The Venice Film Festival Is Back—and So Is Its Unrivaled Red Carpet Fashion
Our take
The return of the Venice Film Festival’s red carpet signals more than just the resumption of awards season; it’s a recalibration of expectations. After a period where red carpet fashion felt somewhat adrift, searching for a new identity beyond the maximalism of recent years, Venice has swiftly reasserted itself as a barometer for sophisticated style. The 2026 The Venice Film Festival arrivals, featuring the likes of Amal Clooney and Chase Sui Wonders, immediately set a high bar, demonstrating a return to classic silhouettes, exquisite tailoring, and a considered approach to embellishment. This isn’t about shock value or fleeting trends; it’s about enduring elegance and a quiet confidence that resonates deeply with a discerning audience. The renewed focus on understated luxury feels particularly relevant given the current cultural conversation around "quiet luxury," a sensibility that prioritizes quality, craftsmanship, and timeless design over ostentatious displays of wealth. We’re seeing a shift away from the performative nature of some past red carpet moments, towards a more authentic and self-assured expression of personal style.
The beauty looks accompanying these ensembles are equally noteworthy, showcasing a similar ethos of understated glamour. As highlighted in The Best Venice Film Festival Beauty Looks Bring High Octane Glamour to the Red Carpet, the focus is on enhancing natural features rather than masking them. This aligns with a broader trend towards a more holistic approach to beauty, where self-acceptance and embracing individuality are paramount. The festival’s setting—the Lido di Venezia—further contributes to this atmosphere of refined elegance. The backdrop of the Italian lagoon and historic architecture provides a natural stage for showcasing understated beauty, reinforcing the sense of timelessness and sophistication. Even seemingly casual looks, like the recent viral sensation Picnic outfit🥀, demonstrate a thoughtful consideration of aesthetic and mood, reflecting a broader cultural shift towards intentionality in personal style.
What’s particularly interesting is the way this renewed emphasis on quiet luxury intersects with broader fashion trends. While the "work top" is certainly having a moment, as detailed in The Work Top Is Finally Getting Interesting, the red carpet isn’t mirroring that casual, everyday sensibility. Instead, it’s serving as a counterpoint, demonstrating that even within a rapidly evolving fashion landscape, there’s a continued demand for elevated, aspirational style. This isn't a rejection of comfort or practicality, but rather a demonstration of how those values can be integrated into a more formal and luxurious context. The choice of fabrics, the precision of tailoring, and the subtle details all contribute to a sense of effortless refinement that’s both captivating and enduring. It’s a visual narrative of confidence and self-possession, communicated through clothing rather than through overt displays of extravagance.
Ultimately, the Venice Film Festival's red carpet this year feels like a decisive statement. It signals a move away from the fleeting trends and performative displays that have characterized some recent awards seasons, towards a more timeless and considered approach to style. The emphasis on quality, craftsmanship, and understated elegance sets a new standard for Hollywood’s most high-profile fashion moments. The question now is whether this shift will persist throughout the remainder of the 2026 awards season, influencing everything from the Emmys to the VMAs, and whether this renewed appreciation for quiet luxury will extend beyond the red carpet and into the broader fashion consciousness. Will this aesthetic become the defining visual language of the year, or will it simply serve as a temporary reset before the cycle begins anew?
After a summer break, the Awards Season resumed on September 2, when the 2026 Venice Film Festival brought Hollywood's most high-profile fashion people back to the red carpet. From now until September 12, celebrities on the Lido di Venezia will set the highest style standards for remaining events like the Emmy Awards and VMAs.
Unlike at the Cannes Film Festival, known for its new "no nudity" dress code, actors are safe to experiment with their style in Venice—as long as it falls under the "formal" category. That's not to say the red carpet transformed into a naked dress convention on day one. The first style setters on the scene—Amal Clooney, Brittany Snow, Stella Maxwell, and the president of this year's international jury, Maggie Gyllenhaal—started a trend of black column gowns instead.
