The 79th Venice Film Festival has kicked off last night running until September 10, with the festival celebrating art in cinema but also living up to its glamorous tradition of a spectacular red carpet that marks a fashion highlight in the busy summer calendar.

Rocío Muñoz Morales.
Rocío Muñoz Morales. Image Credit: Instagram @giorgioarmani

The stars arrived in droves: host of the opening evening, Spanish actress and model Rocío Muñoz Morales, was elegance personified in a Giorgio Armani silk velvet gown. Giorgio Armani also dressed American actress Tessa Thompson who walked on the red carpet in Giuseppe Zanotti heels, as well as model Madisin Rian in a spectacularly shapely Armani Privé gown.

Julianne Moore.
Julianne Moore. Image Credit: Valentino

Julianne Moore, president of the jury, stepped on the red carpet in a gorgeous Valentino dress from the 2023 collection, while actress and director Greta Gerwig wore a Valentino look from the 2022 Promenade collection, and Raffey Cassidy glistened in another shimmering Valentino Haute Couture dress.

Jodie Turner-Smith.
Jodie Turner-Smith. Image Credit: Instagram @gucci

British actress Jodie Turner-Smith stunned in a custom Gucci gown embroidered with crystals and completed with exclusive pieces from the Gucci High Jewelry Hortus Deliciarum collection. Actress Zión Moreno wore a breezy and summery custom-made dress by Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini, handmade from mint green silk.

Bianca Brandolini.
Bianca Brandolini. Image Credit: Instagram @giambattistavalliparis

Italian model Bianca Brandolini looked effortlessly beautiful in an elaborate two-piece tulle gown by Giambattista Valli, while model Alessandra Ambrosio wore an eye-catching silk chiffon gown by Ermanno Scervino.

Tessa Thompson.
Tessa Thompson. Image Credit: Instagram @giorgioarmani
Madisin Rian.
Madisin Rian. Image Credit: Instagram @giorgioarmani
Greta Gerwig
Greta Gerwig Image Credit: Valentino
Raffey Cassidy.
Raffey Cassidy. Image Credit: Valentino
Zión Moreno.
Zión Moreno. Image Credit: Instagram @philosophyofficial
Alessandra Ambrosio.
Alessandra Ambrosio. Image Credit: Instagram @ermannoscervino