The Star Of Venice Film Festival’s Red Carpet? Sunset-Tinted Sunnies

venice, italy august 30 antonio banderas attends a red carpet for babygirl during the 81st venice international film festival at on august 30, 2024 in venice, italy photo by ernesto rusciogetty images
Sunset-Tinted Sunnies Ruled Venice Film FestivalErnesto Ruscio - Getty Images

When it comes to red carpet dressing, there’s a time-tested formula. Firstly, you throw on your best black-tie tailoring, for obvious reasons. Then you slide on some fuss-free dress shoes and a classic watch that’s not too showy but drenched in horological kudos. And for the sunnier locations, you finish the look with a pair of sunglasses.

It's timeless, thought-out but not try hard and really hard to get wrong. And a pair of sunnies, in particular, give off a debonair vibe that have the least sartorially inclined standing proud in their outfit choice. Jack Nicholson put it perfectly: “With my sunglasses on, I’m Jack Nicholson. Without them, I’m fat and 60.”

At this year’s Venice Film Festival, there’s been a particular lens colour that’s struck gold: the dreamy, warm tones of an Italian sunset. Fitting, eh!

Consisting of glasses that have yellow or orange lenses, the colour is hardly a revolutionary shade. But with plenty of shapes on offer, ranging from traditional to retro to futuristic, the stars have shown their support in a myriad of ways.

Joaquin Phoenix went classic during his walk for Joker: Folie à Deux, donning a pair of wayfarer-shaped tortoiseshell shades with amber frames. Daniel Craig also opted for that lens type, but in an aviator-esque design.

Then, Aaron Taylor-Johnson went full seventies with some square gold frames against his black suit and bowtie, a look that harkened to the East End gangster he played in Bullet Train.

But it was perhaps Antonio Banderas that showed that these lenses, no matter how traditional the look is that they're offset against, can still look good. Walking the red carpet for Babygirl, the 64-year-old worn a pair of Arnette sunglasses that brings Ali G to mind.

Maybe it’s the dichotomy of the formalness of his clothes against the Y2K frames, or maybe it’s just because it’s Antonio Banderas, but when they’re paired with his time-tested tailoring it… works!

Follow suit and don’t be afraid to pair your more out-there sunglasses with your next suit, even if it isn’t for an event in 26-degree heat.

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