The 81st Venice International Film Festival, which started on Aug. 28 and wrapped up on Sept. 7, was a key stop on the fall film festival circuit.
Over a week and a half, some of Hollywood’s biggest stars — including Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt — converged on the Lido di Venezia to promote their upcoming films and projects.
There were countless canal-side photocalls and glamorous premieres, and plenty of high-wattage fashion moments. These were some of the best red carpet looks from the 2024 Venice International Film Festival.
Taylor Russell
The Canadian actor and model looked stellar throughout the festival, but it was her custom white Alaïa look for the premiere of The Room Next Door that was a favourite. Styled by Jahleel Weaver, who also dressed Russell in Chanel Haute Couture for the festival’s opening night, the sleek look featured an on-trend yet unexpected bubble skirt and cropped top combination.
Angelina Jolie
On the Maria red carpet, Jolie looked like a true movie star in a custom asymmetrical chiffon gown by London-based designer Tamara Ralph. An off-the-shoulder faux-fur stole and bold red lips were the perfect finishing touches to this timeless ensemble.
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga is known for her high-drama red carpet looks, and she didn’t disappoint at the Joker: Folie à Deux premiere, wearing a voluminous black Dior dress, Tiffany & Co. jewelry and a statement hat by British milliner Philip Treacy. She walked the carpet with her fiancé, Michael Polansky.
Julianne Moore
A lot can go wrong with a fitted gold sequin dress, but the fit of this Bottega Veneta gown was perfection, and the shade of gold worked well with Moore’s fair colouring. Paired with oversized, modern earrings and a centre-parted low ponytail, it made an effortless impression at the premiere of The Room Next Door.
Cate Blanchett
Sunglasses were a popular red carpet accessory in Venice. Here, Blanchett is wearing a gown by Louis Vuitton with matching white sunnies for the Disclaimer red carpet, styled by her go-to stylist, Elizabeth Stewart.
Thalissa Teixeira
There was something elegant and decidedly unfussy about the British-Brazilian actor’s dress-over-pants look. Teixeira held up the hem of her strapless pink gown on the red carpet for Harvest, and while it’s hard to tell if this was unintentional or by design, the effect was charming and added something unexpected to the shape of the hemline.
Tilda Swinton
Swinton made several red carpet appearances in Venice, but it was her look for the Queer premiere that stood out as the most striking and modern. The tailored white dress — styled with bright blue heels, slicked-back hair and an eye-catching red lip — is from a recent Alaïa collection by designer Pieter Mulier.
Sophie Wilde
On the Babygirl red carpet, the Australian actor sported a custom strapless dress by Jonathan Anderson at Loewe and archival Cartier jewelry. A sheer fabric face covering added a dash of drama, complementing the gown’s boldly draped back and train.
Kasia Smutniak
The Polish-Italian actor wore two great all-black ensembles at the festival. This Giorgio Armani look, featuring a jumpsuit that resembles a vest and pants, was worn for the premiere of The Room Next Door. A beaded, wig-like headpiece added just the right amount of shimmer.
Stacy Martin
A full-on ballgown can come off as overly formal on the red carpet, but Martin’s Martin’s Louis Vuitton look at the premiere of The Brutalist avoided that fate thanks to its unexpected colour, drop waist and minimal accessorizing by stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray. It was still high-impact but felt fresh and contemporary.
