The Venice Film Festival opening gala was tonight. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is being featured and there were a lot of stars in the attendance but when Winona Ryder’s on the red carpet, she’ll always be my main character. Isn’t this the most Winona premiere outfit, like, ever? She’d wear this for any movie, not just Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, but of course it obviously works here. 

Tailored jacket over a tulle skirt, that’s my uniform, I’ve done it myself many times and the hair is exactly the right choice with the fit, although I do wish that was a better bun. I wish it wasn’t half a sock bun tilted up – Winona Ryder is too much of a bad bitch to deserve that ugly bun. 

 

I also feel like she’s too much of a bad bitch for Jimmy Choo but I’m not mad at her getting paid. She’s fronting their new campaign, just announced today: 

It’s been a minute since we’ve seen Winona on such a high profile carpet period and I really hope the kids know that this is a blessing for all of us. A true icon is in Venice, and she won’t linger so appreciate her while you can. 

 

As I mentioned, it was a star-studded premiere and there were other fashion legends who showed up. Like Cate Blanchett in what looks to me like Armani Privé; I haven’t checked it but this has Armani signatures all over it and it also seems familiar, like repurposed from piece she’s worn before which, as we know, tracks with her sustainability style mission. 

 

Two years ago, Taylor Russell came to Venice with Bones and All and announced her arrival as a fashion superstar. Tonight she arrived in yet another showstopper – vintage Chanel from spring 1993, worn on the runway back then by Claudia Schiffer: 

I was wondering why the light was hitting her skin weird… so when you zoom on Taylor, you can see, it looks like a layer of, like, plastic? Clear PVC? 

Taylor Russell attends a red carpet for the movie "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at on August 28, 2024 in Venice, Italy

The original seemed to be held together with fine mesh, which may not have held up considering it was over 30 years ago but I’m not sure I’m into the updated modern plastic. 

 

Isabelle Huppert is Venice’s jury president this year and she arrived to the opening night gala in custom Balenciaga. The red dress, to me, is better from the back, with that bow across the shoulders, but I much prefer her daytime Balenciaga. Dark green and perfect. 

Isabelle Huppert attends the "Venezia 81 Jury" photocall during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at on August 28, 2024 in Venice, Italy
 

Zhang Ziyi joins Isabelle on the jury and I’m obsessed with this velvet suit on her, and the beret. It’s such a nice changeup from ballgown after ballgown but also… LOOK AT THESE EARRINGS. As Rihanna would say, she looks Expensive. 

Zhang Ziyi attends a red carpet for the movie "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at on August 28, 2024 in Venice, Italy
 

And finally, a gossipy observation from the red carpet – Justin Theroux (he’s in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) walked the carpet with girlfriend Nicole Brydon Bloom and it’s not actually their red carpet debut, they did that back at the Vanity Fair Oscar party but opening night in Venice is a whole other level of relationship seriousness. 

Justin Theroux and Nicole Brydon Bloom attend a red carpet for the movie "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at on August 28, 2024 in Venice, Italy