Before the premiere of Ink, Clooney appeared in a custom Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann design, complete with a double set of slim straps, two of which dangled effortlessly off her shoulders. It was Clooney's second look from the designer this festival, following the satin shorts she sported on a pre-premiere boat ride.
Meanwhile, Snow, Maxwell, and Gyllenhaal proved black dresses aren't as predictable for premieres as they might seem, with each presenting a twist on the trademark Hollywood look. Snow's Giorgio Armani gown boasted rhinestones along the plunge halter neck, Maxwell showed some skin beneath a lacy long-sleeve style, and Gyllenhaal kept it classic in a satin wrap-style slip from Celine. However, it wasn't long before Kendall Jenner mixed things up in a metallic gold midi.
Now, the 2026 Venice Film Festival is just getting started, with red carpet returns from Dakota Johnson, Penélope Cruz, and more still to come. While you wait for Johnson's first Venice Film Festival outfit in five years, appreciate Marie Claire's collection of the best celebrity looks so far.
Kendall Jenner
Kendall Jenner waited until day two of the 2026 Venice Film Festival to make her debut. Trust us, her red carpet look at the Wild Horse Nine premiere was worth the wait. The supermodel stepped outside of her minimalist comfort zone in a stiletto-revealing slip dress from Giorgio Armani, its column silhouette shining in gold floral embroidery.
Amal Clooney wearing Tom Ford
Amal and George Clooney haven't missed the Venice Film Festival in three years, each time raising the fashion stakes for themselves. On Sept. 2, Amal coordinated her ruched Tom Ford dress with her husband's tuxedo. Don't miss the splash of emerald green on her Cartier earrings.
Brittany Snow wearing Giorgio Armani
Newcomer Brittany Snow proved she's a red carpet regular to watch at her first Venice Film Festival. The Hunting Wives actor turned heads in a black halterneck gown by Giorgio Armani, its plunge neckline adorned with rhinestones. Since the glittery trim doubled as a necklace, she accessorized with diamond stud earrings and statement rings, courtesy of Cartier, instead.
Laura Dern wearing Prada
Instead of boarding the black dress bandwagon, Laura Dern stood out in a pastel pink Prada dress, featuring elegant cap sleeves and a tea-length skirt. The pink gemstones on her diamond Cartier necklace were a few shades darker, bordering on fuchsia.
Rebecca Donaldson and Carlos Sainz
Spanish F1 driver Carlos Sainz joined his girlfriend, Rebecca Donaldson, at the Ink premiere on Sept. 2. While Sainz wore a black-and-white suit by Giorgio Armani, I have not identified the designer behind Donaldson's liquid-looking sequin dress. Her necklace, however, was from Bulgari's storied Serpenti collection.
Stella Maxwell
Belgian model Stella Maxwell held herself back in the naked dressing department at the Ink premiere, choosing a turtleneck gown with a semi-sheer balconette bust and an otherwise opaque skirt.
Maggie Gyllenhaal wearing Celine
While Maggie Gyllenhaal posed for photographers, the focus shifted from her Bulgari necklace and satin Celine gown to her stiletto-less soles. The Bride director styled the same footwear trend that she arrived in: jazz shoes.
Chase Sui Wonders wearing Giorgio Armani
Chase Sui Wonders was the picture of elegance at the Venice Film Festival, wearing a column dress with back cut-outs by Giorgio Armani. She traded traditional pendant necklaces for a diamond Tiffany & Co. brooch pinned to her silk choker.
Claire Foy wearing Bottega Veneta
Claire Foy's custom Bottega Veneta gown followed a familiar column silhouette, except its satin was a striking shade of tomato red (a Marie Claire-approved color trend for fall). The Crown actor's leather opera gloves were more burgundy, which added a nice tonal touch.
Nina Dobrev wearing archival Armani Privé
If this film festival is anything like last year's, Nina Dobrev will be the first of many A-listers to source designer archives. Armani Privé loaned her a strapless black ombré gown, which stood out for the mossy green train that cascaded from her waist to the red carpet.
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