The annual Venice Film Festival is one of the oldest festivals with a rich history both inside the theatre and on the red carpet. It’s where Salma Hayek was catapulted to worldwide fame with the premiere of Frida in 2002, where she chose to wear a sheer knee-length lace dress with bell sleeves and her tiny black thong just visible from underneath the fabric.
Then there was Kate Hudson who just a year later walked the red carpet in a bump-baring two-piece Chanel set to the premiere of Le Divorce. Yes, the actress walked so Rihanna could run. Throughout the years the French fashion house continued to reinvent the dress code in Venice with Keira Knightley wearing a perfectly prim and pretty blush strapless gown before Kristen Stewart opted for silky pants and a baby doll dress for the premiere of Spencer in 2021.
Lady Gaga made her debut in the film industry for A Star Is Born in the most fitting way; wearing a voluminous Valentino haute couture gown at the 2018 event. It would later prove to be just a prelude to her awards season style. And Zendaya in Balmain? She needs no introduction.
Ahead of the 2024 Venice International Film Festival, take a look back to the Lido of yore for the most memorable and iconic looks from the Venice Film Festival.
THE BEST FASHION MOMENTS ON THE RED CARPET OF THE VENICE FILM FESTIVAL
FLORENCE PUGH IN VALENTINO, 2022
CATE BLANCHETTE IN SCHIAPARELLI, 2022
ZENDAYA IN BALMAIN, 2021
BIANCA BALTI, 2021
MERYL STREEP IN GIVENCHY, 2019
LADY GAGA IN VALENTINO HAUTE COUTURE, 2018
TILDA SWINTON IN SCHIAPARELLI, 2018
JENNIFER LAWRENCE IN DIOR, 2017
ZOË KRAVITZ IN SAINT LAURENT, 2017
NATALIE PORTMAN IN DIOR, 2016
GWYNETH PALTROW IN PRADA, 2011
ANNE HATHAWAY IN VERSACE, 2008
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY IN CHANEL, 2007
NICOLE KIDMAN IN GUCCI, 2004
KATE HUDSON IN CHANEL, 2003
SALMA HAYEK, 2002
SHARON STONE, 2000
This story first appeared on GRAZIA International.