The Venice Film Festival Looks We Can’t Stop Looking At

Leigh Nordstrom and Alex Badia

September 3, 2024 at 3:27 AM·4 min read

This has been the best Venice red carpet — rather, best red carpet period — in recent memory. There have been classic, old school A-Listers, from George Clooney and Brad Pitt to Angelina Jolie and Nicole Kidman, and they’ve shown up in proper red carpet glamour.

Angelina Jolie: B

VENICE, ITALY - AUGUST 29: Angelina Jolie attends a red carpet for the series "Maria" during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at on August 29, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images) — Angelina Jolie attends a red carpet for the series “Maria” during the 81st Venice International Film Festival. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

There is something reassuring about seeing someone like Jolie in full glamour on the red carpet. The dress itself is very old school, with the exaggerated corsetry, the draping, the fur cape. The end result on her is very “Hunger Games.” And the hair color too closely matches the dress.

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George and Amal Clooney: A+

VENICE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 01: Amal Clooney and George Clooney attend the "Wolfs" red carpet during the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 01, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images) — Amal Clooney and George Clooney attend the “Wolfs” red carpet during the 81st Venice International Film Festival. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)

This is what the fantasy of Hollywood is all about. They work perfectly as a couple: He looks very simple and elegant, and she looks like a total star. Her yellow gown has the right levels of sexiness and chic.

Nicole Kidman: A+

Over her career Kidman has proven time and again that she is unmatched when it comes to the red carpet. She is never afraid of taking risks, as shown here in this daring Schiaparelli gown. The shooting star design on the bodice and gradation at the hips are very apropos for the star she is.

Catherine O’Hara: A

Catherine O’Hara has become a cult figure, as well as a fashion star. This Oscar de la Renta gown is very goth experimental that matches not only the theme of the movie, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” but also enhances the brave fashion approach she has become known for.

Taylor Russell: A+

It’s a whole new ball game on the red carpet these days — it’s not just about cute dresses but about research, themes and much, much more. A couture Chanel dress from the early Nineties? A major “wow” — and she can pull it off, which is not easy. The transparencies, the corsetry and the graphic florals all could have been from fall 2024 — it’s really of the now.

Emma Corrin: A

Could Emma Corrin just put a garbage bag on and look amazing? We’re never seen them looking bad. A lime green 1950s-style skirt suit is not easy to pull off — and they look fantastic. Corrin and Miu Miu are a match made in fashion heaven. This is a very groovy take on ladylike dressing.

Winona Ryder: A

The black Chanel couture gown is very much within her wheelhouse — however, this looks to us like a very chic take on the goth trend. The sharp tailoring and vest give it a powerful sartorial push that gives more depth. It’s Beetlejuice for sure.

Cate Blanchett: B+

VENICE, ITALY - AUGUST 29: Cate Blanchett attends a photocall for the movie "Disclaimer" during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at on August 29, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Stefania D'Alessandro/WireImage) — Cate Blanchett attends a photo call for the movie “Disclaimer” during the 81st Venice International Film Festival. (Photo by Stefania D’Alessandro/WireImage)

This was very unexpected and fun for her. That’s what is so great about the Venice Film Festival: There are so many events that you get to see different sides of someone’s personality. This 3D polka–dot suit is a fun and light approach to suiting.