Venice Film Festival 2026: Claire Foy, Amal Clooney & More Red-Carpet Shoe Moments Breakdown

The 83rd Venice International Film Festival kicked off at the Sala Grande in Italy on Wednesday, bringing out a glamorous lineup of stars dressed to the nines. This year’s red carpet leaned toward polished, sophisticated dressing, with plenty of elegant gowns and sleek footwear to match.

Claire Foy led the glamour in a striking all-red look, channeling Old Hollywood drama in a Bottega Veneta dress paired with Christian Louboutin heels. Maggie Gyllenhaal took a more understated approach to power dressing in a navy Celine gown, finished with comfy lace-up flats.

Laura Dern looked regal in a romantic pink Prada dress, pairing it with classic black slingback pumps. Meanwhile, Amal Clooney went for sculptural glamour in a head-to-toe Tom Ford look.

Claire Foy in red Bottega Veneta, Maggie Gyllenhaal in navy Celine, Laura Dern in pink Prada, and Amal Clooney in black Tom Ford bring four distinct approaches to opening-night glamour at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on September 2, 2026 (Credit: IPA / INSTARimages / Dave Bedrosian / Future Image / Cover Images)

Let’s take a closer look at what they wore.

Claire Foy Goes Monochrome in Red Louboutin Sandaloo Platforms and Bottega Veneta

Claire Foy committed completely to red, right down to her towering Christian Louboutin sandals. Mostly concealed beneath the hem, the platforms added height without interrupting the gown’s long column line, while their matching suede kept the monochromatic effect intact.

Foy isn’t the only star to embrace the towering silhouette. Dove Cameron wore the same Christian Louboutin Sandaloo sandals in black velour at the 2025 CFDA Awards, where the 5-inch platforms added dramatic height beneath her floor-length Carolina Herrera skirt. On Foy, the red suede version disappears more seamlessly into the monochromatic look, turning the statement platform into an extension of the gown.

Foy chose Christian Louboutin’s “Sandaloo” sandals, built on substantial platforms and towering 5-inch block heels. The proportions sound extreme on paper, but the broad heel and platform visually balance the height, giving her the lift of a statement platform without the delicate look of a pin-thin stiletto.

Made from luxurious veau velours, the sandals featured a minimalist design, with a simple strap across the front, a structured heel counter, and a slim ankle strap that secured the shoes around her feet.

Her exact red suede colorway does not appear to be currently available, though Christian Louboutin’s Sandaloo platform silhouette is still sold in other finishes at retailers including Mytheresa and Nordstrom.

Claire Foy opts for monochromatic red, looking striking in her red suede Christian Louboutin “Sandaloo” sandals featuring chunky platforms and towering heels (Credit: IPA / INSTARimages)

Foy paired the sandals with a custom Bottega Veneta satin gown, with its soft sheen adding a luxurious finish to the vibrant red. The dress featured a long, column silhouette with a simple sleeveless bodice, shoulder straps, and a deep scoop neckline.

A knotted detail at the waist broke up the clean shape, where gathered, ruched fabric added texture and gave the straightforward gown a more sculptural feel. The floor-length skirt skimmed the ground, while a back vent let her Louboutin sandals peek through and made it easier for her to move.

Adding a modern, slightly rebellious edge, Foy wore red leather opera gloves that extended above her elbows and perfectly matched the gown.

For jewelry, she wore several Swarovski pieces, including the $299 Classica curvaceous hoop earrings in 18k gold finish, the $189 Hyperbola ear cuffs, another Classica hoop in sterling silver, and the Vienna mixed-cut clip-on earrings. A $179 Matrix ring and a matching Matrix necklace completed the regal styling.

Her wet-look hair was slicked back with a side part, while her bold red lipstick tied the entire glamorous look together.

Claire Foy teams her red sandals with a Bottega Veneta red satin gown featuring a gathered knot detail at the waist and a pair of red leather opera gloves (Credit: IPA / INSTARimages)

Maggie Gyllenhaal Skips the Heels for Celine Lace-Up Flats and a Draped Navy Gown

Jury President Maggie Gyllenhaal made one of the evening’s more interesting shoe choices: no towering heel at all. At 5’9″ (175.3 cm), with an approximate US shoe size 9.5, she already has the height to carry Celine’s floor-skimming column gown without extra lift.

Her lace-up flats also mark a sharp departure from the platforms and pointed pumps that have defined some of Gyllenhaal’s earlier red-carpet looks, including Miu Miu platforms, Paul Andrew Zenadia pumps, and Valentino Rubin heels.

She wore Celine’s Jazz lace-up shoes, made in Italy from black lambskin leather with a soft sheepskin lining. The simple, low-profile shoes had rounded toes and a lace-up vamp finished with gold-tone eyelets.

Celine Paris branding appeared on the tongue, with a second label at the side, but otherwise the design remained deliberately spare. Their thin, flexible construction gave them the ease of an everyday lace-up—a surprisingly casual counterpoint to the formality of a Venice opening-night gown.

Maggie Gyllenhaal opts for comfort, wearing Celine’s Jazz lace-up shoes featuring a low profile, lace-up front, and branding on the tongue (Credit: Cover Images)

Gyllenhaal paired the flats with a custom navy Celine dress that I thought was perfect for her role as president of the international jury. The silk gown featured long sleeves and an asymmetric wrap bodice, creating a plunging neckline that draped slightly off one shoulder.

