat to repeat the Olivia Wilde movie Don’t worry dear, in which he takes the lead alongside Florence Pugh. Known for his happy and nostalgic performance outfits, Styles once said Vogue that “clothes are there to have fun and experiment,” while Wilde has said, “It’s very powerful and kind of extraordinary to see someone in his position redefining what it can mean to be a confident man .” Anything can happen on opening night.
Pugh, too, is an unapologetic sorceress with an eye for sparkle, and has developed a penchant for punky outfits that speak volumes for her character (her latest pink Valentino snap shows she’ll wear what she wants when love it, thank you very much).
Stylists, accordingly, are pumped. “We are very excited to bring young talent to Venice, as it is a great place for them to explore their fashion identity,” says Zadrian Smith, who has been working tirelessly this summer at House of the Dragon promo tour with his partner, Sarah Edmiston.
Don’t think the Titans of TinselTown won’t pull out all the stops in Venice, a veritable “fashion playground.” Spurred on by brands creating entire suites of clothing, “actors and actresses feel emboldened to grow up,” says Zadrian, with Sarah adding: “That’s why you see fashion favorites like Julianne Moore , Penélope Cruz and Cate Blanchett, do it beautifully year after year. They’re not afraid to embrace the glamor of the occasion.”
Blanchett will indeed be there to promote JOB, in which she plays Lydia Tár, the first female conductor of one of Germany’s most famous orchestras. The Australian star, who is already generating Oscar buzz, has strong ties to Armani and McQueen, but will have to balance those relationships with her new, greener approach to red carpet dressing. (Some Alexander McQueen archive, please!).
Smith and Edmiston hope vintage will win out this year, but they predict drama through metallic embellishments, cutouts and bold jewelry. Meanwhile, those volatile water taxi press operations will be all about holiday-inspired cocktail attire as Venice celebrates the end of summer in true glittering style. Light, camera, action.
