From custom Chanel and colourful Oscar de la Renta to the quieter looks worn between premiers, these were the fashion moments that stood out in Venice.

Few events make getting dressed feel quite as much a part of the occasion as Venice. Between evening premieres, photocalls, water taxi arrivals and events around the city, the Venice Film Festival offers far more than one kind of fashion moment. 

This year, there was no single formula. Some of the strongest looks relied on colour, others on an unexpected silhouette, while several proved how much can still be done with black and white. These are the of the looks we loved. 

Maggie Gyllenhaal in Celine and Bulgari

Maggie Gyllenhaal opened the festival in black Celine, choosing a long-sleeved gown with an asymmetric twisted neckline and a long, clean skirt. Around her neck sat a Bulgari Serpenti necklace in diamond and black onyx, bringing a little sparkle to an otherwise restrained look. 

Perhaps the best look was the footwear. Rather than the unexpected stilettos, Gyllenhaal wore ultra-flat lace-up shoes. It made the look feel more personal, proving that red carpet dressing does not always have to follow the usual rules. 

Pamela Anderson in Oscar de la Renta

Pamela Anderson brought colour to Venice in a coral-pink Oscar de la Renta gown for a cocktail party during the festival. The fluid dress was finished with a cape-like detail that fell from the shoulders, allowing the strong colour and movement of the fabric to do most of the work. 

After several seasons of quieter shades dominating eveningwear, there was something refreshing about seeing such a bright colour worn so simply. The silhouette did not need excessive embellishment because the colour already made enough of an impact. 

Penelope Cruz in Chanel

Penelope Cruz made a strong case for red in Chanel at the premier of Bunker. The fitted gown followed a long, clean line before being introduced at the waist by a three dimensional floral detail, with a high slit adding movement through the skirt. 

The colour alone makes the look memorable, but the detail at the waist added so much more. Rather than covering the entire gown in embellishment, one carefully placed element gave an otherwise simple silhouette its character. 

Sofia Boutella in Stella McCartney

Sofia Boutella chose white Stella McCartney for the screening of The Basics of Philosophy. The gown combined a fluid silhouette with asymmetric draping across the neckline and a cape-like detail wrapping around the shoulders. 

There was very little else needed. The interest came entirely from the way the fabric moved around the body, proving how effective a beautifully cut gown can be when the shape is allowed to speak for itself. 

Nadine Labaki in Karoline Lang

Nadine Labaki brought a regional name to Venice in Karoline Lang, pairing a structured charcoal corset-style top with fluid black wide leg trousers and Roger Vivier shoes. The contrast is what makes the look work. The fitted top, finished with a delicate black lace edge, brings structure to the outfit, while the trousers keep everything below it much softer and more relaxed. 

A simple black clutch and gold hoop earrings were all it needed. It felt Polished without becoming overly formal, while Labaki’s choice of a Lebanese label gave the look an added regional connection. 

Beyond the Red Carpet

Some of the best fashion moments in Venice did not happen at a premiere at all. Amal Clooney and Georgiana Rodriguez both offered a much more relaxed interpretation of festival dressing, proving that the water taxi arrivals and daytime events can be just as worth watching. 

Amal Clooney in Stella McCartney

For The Future of Creativity event, Amal Clooney chose a cream Stella McCartney maxi dress covered in hand-painted raspberry print. The neckline was worn off the shoulder, while the softly ruched, fluid shape kept the statement print feeling elegant rather than overly playful. She finished the look with cream accessories, gold earrings and sunglasses. 

It was light and still completely polished, exactly the kind of look that feels at home beside the canals of Venice. 

Georgina Rodriguez in Gucci 

Georgina Rodriguez took a much more classic approach for her arrival at the Hotel Excelsior in Gucci. Her cream silk shirt dress featured long sleeves, a softly tied neckline and a pleated skirt, creating a silhouette that felt elegant without being overly formal. 

Black pointed Gucci pumps with housebit detailing gave the softer dress a sharper finish, while narrow sunglasses and statement jewellery complete the look. It was simple, considered and a reminder that some of the festival’s strongest outfits never needed a red carpet at all. 

What made Venice particularly interesting this year was the variety. Penélope Cruz embraced vivid red, while Maggie Gyllenhaal showed how classic black red-carpet dressing can still feel personal. Sofia Boutella relied on draping, Nadine Labaki chose trousers and Pamela Anderson made a case for colour.

Then there were Amal Clooney and Georgiana Rodriguez, proving that the fashion worth watching in Venice does not begin and end with premieres. 

Perhaps that is what made this year’s festival particularly enjoyable. Rather than one dominant red carpet formula, the strongest looks felt completely individual to the women wearing them. 

By Sayhrah Noor Asif-Ali