Venice is sparkling with glamour as the 2025 Venice Film Festival welcomes the world’s most stylish stars, showing once again that the red carpet can be just as captivating as the films themselves.
While the Met Gala and Oscars often steal fashion headlines, Venice has its own prestige, combining cinematic brilliance with unforgettable style. Now in its 82nd edition, the festival proves that the Floating City is as much a runway as it is a stage for cinematic artistry.
This year, audiences eagerly await premieres such as Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly, and Yórgos Lánthimos’ Bugonia. The festival also marked a historic moment as Francis Ford Coppola honored Werner Herzog with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, one of cinema’s most esteemed accolades.
Star-Studded Arrivals
Even before the official red carpet, Venice’s streets and hotels were filled with fashion energy. Amal Clooney turned heads in a butter-yellow Balmain gown, while Emma Stone impressed in sleek black Louis Vuitton paired with a copper-toned pixie cut. Julia Roberts added a playful twist in a black-and-white cardigan featuring director Luca Guadagnino’s face. Greta Gerwig, Riley Keough, Laura Dern, and Alicia Silverstone also arrived in standout ensembles, hinting at the glamorous week ahead.
Opening Night Highlights
The first evening set the tone for elegance and drama. Tilda Swinton captivated in a monochrome Chanel outfit, pairing a white flute-sleeve top with a flowing black skirt. Cate Blanchett embraced sustainable fashion by re-wearing her black Armani Privé gown from the 2022 SAG Awards, with its gemstone neckline still sparkling brilliantly. Alba Rohrwacher drew attention in Jonathan Anderson’s first couture gown for Dior, while Heidi Klum and her daughter Leni wowed in sheer, coordinated dresses that balanced glamour with sophistication.
Red Carpet Standouts:
AMAL AND GEORGE CLOONEY
Amal Clooney, Venice’s perennial style icon, stunned at the Jay Kelly premiere in a fuchsia high-low gown from Jean-Louis Scherrer’s Fall 1995 collection. She paired it with golden Aquazzura heels, a matching minaudière, and Harry Winston diamonds, blending retro charm with modern elegance.
EMMA STONE
Emma Stone, a long-time Louis Vuitton ambassador, shimmered in a silver sequined gown with a bubble hem cascading into a flowing skirt. The starlight-like sparkle and graceful silhouette combined sophistication with a touch of playful whimsy.
CATE BLANCHETT
Cate Blanchett proved that timeless style never fades. Revisiting her 2022 Armani Privé gown, she highlighted the plunging, gemstone-embellished neckline and sleek silhouette, showing that sustainable fashion can be effortlessly chic.
TILDA SWINTON
Swinton exuded understated drama in a custom Chanel design, pairing a sculptural white top with a sweeping black skirt. Her minimalist elegance reflected her signature avant-garde sensibility.
BARBARA PALVIN
Barbara Palvin combined refinement with a playful edge, wearing a black Intimissimi dress paired with Betsey Johnson heeled mules—a striking choice that made her stand out among couture-heavy looks.
