Chanel, Dior, And Versace's New Eras Are Launching On The Red Carpet

Some red carpet trends take on the form of a food-inspired color or a can't-miss embellishment. At the Venice Film Festival , the biggest trend isn't what guests from Ayo Edebiri to Greta Lee and Monica Barbaro are wearing—but who .

Chanel, Dior, Versace, and Valentino are among the designers who have announced new creative directors over the past year. Instead of saving their debuts for their first collections at Milan or Paris Fashion Week, they're letting stars (and their stylists) pre-game the runway at the Venice Film Festival . Usually, when a house changes hands, an entirely fresh aesthetic—and the new front row RSVPs—are kept under lock and key until the show starts. This time, designers are giving their audiences a taste early: building hype and setting the stage for a busy fashion month.

It all started with Julia Roberts , whose stylist Elizabeth Stewart, sourced two looks from Versace's upcoming creative director, Dario Vitale. (He replaces Donatella Versace, who had shaped the brand's design vision for over two decades.) First, there was an oversized blazer and jeans with a striped yellow shirt underneath for a photocall; then a tailored navy dress with harlequin checks for the After the Hunt world premiere. Amanda Seyfried, another celebrity styled by Stewart, loved the first look so much that she borrowed the entire outfit. All three looks were notably more restrained than the corset gowns and trellis prints characteristic of Donatella's era at Versace .

Jonathan Anderson has drummed up anticipation for his Dior womenswear debut all summer, through a buzzworthy menswear show in Paris and an already-viral book tote carried by Rihanna and Jennifer Lawrence . At the Venice Film Festival , he collaborated closely with a mix of former Dior girls and clients from his tenure at Loewe to set his legacy in motion.

Greta Lee , one of Anderson's most loyal followers while he led Loewe, promoted A House of Dynamite in a trio of custom Dior looks styled by Danielle Goldberg. Her collection included a crisp white mini-skirt suit, a longline version of Dior's New Look blazer and skirt, and an entirely fresh drop-waist dress with a plunge neckline and micro-mini skirt tied with an exaggerated bow. They represented a slight 1920s-inspired shift away from former creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri 's tulle gowns and preference for sequins. Mia Goth, Monica Barbaro, and Alba Rohrwacher also wore similarly understated looks for their red carpet appearances.