As the 82nd Venice Film Festival kicks off, the red carpet doubles as a fashion runway, revealing the latest from a new generation of designers like Dario Vitale for Versace and Jonathan Anderson for Dior. A stunning preview of the upcoming fall season, where cinema meets haute couture.
Julia Roberts in a floor-length Versace gown, Alba Rohrwacher in a Victorian-inspired Dior dress… The red carpet at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival is offering a first glimpse of this fall's fashion scene, driven by the rise of new creative directors.
Making her debut on the Lido, the Pretty Woman star delighted photographers in a navy blue, long-sleeved Versace gown with a flowing train and subtle checkerboard pattern—a striking silhouette designed by Dario Vitale.
The Italian designer, in his 40s, took over the brand’s creative direction in April, succeeding Donatella Versace, who had led the house since 1997 following the murder of her brother Gianni, its legendary founder.
Vitale previously revitalized Miu Miu—the youthful sister brand of Prada—by boosting its sales and cultural relevance. He now represents a new wave of designers expected to breathe new life into fashion and an ailing luxury sector.
One of the most prominent figures in this new guard is Jonathan Anderson, who now oversees Dior’s menswear, womenswear, and haute couture collections—something not seen since Christian Dior himself.
A cinema enthusiast, Anderson regularly collaborates with director Luca Guadagnino and designed the costumes for his film Queer, which premiered at last year’s Venice festival.
So it came as no surprise when Guadagnino wore Dior at this year’s press conference, sporting a T-shirt playfully emblazoned with “No Dior, No Dietrich”—a nod to 1930s screen legend Marlene Dietrich.
On the red carpet, it was actress Alba Rohrwacher (My Brilliant Friend) who stole the show in a midnight-blue gown reminiscent of 19th-century crinolines. According to Vogue Italia, the long-sleeved piece—requiring 126 hours of work—is Anderson’s first official haute couture design.
So far, the Northern Irish designer has only presented one menswear collection in late June, featuring capes, tailcoats, and waistcoats.
His first Dior womenswear runway show, slated for early October, is already generating major buzz—alongside the highly anticipated debut of Matthieu Blazy at Chanel.
Fashion will continue to shine at the festival on Monday with Marc by Sofia (out of competition), the first documentary by Sofia Coppola, chronicling the life of her close friend Marc Jacobs.
The iconic designer—once the “cool kid” of 1990s fashion—served as artistic director for Louis Vuitton from 1997 to 2013, becoming one of the most recognized creatives of his generation.
Now 62, the New Yorker remains at the helm of his namesake label, which is part of the LVMH group.
With AFP
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