The 82nd Venice Film Festival has once again delivered an exquisite mix of cinema and red-carpet glamour. While gowns drew plenty of attention, it was the jewellery that redefined the style conversation. This year, earrings became the highlight, shifting focus from statement necklaces to sparkle that drew the eye upward.
Julia Roberts graced the carpet in midnight blue Atelier Versace, her look elevated by Chopard chandelier earrings shimmering with over 36 carats of natural diamonds. She paired them with a woven diamond bracelet adorned with sapphires and additional diamonds. Chloë Sevigny, meanwhile, embraced Tiffany & Co. brilliance, wearing a platinum and diamond necklace of more than 79 carats, complemented by 17-carat earrings and a 10-carat cocktail ring. At her photocall, she opted for a softer touch, choosing Jean Schlumberger butterfly earrings and a diamond eternity band to match her Simone Rocha dress.
Amal Clooney was the picture of refinement in a fuchsia gown paired with Cartier’s Panthère diamond earrings. Riley Keough made a striking appearance in a Chloé ensemble, her décolletage adorned with Cartier’s Cafayate necklace in natural diamonds and opals, a masterpiece that required more than 1,400 hours of craftsmanship. Shailene Woodley kept it classic with diamond stud earrings and Bulgari’s Serpenti High Jewellery necklace, complete with a ruby crowning the serpent’s head.
Greta Gerwig brought modern edge to the carpet in a Rodarte gown styled with Pomellato’s diamond chainlink Catene necklace and ring. Heidi Klum delivered red-carpet drama at the festival’s opening ceremony, wearing a rose-satin gown alongside two Lorraine Schwartz chokers, one lined with round-cut diamonds and the other featuring marquise stones and a pear-shaped pendant.
The real story, however, was in the way jewellery was styled. Many stars chose to keep their hair down, tucking one side behind the ear to let a dazzling piece peek through. Cate Blanchett demonstrated this shift perfectly, pairing her Armani Privé gown with Louis Vuitton high jewellery earrings rather than a necklace at the neckline. Naomi Watts followed suit with Cartier’s Agrafe jewels inspired by corsetry, while Ayo Edebiri dazzled in Chanel’s diamond arches and Pritika Swarup wore sculptural diamond petals by Pasquale Bruni. For those with shorter hair, Emma Stone’s pixie cut allowed just a glimpse of a Louis Vuitton ear cuff, proving that even the subtlest earring can transform a look.
The Venice Film Festival has always stood apart from Cannes with its sense of refinement. This year confirmed that sentiment once again. Grandeur was not about oversized gems, but about thoughtful styling choices. By putting earrings in the spotlight, stars let their jewellery breathe and, in turn, reminded us that sometimes restraint can shine brightest.