Venice Film Festival 2025: The Definitive Guide to Sunglasses on the Red Carpet

When the Venice Film Festival rolls out its red carpet, the world watches. But this year, between Aug. 27 and Sept. 6, the focus shifted slightly. Yes, cinema was still king, but on that unique stage on the Lido - with stars arriving in water cabs under a harsh Italian sun - sunglasses were no longer just an accessory. They became every star's manifesto, the barometer gauging upcoming trends and, let's face it, the ultimate weapon for dodging paparazzi scrutiny. Behind many of the most iconic moments was Thélios, the optical expert arm of the LVMH giant, which served as official sponsor and master of ceremonies. With a constellation of stars that included Cate Blanchett, George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Emily Blunt, the eyewear they chose sparked as much debate as the films themselves.

Brand	Celebrity	Model Name / Style Description	Key Trend Represented
Celine	Emily Blunt	Triomphe CL40194U (Black Acetate)	Nostalgia (Modern Oval)
Celine	Georgina Rodriguez	Triomphe CL40194U (Black Acetate)	Influencer Glamour
Fendi	Adam Sandler	Selleria FE40191I	Men's Craftsmanship
Fendi	Noomi Rapace	Fendi First FE40099I	Architectural Statement
Bvlgari	Zara Martin	Serpenti Forever BV40059U	Maximalism (Jewelry Inspired)
Bvlgari	Katie Degas	Tubogas BV40056U	Legacy Revival
Stella McCartney	Cate Blanchett	Oversize Acetate Square	Conscious Luxury
Loewe	Maria Borges	Anagram LW40175U	Avant-garde / Sculptural
Barton Perreira	Lena Perminova	N/A (Classic Acetate)	Quiet Luxury / Insider Chic
TAG Heuer	Alvaro de Luna	Mini Vingt-Sept	Sport Performance
Vuarnet	William Goodge	Belvedere	Alpine Heritage
Dior	Greta Lee	N/A (Women's Acetate)	Timeless Elegance

The New Icon: Celine's Triomphe Takes Center Stage

Every festival has a star piece. The one you see over and over again until it becomes an instant icon. This year, without argument, it was Celine's Triomphe CL40194U eyewear. They became the Lido's object of desire, seen on style heavyweights like actress Emily Blunt and mega influencer Georgina Rodriguez, propelling the model to stardom. But what is its secret? It's a masterclass in design. The oval shape, a clear nod to '90s nostalgia, feels totally current thanks to a shiny, rotund acetate that gives it body and presence. And then there's the key detail: the Triomphe logo in gold metal on the temples. It's not a logo that screams, but rather affirms, a refined and recognizable stamp of luxury.

What was fascinating was to see how they worked in such different contexts. Emily Blunt, in the midst of promoting The Smashing Machine, projected a relaxed movie star image, a natural glamour perfect for everyday Venetian life. Georgina Rodriguez, on the other hand, consolidated them as a symbol of power in the universe of high fashion and social networks, where visibility is everything. And what does it tell us that two such different profiles choose exactly the same frame? It tells us about the incredible versatility of its design. The Triomphe has the ability to complement both a classic and sophisticated look and an avant-garde and daring one. And it is precisely that double play that makes it an investment piece, destined to last beyond passing trends.

Fendi's Duality: Roman Craftsmanship and Modern Glamour

Fendi played on two boards in Venice, and did so brilliantly. On the one hand, it reminded us of its artisan soul with the men's Selleria line; on the other, it unleashed its bolder, more feminine side with its avant-garde collections.

The Artisan: Adam Sandler's Selleria

Adam Sandler, in town to present Jay Kelly, was the epitome of understated luxury with the Fendi Selleria FE40191I model. His choice was a direct nod to Fendi's Roman leather goods roots, where hand-stitched macro stitching is the true status symbol. By wearing them, Sandler wasn't just wearing glasses, but a piece of the brand's heritage, proving that true luxury doesn't always need a logo.

The Diva: Noomi Rapace and Maria Borges

And in the other corner of the ring, glamour without complexes. Actresses Noomi Rapace, wearing Fendi First, and Maria Borges, wearing Fendi First Crystals, embodied the most daring side of the house. These glasses are not an accessory, they are a centerpiece. With their architectural lines and, in the case of Borges, opulent crystal inlays, they are a statement of intent, designed to turn heads on the red carpet. Fendi's was a masterstroke. Instead of handing out its products at random, it assigned specific collections to personalities that symbolized its values. Selleria for the man who appreciates history and craftsmanship. And the bolder collections for the woman who uses fashion to express herself fearlessly. The result: a perfect communication of the two pillars of its identity.

