Venice and Toronto festivals spotlight fashion as cinema meets runway

The 2025 Venice Film Festival closed after two weeks of premieres and polished red carpets that doubled as a runway preview for the autumn fashion season, and the international film circuit immediately shifted to Toronto where the 50th Toronto International Film Festival opened with a string of world premieres. In Venice, a steady flow of high-profile appearances — from Cate Blanchett to Ayo Edebiri and Julia Roberts — underscored how closely film festivals and fashion now operate as a single cultural moment. In Toronto, filmmakers and stars arrived in looks that continued the conversation about incoming creative directors and runway trends.

At the Venice premieres on the Lido, several designers used the festival to introduce or test new visions. Jonathan Anderson’s early reinterpretations for Dior were visible on actresses including Greta Lee and Ana Taylor‑Joy, the latter arriving in a custom baby blue satin gown credited to Anderson. Designers Dario Vitale at Versace and others also saw increased attention after dressing multiple stars. Critics and fashion editors noted the festival served as a soft launch for collections that will be more fully revealed during Paris Fashion...