The softly folded upper wrapped around her waist before flowing into a sleek, floor-length column skirt that pooled over her shoes.

She added a touch of sparkle to the dark navy palette with Bulgari’s Serpenti necklace and matching earrings. Her hair was styled in a side-parted wavy bob, while minimal makeup kept her overall look fresh and sophisticated.

Maggie Gyllenhaal balances red-carpet elegance with comfort in black Celine Jazz lace-up flats and a custom navy Celine gown with an asymmetric wrap bodice and floor-length column skirt (Credit: Cover Images)

Laura Dern Sharpens a Bubblegum-Pink Prada Dress With Black Patent Slingbacks

Laura Dern used black patent leather to cut through all that bubblegum pink. At 5’9½” (176.5 cm), with a reported peak height of 5’10” and a US size 10 shoe, she has the stature to carry a voluminous midi skirt without relying on a towering heel. The sleek Prada slingbacks instead sharpened the silhouette—a restrained addition to a Laura Dern shoe wardrobe that ranges from Gucci sneakers to bold red Schutz boots.

Dern’s black patent Prada slingbacks kept the classic pointed-toe formula but gave it a distinctly modern finish. A slim elasticized strap left the heel exposed, while the padded, screen-printed Prada triangle across the vamp introduced a geometric element echoed by the angular stiletto heel.

It’s a silhouette Prada has repeatedly brought to the red carpet: Scarlett Johansson wore similar black Prada slingbacks at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, pairing their pointed toes, dimensional triangle detail, and geometric heels with a minimalist black midi dress.

You can get Dern’s black patent Prada slingback pumps for $1,270 at Mytheresa.

Laura Dern slips into a pair of Prada pumps in black patent leather with slim slingback straps, pointed toes, Prada’s padded triangle logo, and kitten heels (Credit: Laurent Lairys / PSNEWZ / INSTARimages)

Dern paired her pumps with a custom Prada bubblegum-pink double-satin midi dress, bringing a charming retro feel to the red carpet. The fitted, tailored bodice featured elegant cap sleeves and a high crew neckline, keeping the top half polished and refined. Below the waist, the skirt opened into a voluminous A-line shape with soft pleats, falling just above her ankles to show off the black slingbacks. It also had hidden side-seam pockets, adding practicality without disrupting the dress’s clean silhouette.

Dern finished the look with Cartier Le Chœur des Pierres High Jewelry Tillan earrings and a matching necklace, adding sparkle against the pink satin.

Her warm blonde hair was styled in a soft blowout with curtain bangs, while light, elegant makeup kept her beauty look understated.

Laura Dern teams her black pumps with a bubblegum pink satin Prada dress featuring elegant cap sleeves, a fitted bodice, and an A-line midi skirt (Credit: Laurent Lairys / PSNEWZ / INSTARimages)

Amal Clooney Goes Sculptural in Tom Ford Vertigo Pumps and Haider Ackermann’s Ruched Gown

Amal Clooney knows when a shoe should command attention—and when it should simply finish the line of a dress. Standing 5’8½” (174 cm) and wearing a US size 9.5, she paired Tom Ford’s razor-sharp slingbacks with an elaborate pleated gown rather than adding another statement piece.

It fits a long-running pattern in her wardrobe: Amal frequently uses sleek designer heels to complement her tall frame, letting the silhouette and clothes do most of the talking.

Tom Ford’s patent-leather “Vertigo” pumps were almost severe in their simplicity: pointed toes, barely-there slingback straps, and slender 4.5-inch stilettos. Clooney hardly needs the extra height, but beneath the floor-length gown, the heels extended its already vertical silhouette without distracting from Haider Ackermann’s intricate pleating and ruching.

You can get these Tom Ford pumps for $1,080 (from $1,350) at Mytheresa.

Amal Clooney slips into a pair of Tom Ford pumps with sharp pointed toes, slim ankle straps, and pin-thin stiletto heels (Credit: IPA / INSTARimages)

Clooney paired the pumps with a custom Tom Ford gown by Haider Ackermann, its deep-black silk taffeta worked into irregular accordion pleats and body-skimming ruching. The all-black pairing feels particularly restrained compared with some of her more decorative footwear moments, from silver Dior “Songe” pumps to metallic and brightly colored heels.

Black georgette panels ran along the sides of the central panel, creating a subtle contouring effect. The dress also featured a geometric square neckline trimmed with crisp patent-leather piping and held together by thin spaghetti straps. Extra straps draped loosely off her shoulders, adding a slightly unexpected detail to the sleek design.

Amal accessorized with Cartier En Équilibre earrings, a matching ring, and a Reflection de Cartier bracelet, adding just the right amount of sparkle. Her long, side-parted hair fell in bouncy waves, while softly defined eyes, rosy cheeks, and a muted pink lip completed her polished beauty look.

Amal Clooney pairs her sleek pumps with an equally sleek column dress by Tom Ford, featuring accordion pleats and ruching down the body and leather straps (Credit: Cover Images)

More Standout Shoe Moments From Claire Foy, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Laura Dern Amal Clooney

From towering platforms and sculptural boots to polished pumps and unexpected flats, these four women have built red-carpet wardrobes around very different approaches to footwear. Their past looks show just how much the right shoe can change the mood of a dress, suit, or evening silhouette.