Timeless Elegance Takes Center Stage at the 81st Venice Film Festival
The 81st Venice Film Festival is transporting attendees back in time, with the red carpet showcasing fashion that could easily belong to the 1920s rather than 2024. This year, the festival has become a stage for celebrating the golden age of Hollywood glamour, where vintage-inspired styles are being revived with a modern twist.
One of the most talked-about moments was the premiere of Pablo Larraín’s biopic “Maria,” which chronicles the tumultuous life of the iconic 20th-century soprano, Maria Callas. Leading actress Angelina Jolie captivated onlookers as she seemed to channel the essence of her on-screen character. Jolie graced the event in a custom Tamara Ralph gown in a nude tone, perfectly complemented by a 1930s-style faux fur shrug, a golden rose-shaped brooch, and a striking deep red lipstick. Her look was reminiscent of the sophisticated style of Hollywood legends like Marlene Dietrich, Joan Crawford, and Greta Garbo, while Tamara Ralph’s modern take on the faux fur added a contemporary touch to the vintage look.
Angelina Jolie wasn’t the only one to draw inspiration from classic Hollywood. Taylor Russell turned heads in a pale yellow silk crepon dress, designed by Loewe, that evoked the elegance of the 1930s. The custom creation featured a scarf attached to the train, artfully draped to evoke memories of Marilyn Monroe’s famous gown in the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Monroe’s fiery, bejeweled gown was elevated by an orange chiffon scarf, a style echoed in Russell’s ensemble. This nod to vintage fashion also brought to mind Coco Chanel’s 1930 collection, where she famously paired silk crepe dresses with extra yards of fabric styled gracefully around the neck.
Meanwhile, Isabelle Huppert, president of the festival’s jury, took inspiration from the 1950s with her “Beetlejuice” premiere outfit. British Vogue revealed that her “pope red” opera coat, designed by Balenciaga in 2021, was inspired by 1950s theatergoers. Huppert completed her look with white elbow gloves and a stack of Cartier bracelets on each wrist, combining classic elegance with modern couture.
Chilean actor Mariana di Girolamo also embraced the vintage theme, opting for a black embellished Chanel cape dress at the screening of El Jockey. The dramatic evening cape, adorned with embroidered beads and sequins, paid homage to Chanel’s century-long tradition of creating glamorous yet understated fashion.
The Venice Film Festival has once again demonstrated that in both fashion and film, sometimes old is truly gold. This year’s red carpet has shown that the styles of yesteryear can still captivate today’s audience, proving that timeless elegance never goes out of style.
