The 78th edition of The Venice International Film Festival kicked off on the 1st of September 2021 and is set to continue till the 11th of September 2021. The IRL event featured some of the most anticipated films with A-listers serving ground-breaking red carpet looks. Celebs arrived in their respective boat taxis donning a classic miscellany of designer ballgowns and pieces from Chanel, Armani, Balmain, Gucci, etc.
Here is an assemble of some of the looks that turned more than a handful of heads.
Penelope Cruz
Penelope Cruz graced the red carpet for the premiere of her movie Parallel Mothers in a white and black Chanel A/W 2021 Haute Couture gown. Fabricated in black mikado and ecru silk petticoat with petal flounces revealing through the skirt slits, the gown allegedly took over 300 hours to create. The award-winning actress has been a long-time muse of the French couture and appeared in two more Chanel outfits later during the event.
Zendaya
Zendaya’s sultry Balmain ‘wet look’ has made more than a few rounds over the internet. The gown spurred a sensation at the festival as the star made an appearance for the premiere of her film ‘Dune’, styled by Law Roach. The bespoke leather gown has been crafted by Designer Olivier Rousteing using a cast model of The Euphoria star’s bust. The high slit bespoke gown marveled in a diamond and emerald necklace and ring from Bvlgari’s Magnifica high jewelry collection.
Kristen Stewart
Kristen Stewart looked effortlessly chic as she appeared for the premiere of her movie ‘Spencer’ that received a standing ovation. The Twilight star made an entrance in a highly experimental mint co-ord from the Chanel FW21 Couture collection. Cinched at the waist with drawstring-ish bow detail, the tunic was layered with a pair of lace-trimmed satin trousers accessorized with a subtle choker necklace and white pumps.
Dakota Johnson
Dakota Johnson served a fifty-shades-of-the-roaring twenties in a dazzling metallic tasseled gown that made everyone’s jaw drop all the way to the ground. In the premiere of her film, The lost daughter, Johnson looked fierce in her sheer silver jeweled Gucci gown. Completing the look with her signature bangs hairstyle, Dakota paired her style with a pair of gold heels.
Jessica Chastain
Jessica Chastain made headlines while posing with Oscar Issac for the screening of Scenes from a marriage. Another talk of the town that made headlines was her strapless red sequined gown by Atelier Versace. The actress completed the look with pieces of jewelry from Chopard.
Anya-Taylor Joy
Stylist Law roach weaved in some more dazzling looks with The Queen’s Gambit star Anya-Taylor Joy. The actress hit the red carpet for the premiere of her film ‘Last night in Soho’ channeling a sophisticated charm in a Dior Haute Couture pink satin silk dress accompanied with a massive side bow, a crochet beret accentuated with a mesh veil, and pumps. She also accessorized the look with jewelleries from Tiffany & Co.
Kirsten Dunst
The Spiderman actress wooed the crowd with a touch of minimalism amongst all the frolic on the opening day of the Venice Film Festival. Dunst, who arrived at the Venice Film festival for the premiere of her movie ‘The power of the Dog’ donned a patterned Ferragamo skirt suit. The suit is a play on patterns comprising of an all-over print mix-matched in different sizes for the entire get-up. The Blazer was accompanied by a contrasting bow-belt at mid-waist paired with pair of multicolored peep-toe heels.
Milena Smit
For the opening ceremony and the premiere of her film Parallel Mothers alongside Penelope Cruz, Milena sported a sharp futuristic silhouette designed by Olivier Rusteig for Balmain. Fun fact? The gown is adorned with 95,000 Swarovski crystals. The silhouette features a sharp cut-out monochrome separation with an enhanced power-shoulder look. The ensemble was paired with rings and earrings from Bvlgari.
Mariacarla Boscono
The Italian model and actress, Mariacarla Boscono strutted the red carpet with an essence of drama welcomed through her striking maroon gown by Jean Paul Gaultier. The sensual paper quilling-inspired gown reveled in the genius of a typical Gaultier gown paired with an emerald Cartier necklace.
Cynthia Erivo
Cynthia Erivo attended the festival in a vivid Tory Burch Resort 2022 gown. The gown was coordinated with a matching Lady Foulard scarf turned into a headwrap. What stood out most was the apple watch nonchalantly paired with the outfit along with link bracelets and an assortment of accessories.
Words by Manika Pathak
