The Venice Film Festival is always going to provide glamour, but this year there was a particular added level of anticipation. Hollywood‘s longest-lasting star, Julia Roberts, stepped into the limelight in a scene that was as much about fashion as it was about film. In attendance for the premiere of her new movie After the Hunt, Roberts was also the first big Hollywood star to show the vision of Versace’s new creative director, Dario Vitale.
What followed was a lesson in style — two contrasting looks, each specifying a different facet of Versace’s new direction under new creative leadership.
Effortless Daytime Elegance
For the photocall of the day, Roberts mixed laid-back comfort with elegant sophistication that was both chic and thoughtful. She wore a blue wool jacket fitted over a white striped top and straight-leg jeans in a minimalist ’90s style. The ensemble was low-key but meticulously put together.
Small details set the ensemble apart: a gold-buckled belt, woven leather slingbacks, and a sleek Medusa bag bearing her initials “JM”, using her married name Julia Moder. These thoughtful touches demonstrated how Vitale is moving Versace towards wearability that functions equally well in the daytime as it does on the red-carpet evening.
Roberts’ effortless smile and demeanour immediately animated the group. It wasn’t about flashy glamour; it was all about ease, confidence, and understated elegance. Every aspect, from the soft construction to the accessories, spoke of sophisticated, considered style.
Red Carpet Radiance
For the night premiere, Roberts was a study in elegant simplicity. She wore a crepe de chine blue Atelier Versace dress, accented by a subtle damier pattern extensively hand-embroidered with black silk thread—reportedly over 300 hours of craftsmen’s labour went into its creation.
The silhouette was timeless yet modern, softly belted to flatter without constraining movement. It was a reworking of Versace glamour that spoke in hushed tones rather than in a shout, with its emphasis on subtle strength and poise.
Roberts completed the look with Chopard diamonds, demonstrating restraint rather than excess so that the gown itself could be the star. Even her hair and makeup were sparse but impeccable, enhancing the dress’s sculptural loveliness without distraction.
A Definitive Fashion Moment
Roberts’ two ensembles—daycool and evening elegance, give an unequivocal look into Dario Vitale’s Versace vision. Refinement, craftsmanship, and wearable luxury are the priorities rather than gratuitous spectacle.
The selection of Julia Roberts as the face of this launch was not coincidental. She captures timelessness, confidence, and approachability — traits that complement Vitale’s vision with perfection. Her effortless personality and natural beauty make her an ideal ambassador for a brand seeking to balance heritage and modern.
Why It Resonates
This was not another red-carpet event; it was a statement of the rebirth of a classic fashion house. Roberts’ daywear demonstrated that high fashion can be achieved and worn, and her evening wear was sophisticated, innovative, and chic. She was effortless and serene, demonstrating that fashion does not concern clothing — it concerns presence, poise, and narrative. Her choices are indicative of sensitivity to how fashion narrates about identity and heritage.
Other than the clothes themselves, Roberts’ appearance was also foretelling the growing prominence of story dressing. Every look told a story, whether it combined her signature look with the context of the house. From the effortless elegance of her streetwearto the painstaking dressing of her red-carpet outfit, she showed that fashion could be expressive and timeless and speak to the viewer on a personal as much as an aspirational level.
