Following a quiet affair last year in light of the SAG-AFTRA strikes, the 81st Venice Film Festival promises a much more boisterous extravaganza to take place. And while Cannes never fails to pull a starry set of extravagance and shouty glamour, the scene at the Italian festival walks a subtle, considered line between buzzy and understated. This year’s however, commands behemoth star power. Stacking up the original greats, where we see a highly-anticipated sequel to Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice with the original cast members Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder reprising their iconic roles as Beetlejuice and Lydia respectively.
Interesting, fresh new pairings are also scheduled to unfold: Daniel Craig opposite Drew Starkey in a queer romance directed by industry darling Luca Guadagnino, Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in an erotic thriller and not forgetting, the musical sequel to Joker that will see Joaquin Phoenix embracing Lady Gaga as the Harley Quinn to his Joker.
It’s a beefy lineup that further ramps up excitement for the premieres slated for the Lido, but before the standing ovations, come the arrivals following a sojourn on water taxis. The action on the red carpet never fails to bring with it a display of sartorial eminence. Who can forget Zendaya in a wet Balmain look for Dune in 2021 or Lady Gaga’s frou fou Valentino moment in 2018? But the full dress simply doesn’t exist without the glam. Day one of the 81st Venice Film Festival rallies the star-studded cast of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice as they arrive for the film’s premiere, with Winona Ryder sporting a do that nods to young Lydia from the first Beetlejuice film as her on-screen daughter Jenna Ortega makes a statement in crimson from her lids to her pout.
Below, see the best beauty looks from the 81st Venice Film Festival, with more to marvel in the days to come.
1 / 16
Lady Gaga
It’s not a Gaga moment without the theatrics. The Joker: Folie à Deux star descended onto the Lido for the film’s premiere sporting a striking Philip Treacy lace headpiece and a red lip to complete the look.
2 / 16
Sadie Sink
Painting the town red for Armani Beauty’s Passione Party in Venice, Sadie Sink made a smouldering entrance with ombre eyes, mussed up hair and a bold lip.
3 / 16
Ella Purnell
She’s a disco girl. Glinting silver and smudged liner surmised Ella Purnell’s dazzling look for the Armani Beauty soirée.
4 / 16
Caterina Ferioli
Carefully tamed wet slick tresses revealed Caterina’s smouldering look for the evening—with heavy smudged liner and dots of shimmer just at the inner corners of the eyes.
5 / 16
Jung Ho-yeon
Scarlet seems to be the name of the beauty game this Venice Film Festival, as seen on Disclaimer star Jung Ho-yeon. Make-up artist Nina Park finished the look with a highlight flush and really great brows.
6 / 16
Jasmine Tookes
The brief was dewy glass skin and Jasmine Tookes certainly nailed it. To top it all off? The perfect burgundy lip.
7 / 16
Camila Mendes
An entourage of peach tones graced Camila Mendes’s visage for the evening, as she opted for a side swept coif for her elegant updo.
8 / 16
Sophie Wilde
At the premiere for Babygirl, Sophie Wilde turned on the mystery with a sheer black veil. Save for smoky eyes, the rest of her look was kept nude and natural.
9 / 16
Nicole Wallace
Nicole Wallace was the epitome of a bronzed goddess—marked with sunset hues and a mauve lip.
10 / 16
Angelina Jolie
As if to add more allure to her dusty blonde mane, subtle dark gradient shadows graced Angelina Jollie’s lids while a winning red pout completed the entire look.
11 / 16
Livia Nunes
Yet another point to smoked-out eyes this Venice Film Festival, this time with Livia Nunes drawing more attention to her look with a slicked-back low bun.
12 / 16
Taylor Russell
To complement her archival Chanel gown, the reigning queen of Venice Film Festival Taylor Russell was a blushing vision with a swathe of pinks adorning her mien.
13 / 16
Jenna Ortega
A lady in red, Jenna Ortega turned heads by going monochromatic, along with her Dior ensemble.
14 / 16
Winona Ryder
If Lydia had a hairbrush on hand, this would probably be the result. Emerging with a perfectly-coiffed top bun, Winona Ryder served gothic glamour through smokey and dramatically lined eyes.
15 / 16
Izabel Goulart
With tamed, wavy tresses like hers, Izabel Goulart proves good hair can never go out of style on a red carpet.
16 / 16
Zhang Ziyi
Making a surprise appearance on the Lido, Zhang Ziyi was all smiles; eyes simply lined and laid with a soft baby pink hue.
