BEHIND THE SCENES OF MY VENICE FILM FESTIVAL LOOKS

I’m no movie star. But this week, I’ve kind of felt like one. There’s nothing like being whisked off to Venice Film Festival to make you feel like you’ve entered your Old Hollywood Glamour era. Travelling through the canals in a yacht draped in diamonds and gorgeous couture gowns has proved a great way to kick off the start of the fashion year and I’m feeling incredibly blessed. I was lucky enough to attend the 81st Venice Film Festival with Kérastase to see the talented creatives and inspiring stories that await audiences for the upcoming film season. 

And I thought I’d take you all with me and share the BTS best bits of this incredible star-studded event. From the beautifully crafted gowns and precious jewels I was lucky enough to wear to all the hair and makeup products I used and the beauty tips and tricks I learned from the professionals. Let’s get started! 

I’m part of the school of thought that believes the only way to arrive in Venice in style is windswept and by boat. So I did just that. With my exotic leather Birkin in hand and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Mini in 18-carat yellow gold on my wrist, I was feeling super fortunate at being welcomed to the Italian city in the most beautiful way.  

A star-studded film festival is less about relaxing and soaking up sunny rays vacation-style and instead about embracing the latest in film and couture style, so I headed straight to work. I’ve always been taught by my favourite makeup artists that the secret to a dazzling red carpet glam look is as much about the preparation as the finishing touches so prepping my skin was key. I relied on a mix of my trusty favourites.

Read more about my hair & beauty favourites and tips

For night one, it was all about channelling traditional Hollywood glamour. I trusted my go-to favourite hair care brand Kérastase and master hair stylist Patrick Wilson for a slicked-back look centred around classic allure and opulence. I had last minute touch ups en route to the event via boat and my hair really did not budge – the wind never stood a chance against the snatched look they created. 

For makeup, my fate was in the Armani Beauty Gods … and they did not disappoint. The look was created by the wonderful Joel Niviere. We wanted a soft, shimmering glow to go with the soft-glamour aesthetic of my overall look so we focused on the Luminous Silk range which is all about brightening to create a dreamy glow. My favourites included the Armani Luminous Silk Summer Glow Bronzer that blended really well and gave me a gorgeous warm glow. The shades are inspired by tan summer hues (great for those of us already missing the glow we had on holiday). I also loved the Luminous Silk Acqua Highlighter that’s super light and blendable and gives you a perfect pearly glow – great for a soft shimmer on the red carpet.

And now onto the dress. Up first it was a Magda Butrym gown. I’ve been a HUGE fan of the label for a long time so to wear the designer on the red carpet at Venice Film Festival was nothing short of a dream. Despite founding her namesake only a decade ago, Butrym has managed to establish a coveted selection of signature design elements that have become emblematic of her label. On this occasion, I wore a strapless black maxi number complete with a bustier detail to create the label’s iconic sculptured silhouette, and finished with gorgeous draping across the front.

What goes with an elegant black dress better than Tiffany jewellery? This was my thought exactly so, of course, it had to be jewels from the famous heritage brand to finish off my look and these beautifully selected pieces brought it all together. 

My love for Laura Mercier products is well documented so I was thrilled to have the team help me get glam for the second night. The Pure Canvas Primer worked as a great base for prepping my skin, while the Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Foundation and Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Concealer gave me the look of having flawless skin without feeling too heavy. 

For my eyes we went with a rich, slightly darker palette achieved using the Eye Caviar Stick (it’s creamy with just the right amount of pigment) and eyeshadow in greyish and beige tones. For lips, I loved Laura Mercier’s new Caviar Smoothing Matte Lipstick and Caviar Perfecting Lip Liner (my newest obsession in the shade Delicate Nude that I’ll definitely be using off the red carpet, too). The last step of the glam was, of course, the Translucent Loose Setting Powder. This product is always a must for me, especially for an event when I need my makeup to stay in place and keep looking perfect for hours. 

My hair look was another slicked-back option, this time a low ponytail with a middle parting, courtesy of Beautick and the lovely hair stylist Laura Galessi. This is the blueprint for how I want all of my low ponytails and buns to look from now on!

I truly believe that feathers are underrated in the fashion game. So that’s why I was so excited for them to be a statement feature of my Alessandra Rich dress for Venice Film Festival night two. Another black gown, strapless, with soft gathers at the waist and an elegant side split with feathers cascading down to the hem. And on my feet? Victoria Beckham open-toe shoes.

Now for what felt like the star of the outfit – the Boucheron jewellery. I wore pieces from the Maison’s Serpent Bohème collection. The iconic teardrop-shaped designs have been a Boucheron classic since 1968, and on this occasion they were a staple part of my look. 

And that’s a wrap on Venice Film Festival 2024. A magical two-day experience that I’m super grateful for. Next stop, NYFW!

xoxo, Tamara