Bvlgari Jewelry on the Red Carpet: The Serpenti and Tubogas Collections

Bvlgari's strategy was simple and brilliant: we don't make glasses, we dress the eyes with jewelry. The brand itself positions it this way, as a natural extension of its legacy as the great Roman jeweler.

The Iconic Serpenti

The absolute protagonist was, how could it be otherwise, the Serpenti collection. Fashion's most famous snake coiled around the temples of eyewear influencers like Zara Martin, transforming a frame into an instantly recognizable piece of fine jewelry. It's the power of an icon.

The Tubogas Legacy

The house also paid homage to another of its legendary techniques with the Tubogas collection, seen on model Katie Degas. The spiral structure, a technical prodigy of goldsmithing, was translated into eyewear that evokes a heritage and sophisticated luxury. Bvlgari' s choice to rely on models and influencers reveals a very insightful strategy. They know that, for many, a Bvlgari jewel is a distant dream. But a pair of Serpenti sunglasses is an invitation to their universe, an accessible way to own a fragment of that legacy. And there is no better setting than the glamour of Venice to present this "accessible aspiration" and connect with a younger audience.

The Quiet Luxury Contingent: Barton Perreira and Stella McCartney

While some shouted with logos and bling, others whispered with craftsmanship and awareness. A powerful counter-current made its presence felt in Venice, championing a luxury that values quality and principles over ostentation.

Barton Perreira: The Choice of the Initiates

Barton Perreira is the definition of California luxury: relaxed on the outside, impeccable on the inside. The brand is almost an open secret among experts, who value its obsession with handmade in Japan and use of premium materials. Seeing it on fashion figures like Lena Perminova confirms its status: it's the brand for those who don't need a logo to tell them what's good.

Stella McCartney: Sustainable Sophistication

That Cate Blanchett, an actress known for her thoughtful elegance and for reusing dresses on the red carpet, chose Stella McCartney was no accident. It was a statement of principle. Stella is the pioneer of conscious luxury, and Blanchett is the perfect ambassador for that message. The style of the eyewear, an oversized acetate with a classic cut, reinforces the idea of an elegance that endures, a philosophy that goes beyond fast fashion. This is proof that"silent luxury" is gaining ground, and that the story behind a product weighs as much as its appearance.

Vanguard and Athletics: Loewe, TAG Heuer and Vuarnet

The festival also opened the doors to the "rebels": brands that are breaking the mold of luxury eyewear design, whether through art or sports heritage.

Loewe: Art to Wear

Under the baton of Jonathan Anderson, Loewe eyewear is not for everyone. They are for those who understand that fashion can be an act. The sculptural frames worn by model Maria Borges blur the line between an accessory and an art object. They are not glasses that you wear, they are glasses that dress you and trace your entire look.

TAG Heuer and Vuarnet: Performance and Style

Two brands with deep roots in the world of sports sneaked into the gala party, proving that technique and style can go hand in hand. TAG Heuer, in its long-awaited return to the optical world, flaunted Swiss precision and innovative materials. For its part, Vuarnet, with its alpine heritage and legendary mineral lenses, reaffirmed its cult status. What does this mean? That "luxury" is no longer just about aesthetics. People want things that work, that have a real history and foolproof durability. Technical credibility is a brand's new capital.

Dior's Perennial Elegance

Amid a storm of trends, Dior remained the anchor of timeless elegance. While others experimented, the French house reasserted itself as the official purveyor of cinematic, feminine glamour, seen in actresses like Greta Lee. Dior's strategy is consistency. It positions itself as that infallible choice for refinement that never goes out of style, Parisian chic at its best. In a saturated market, there will always be a place for perfect classics, and Dior is their guardian.

Synthesis: Decoding the Key Trends of Venice Eyewear 2025

So what did we take away from thiswhole style parade? Venice gave us a clear map of what's to come in the optical world. First, characterful acetate is back to stay. Nostalgic silhouettes, such as oval, are reinvented with bolder thicknesses and a stronger presence, relegating the delicate minimalism of years past. Second, the great battle of luxury: to whisper or to shout? The festival made it clear: there is no one answer. The maximalism of Bvlgari, with its jewel-glasses, coexists perfectly with the "silent luxury" of Barton Perreira and the conscious elegance of Stella McCartney. There is a market for both bold self-expression and understated sophistication. Finally, technical is the new sexy. Brands with a sporty DNA like TAG Heuer and Vuarnet are redefining luxury. Today's consumer values innovation, functionality and an authentic heritage as much as design. In short, luxury is no longer just one thing. Timeless elegance, craftsmanship, maximalism and technical performance are all valid expressions of style. And these are the conversations that will undoubtedly mark our purchases in the coming year.