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By Rebekah Clark

The Most Memorable And Iconic Looks From The Venice Film Festival Red Carpet

Remember when Kate Hudson wore a bump-baring Chanel set during her 2002 pregnancy?

Venice Film Festival best looks — VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 01: Bianca Balti attends the red carpet of the movie “Madres Paralelas” during the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 01, 2021, in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Alessandra Benedetti – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

In another universe, the opening of this story may have read something like this: From Wednesday, August 30 to Saturday, September 9, 2023, the illustrious Venice Film Festival will descend into the seaside city for another glitzy and glamorous affair, picking up from the Cannes Film Festival last month.

That, however, isn’t the reality of this year’s festivities. The ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, which was called in July, has undoubtedly impacted every facet of the movie and television industry, yet it’s this year’s festival circuit that has piqued the interest of onlookers thanks to the union’s strict rules around publicity.

It would’ve been the event’s third year since returning from COVID, complete with all the brilliance of years gone by is set to return with a full-scale, at-capacity affair. Yet, the strike has certainly hindered the illustrious affair, making the 2023 Venice Film Festival a scaled-back proceeding compared to its theatrical past versions.

So far, only a few celebrities have confirmed their attendance, with Adam Driver, Mads Mikkelsen and Jessica Chastain amongst the scant A-listers making the annual pilgrimage from Hollywood to the Lido.

Yet, despite the reduced attendance, it’s believed the fashion on the red carpet will be as equally of note.

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. 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 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.

Though this year’s enigmatic format hasn’t been confirmed, keep scrolling to take a look back to the Lido of yore for the most memorable and iconic looks from the Venice Film Festival.