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Film festivals are often a platform to push the boundaries of fashion. It begs the question: is the star serving the story, the designer, or their own identity? This year in Venice, it felt like they were doing all three. The red carpet showcased collaborations that celebrated both the unique style of the wearer and the vision of the fashion house behind them.
The festival reminded people that luxury fashion still needs cultural moments in order to stay alive and attract attention. Under the direction of new Creative Director Dario Vitale, Atelier Versace made its debut in Venice with Julia Roberts, making a statement about continuity as well as glamour. Giorgio Armani reaffirmed his long-standing relationship with Hollywood through George Clooney — a partnership built on meticulousness rather than trends. Chanel’s presence through its collaboration with Tilda Swinton underscored the fashion house’s continued investment in eccentric refinement by tailoring intellectualism into star power.
Prada crossed generations and moods, from Greta Gerwig’s playful take on daytime dressing to Alicia Silverstone’s revival of ‘90s movie glitz. Each appearance demonstrated how a fashion house can remain distinctively itself while translating its codes differently for different personalities.
Trussardi took a careful and understated approach by partnering with actor Jesse Williams. What we saw in Venice was not a competition over who wore the boldest gown or sleekest suit, but proof that the red carpet is a place of negotiation. Artists work with designers who can either mirror or amplify a cinematic narrative; designers select artists who can deliver the design house’s message beyond the limits of the atelier.
As one critic put it, “Fashion at Venice is not about spectacle alone — it is about alignment.” That alignment this year was balancing heritage with experimentation, the commercial with the conceptual, the known with the unknown.
Here’s a look at some of the best-dressed stars on the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival this year.