The Venice Film Festival is known for premiering award-season contenders, directorial debuts, and awarding the distinguished Golden Lion prize. But it's also known for airport and boat arrivals, bold fashion choices, and an underlying Italian elegance. This year is no exception. With buzzy films and it girls who use red carpets as their personal runways, we're reminded of the electricity that is award season and the anticipation leading up to the Oscars. At the end of the day, fashion and film are forever intertwined.
At last year's Venice Film Festival, we got feathered moments, tuxedo dresses, lace, and more mini dresses than we were anticipating. This year, we've gotten some looks that have piqued our interest: leather opera gloves, newspaper print that immediately makes us think of Carrie Bradshaw, sheer naked dress moments, ruff collars, and an iconic 1995 archival pull.
Ahead, see the best Venice Film Festival looks so far.
Pamela Anderson
IPA / SplashNews.comPamela Anderson was spotted in a billowy lilac blouse and matching maxi skirt.
John Malkovich
IPA / SplashNews.comRunways affirmed that ruffs are so back, and John Malkovich just co-signed the trend in Venice. He wore a loose black Dior suit and an off-white shirt complete with a dramatic ruffled collar.
Bhavitha Mandava
Anna Maria Tinghino/SIPA / ShutterstockNYU student turned model Bhavitha Mandava looked like a mermaid in the aquamarine closing look from Chanel's Resort 2027 collection for the premiere of Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People?
Laura Dern
Zuma / SplashNews.comLaura Dern went the custom route with a black embellished Dior gown with floral appliqués.
Phoebe Bridgers
Maria Laura Antonelli/Zuma / SplashNews.comPhoebe Bridgers brought the naked dress trend to the Venice Film Festival—and we couldn't be more grateful. For the premiere of Primetime, Bridgers wore pulled a sheer, wispy, romantic, and floral embroidered gray dress from Alexander McQueen's Fall/Winter 2026 collection.
Kendall Jenner
Photo: IPA / SplashNews.comFor her Venice Film Festival debut, Kendall Jenner pulled from Giorgio Armani's archives. She wore a sleeveless dress with gold floral detailing from the house's Fall/Winter 1995 collection.
Mariacarla Boscono
Photo: AbacaPress / SplashNews.comFor the Wild Horse Nine premiere, Mariacarla Boscono wore a look from Chanel's Cruise 2026/27 collection: a gown with a newspaper-print motif, ruffled details throughout, and floral appliqué.
Vittoria Ceretti
SplashNews.comItalian supermodel Vittoria Ceretti wore an Armani dress with a black column skirt and corseted top.
Levante
IPA / SplashNews.comItalian singer-songwriter Levante wore a sheer, long-sleeved, floral-embellished dress by Giorgio Armani.
Carlotta Gamba
IPA / SplashNews.comItalian actress Carlotta Gamba arrived at the Venice Film Festival by boat in a look that reminded us that simplicity can be very effective. She paired a white button top with matching trousers and, for a bit of edge, accessories with an animal-print Fendi bag.
Claire Foy
Daniele Cifala / SplashNews.comFor the Ink premiere, Claire Foy wore a full Balenciaga look complete with our favorite accessory, opera gloves.
Rooney Mara
IPA / SplashNews.comFor the Bucking Fastard premiere, Rooney Mara wore black Louis Vuitton midi dress with a dramatic trumpeted skirt.