The San Sebastian Film Festival brought us an eclectic mix of fashion this week, with celebrities embracing everything from timeless elegance to bold experimentation. While the festival’s red carpet wasn’t without its missteps, it also delivered some refreshing moments and surprising highlights. Here’s a look at the most notable appearances that stood out during the week.
Maria Callas: Letters and Memoirs Premiere
Monica Bellucci graced the red carpet in an off-the-shoulder Nina Ricci gown, a new look that felt all too familiar. Despite the fresh designer choice, the styling anchored this look firmly in “Groundhog Day.” Once again, Monica opted for her signature oversized sunglasses—an accessory that seems to be her personal style crutch. Yes, it’s a consistent statement, but at this point, it feels tired. Her Cartier jewels were, of course, impeccable, but they weren’t enough to breathe new life into her predictable aesthetic.
San Sebastian Arrival
Fortunately, Monica’s arrival look gave us something a little different, at least in terms of colour. She wore an eggplant-hued Saint Laurent suit, offering a break from her typical all-black ensembles. While the Saint Laurent SL276 Mica sunglasses made their inevitable appearance, the pop of colour was a step in the right direction, adding a refreshing touch to what is becoming a uniform.
Bound in Heaven Premiere
Ni Ni shined on the red carpet in a custom Gucci gown, which featured a striking green silk keyhole top with a twisted neckline and a darker green degrade sequin skirt. The gradient effect, with sequins increasing in size as they moved down the dress, gave the look depth and dimension. Gucci’s current creative lead, Sabato De Sarno, has been known to repeat his tailoring designs so I wouldn’t mind seeing this look again in the brand’s signature Rosso Ancora hue—it’s a stunning design that deserves to live beyond one red carpet.
El Llanto Premiere
French actress Mathilde Ollivier took a risk with her Chanel Spring 2024 Haute Couture look. The mix of fabrics, embellishments, floral prints, and those signature tulle patch pockets could be deemed chaotic, and yet, she made it work. Even with the white tights and black sandals—a hallmark of this collection that could easily feel costume-like—Mathilde’s presence managed to elevate the ensemble. Don’t ask me how or why, but I’m fully sold on this look.
Bound in Heaven Premiere
Esther Expósito revived the age-old adage, “You can’t go wrong in Vivienne Westwood,” which had been tarnished recently. Opting for a classic draped velvet gown, Esther showed that sticking to Westwood’s iconic corset structure and romantic fabric still delivers undeniable elegance. This was vintage Westwood at its best—dramatic yet timeless.
Soy Nevenka Premiere
Mireia Oriol also embraced Chanel for her premiere appearance, donning a pink and white floral dress with an accompanying cape from the Spring 2024 Haute Couture collection. Florals can easily slip into saccharine territory, but there’s something about Mireia’s stature and composure that kept this look from feeling overly twee. The balance was right, and I was completely sold on the styling—it was feminine and sophisticated.
Modi, Three Days on the Wings of Madness Premiere
Antonia Desplat wore a Bottega Veneta Fall 2022 black dress that might look familiar—it was first worn by Kylie Jenner last year during her “quiet luxury” phase in Paris last year. Antonia brought her own understated elegance to the look, proving that this minimalist, tailored dress has staying power. It was simple yet striking, a perfect nod to the allure of well-crafted luxury. But the standout piece were her Bottega Veneta Adam leather sandals accented with both and gold toned apple and a serpentine head.
Credit: Getty / Juan Naharro Gimenez/GC Images / Vogue.com
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