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red carpet
September 8, 2020

This Red Carpet Was Totally Surreal

By Emilia Petrarca and Andrew Nguyen

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Photo: AFP via Getty Images

Against all odds, the 77th Venice International Film Festival began in Italy on September 2, and the red carpet turned out to be a feast for starving eyes thanks to attendees like Tilda Swinton and Cate Blanchett.

Swinton, never one to blow a red carpet appearance, was there to receive a much-deserved lifetime achievement award. She dressed the part of someone who has had a lifetime of achievements, wearing designer pajamas, Chanel couture, and, of course, lots of looks by her favorite designer, Haider Ackermann. And, like Lady Gaga at the recent MTV Video Music Awards, she proved that face masks can be artful and fun. With the help of Björk’s creative director James T. Merry, she sported a range of gilded props reminiscent of the those worn at a Venetian carnival.

Others also got creative with face masks, wearing custom ones that matched their gowns or just holding them on the red carpet Vanna White-style, as director Ann Hui did. Blanchett, meanwhile, threw a disposable one on with her glamorous Esteban Cortezar gown. Overall, the scene was totally surreal, and will go down in history as one of the most memorable, strange, and kind of incredible red carpets of all time. Below, some glamorous, mind-melding shots from the last week.

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1 / 21 Photos
Tilda Swinton in Haider Ackermann and "Caravaggio" movie merch. Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images
Tilda Swinton wearing another custom mask by James T. Merry, this one inspired by stingray skeletons, seaweed, orchids, and his favorite fish sculptur... Tilda Swinton wearing another custom mask by James T. Merry, this one inspired by stingray skeletons, seaweed, orchids, and his favorite fish sculptures on the columns of the Rialto Fish Market in Venice. Photo: WireImage
Tilda Swinton in Chanel Haute Couture holding a custom face mask by James T. Merry. Photo: Getty Images
Tilda Swinton elegantly fixing her mask. Photo: AFP via Getty Images
Cate Blanchett in Esteban Cortezar and a disposable face mask. Photo: Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Im
Cate Blanchett in Alexander McQueen. Photo: Getty Images
Cate Blanchett getting her temperature taken wearing Alexander McQueen sunglasses and an Armani palm tree print suit. Photo: Getty Images
Luca Guadagnino in drawstring pants. Photo: Getty Images for Ferragamo
Director Ann Hui posing with her mask. Photo: Getty Images
Arizona Muse in Alberta Ferretti and a matching face mask. Photo: Getty Images
Michèle Lamy wearing Rick Owens. Photo: Getty Images,
Claire Denis in a printed suit. Photo: WireImage,
The D'Innocenzo brothers and their partners looking like an extremely cool cult. Photo: WireImage,
Mati Diop in nautical Miu Miu. Photo: WireImage,
Katherine Waterston in a Prada black velvet fringe dress. Photo: WireImage,
Maya Hawke in a shimmering Versace gown. Photo: Corbis via Getty Images
Vanessa Kirby in a Valentino Haute Couture turtleneck dress. Photo: Corbis via Getty Images
Maty Fall Diba in Etro. Photo: Getty Images
Gia Coppola in Gucci. Photo: Corbis via Getty Images
The Italian pop star Elodie in silver Versace. Photo: WireImage,
Valentina Siragusa wearing no mask... and no bra! Photo: WireImage,
1 / 21

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