The Best Looks of the Venice Film Festival Red Carpet: A Red Carpet History

The French actress and Balenciaga ambassador wore the brand on the red carpet for the premiere of Maestro, showing off the dynamic design with every step she took. This year she’ll return as the Jury President.

The director chose classic elegance and wore a custom, butter yellow Prada design to the premiere of her film, Origin.

The Bones and All star proved her worth as a budding style star when she stepped out for the premiere of her Luca Guadagnino-directed film in a kelley green Balenciaga dress.

While for the most part, it’s the gowns we remember from the Venice Film Festival, every once in a while, a men’s look comes about that truly catches our eye. At the Don’t Worry Darling premiere, it was Harry Styles who stood out from the sea of black tuxes in a blue, Gucci suit and shirting featuring a dramatic lapel.

Not only was Tessa Thompson’s Elie Saab gown a sculptural work of art, but her choice to pair the piece with red tights and heels made it look like the actress emerged from the very red carpet upon which she walked.

Jodie-Turner Smith wore about a half a dozen incredible dresses during the Venice Film Festival in 2022, all of which could easily make this list, but this crayon-patterned Christopher John Rogers pre-fall 2022 dress definitely stood out as the best of the best.

Like Styles, Timothée Chalamet is known for turning men’s red carpet wear on its head, and he did just that at the Bones and All premiere in a metallic red custom Haider Ackermann look featuring a backless halter top.

The Chanel ambassador wore an ethereal dress from the French House to the premiere of her film, The King, in 2019.

Lady Gaga has never been afraid to make a statement on the red carpet, and in 2018 she made her debut at the Venice Film Festival to promote her film, A Star is Born, wearing a show-stopping Valentino couture dress covered in ostrich feathers.

Chloë Sevigny ditched the usual gown for a pink Chanel couture mini dress for an appearance at the festival in 2018.

Tilda Swinton once again embraced her quirky red carpet style, wearing a head-to-toe red leopard print Schiaparelli dress with matching heels and gloves.

The actress embraced her inner ballerina in a polka-dotted tulle Dior dress with pressed flowers that bloomed beneath the surface.

Emma Stone celebrated her film, La La Land, in a silver Versace dress featuring a skirt of fabric strips that danced around the actress’s legs as she walked.

Dakota Johnson proved that there is beauty in simplicity, attending the Black Mass premiere wearing an elegant, strapless Prada dress.

Gwyneth Paltrow looked like a confection at the Contagion premiere in a baby pink Prada dress featuring a bow-tied halter top and completely open back.

We’re all very familiar with the high-low dress, but have you ever seen it turned on its side a la Anne Hathaway’s Versace number at the Rachel Getting Married premiere in 2008?

The silhouette of Nicole Kidman’s 2004 Gucci dress was relatively simple, all the better to emphasize the beautiful fabric work across the silver gown.

Almost 60 years ago, Jane Fonda attended the Venice Film Festival with her then-husband, Roger Vadim. The actress wore a flowing dress with a decorated collar and voluminous hair.

Brigitte Bardot celebrated the premiere of her film, Love Is My Profession (En cas de malheur), in a knee-length strapless gown with a matching jacket on top.

Sophia Loren won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress in 1958 wearing a dress with a gathered bust and full skirt.

Maria Felix chatted with actor Pepi Lenzi in a body-hugging gown of gathered white fabric.