The Biggest Fashion Takeaways From the 2025 Venice Film Festival

The only thing hotter than a couples debut at this year’s Venice Film Festival? An incoming designer debut. Amid a wave of creative directors preparing to unveil their first collections in Paris this fall, the fashion world was offered an early glimpse of what’s to come on the runways.

Julia Roberts slipped into a pair of Versace ensembles by the brand’s new designer, Dario Vitale. Bottega Veneta’s Louise Trotter (who replaced Matthieu Blazy) tapped Vicky Krieps and Jacob Elordi while Jonathan Anderson showcased his first womenswear designs for Dior on Alba Rohrwacher and Greta Lee.

Speaking of Vitale’s Versace, the Italian house generated major buzz when Julia Roberts and Amanda Seyfried appeared at separate photo calls in the exact same ensemble, down to every last detail. The apparent styling snafu, however, was entirely intentional. Both actors work with stylist Elizabeth Stewart, who later revealed that Roberts lent the look to Seyfried after she declared her love for it on Instagram.

Did incoming Chanel creative director Matthieu Blazy have a hand in Ayo Edebiri’s looks? The house has remained tight-lipped, and the answer is still unclear. What is certain, however, is that The Bear star, at the festival for After the Hunt, made a striking impression in a suite of Chanel ensembles. Should she end up wearing more Chanel officially designed by Blazy in the future, we wouldn’t be surprised.

For the festival’s first red carpet on August 27, Cate Blanchett had what would become one of the more poignant fashion moments of the entire event. In true Blanchett style, she attended the premiere in a plunging Armani Privé confection she first debuted at the 2022 SAG Awards.

Just days later, news that Giorgio Armani had passed away hit the fashion world—and Blanchett’s unintentional tribute was a poignant reminder of his mastery.

Newlyweds Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez weren’t the only celebrities taking their love story to Venice this summer. Throughout the festival, the Lido was filled with doting couples, both new and old—from regulars Amal & George Clooney and Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup, to fresh pairs such as Kaia Gerber and Lewis Pullman. The actors, who were first linked in December 2024, made their red carpet debut at Pullman’s The Testament of Ann Lee premiere in black tie looks from Givenchy and Saint Laurent.

Emma Stone kicked off her latest Oscar campaign with another collaboration alongside Yorgos Lanthimos, Bugonia, and an awards-worthy bubble skirt dress from Louis Vuitton at the film’s Venice debut. Could this be the role that earns Stone her third Best Actress Oscar in 2026? Critics think she’s already a favorite to snag a nomination.

Venice organizers paid no mind to the controversial ban on sheer dressing over in Cannes. After movie stars worked around the regulations in France, they returned to their skin-baring ways in Venice. Among those slipping into sheer were the likes of Chloë Sevigny in an archive-inspired Saint Laurent number, Kaia Gerber in lace Givenchy, and Leslie Bibb in Giorgio Armani.

In Venice, your airport look is almost as important as what you wear on the red carpet. And stars were especially precise with their travel outfits this year. Look no further than Mia Goth, who arrived at the festival in an archival Issey Miyake coat and departed in peak “La Dolce Vita” style—headscarf included.