Fashion bets on the Venice Film Festival

It's an all-star edition for the Venice Film Festival, running until the end of next week. Last year, American stars could be counted on one hand due to the Hollywood strike. This year, however, the red carpet at the 81st Venice International Film festival will be crowded, with artists who haven't graced the Lido in years. And fashion, from Giorgio Armani's beauty line to the Lvmh group with its eyewear subsidiary Thélios, and the sophisticated initiatives of Miu Miu (Prada group) and Diane von Furstenberg, won't be sitting on the sidelines.

But let's return to the most anticipated red carpets. First and foremost, Lady Gaga, who came six years ago with Bradley Cooper to present A Star Is Born, a stellar premiere (in Valentino, at the time by Pierpaolo Piccioli) complete with a catwalk under the rainstorm and lightning that interrupted the official screening (yet the star didn’t shy away from selfies and autographs despite the weather). This year, she stars in Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to Todd Phillips' Golden Lion and Oscar-winning film.

The flashes at the opening were monopolized by Monica Bellucci in Vivienne Westwood (radiant on the eve of her 60th birthday, which she will celebrate on September 30, ed.) starring in the opening film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice by her partner Tim Burton, with her on the red carpet in Dior by Kim Jones. After the screening, the juries led by Isabelle Huppert as president, and the film’s delegation hosted the opening dinner party in the Stucchi hall of the Excelsior, together with the Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco and festival director Alberto Barbera. Last night, Diane Von Furstenberg arrived at the Tese at the Arsenale for her philanthropic awards, with the 15th edition of the Dvf awards. Oprah Winfrey and Paola Cortellesi were present at the ceremony. Shortly before, Angelina Jolie (recently appointed ambassador for Tom Ford beauty, ed.) walked the red carpet in the role of Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín's film. Brad Pitt and George Clooney, who have been absent from Venice for a few years, will arrive in the lagoon for Jon Watts' film Wolfs (one of the Spiderman directors).

It is no surprise then that a group like Lvmh is confirmed as a sponsor of the festival with its eyewear company Thélios, which produces frames for brands from Fendi to Dior, Loewe to Bulgari. «For us, it’s the third consecutive year. It’s a way to confirm our commitment to local cultural heritage (the glasses are made in Veneto, in Longarone) and provides an opportunity to showcase the artisanal care of our products on one of the world's most prestigious red carpets», Alessandro Zanardo, ceo, explained.

Tomorrow, on the island of San Servolo, the exhibition for the 100th anniversary of Marcello Mastroianni will be inaugurated, while a well-known jewelry brand will host its guests at Harry’s bar, and Campari will set up a real set at Nicelli airport, promising spritz with the event Destination red. At the Arsenale on August 31, Cate Blanchett is expected, along with other international ambassadors of the Armani beauty brand, while everyone still remembers the excitement of Giorgio Armani's runway show on the lagoon 12 months ago, fresh off his 90th birthday.

Tomorrow, Argentine director Laura Citarella will present the 28th chapter of the Miu Miu women’s tales project, during the Giornate degli Autori. The project, conceived by creative director Miuccia Prada, sees international directors with diverse intellectual backgrounds expressing their vision of femininity through their short films. On the same day, Diane Von Furstenberg will host another event at the Centurion Palace for the Breaking through the lens project, which supports female presence in cinema.

Among the expected stars is an unprecedented duo of actresses for Pedro Almodóvar’s new film with Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore in The Room Next Door. Daniel Craig, after bidding farewell to the role of James Bond, stars in Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, the most international of the five Italian titles competing for the Golden Lion. On Sunday, September 1, the annual AmfAR gala returns to the Nicelli hangar to raise funds for Aids research. Kate Beckinsale will host, while Richard Gere will receive the Award of inspiration. Those who won’t be at Filming Italy Venice or AmfAR might be at Harry's Bar for Chanel's exclusive dinner. (all rights reserved)