Natalie Portman in Gucci at the Venice ‘Vox Lux’ premiere: dated or fabulous?

75th Venice International Film Festival - Vox Lux - Premiere

I’m an idiot who never took Latin. I thought “lux” meant “luxury,” as in that was the Latin root of the word luxury. But lux is Latin for light. And “vox” is Latin for voice. So Natalie Portman’s new film is called Vox Lux, and that means Light Voice or Voice of Light. It makes sense because Portman plays a pop star who is off-the-rails, perhaps Britney-like, but it tells her story from the inside. Natalie executive produced the film and stars in it. It’s getting great reviews in Venice, and some are saying that another Oscar campaign could be in the works.

Natalie dressed the part of a potential Oscar-campaigner on the red-carpet premiere of Vox Lux. She wore this sparkly Gucci gown which could go either way. It’s DRAMA and fun and a show-stopper and it will get her on a million fashion blogs and in all the magazines. On the other side… the shoulders are bad and it’s really just an updated version of an ugly ‘80s gown, the same kind of fashion disaster that you would have seen on Dynasty.

75th Venice International Film Festival - Vox Lux - Premiere

75th Venice International Film Festival - Vox Lux - Premiere

Natalie’s costar Stacy Martin wore Chanel Haute Couture. At first I only saw this from the crotch up, and I thought “wow, Chanel made a surprisingly good sparkly jumpsuit.” But Karl Lagerfeld just has to screw it up somehow – look at the bottom of the pant leg. UGH.

75th Venice International Film Festival - Vox Lux - Premiere

Another costar: Raffey Cassidy in Oscar de la Renta. I honestly don’t mind these princess dresses in Venice, in particular. Venice is like Cannes – the bigger dresses really work on the carpet, because everyone has room to pose and look dramatic. I’ve never seen this girl in my life, but she reminds me a bit of Sophie Turner, right?

75th Venice International Film Festival - Vox Lux - Premiere

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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26 Responses to “Natalie Portman in Gucci at the Venice ‘Vox Lux’ premiere: dated or fabulous?”

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  1. Rapunzel says:

    I think if it had been a different color, it wouldn’t have been so bad.

    • Digital Unicorn says:

      Yes that’s what I thought – Cate Blanchett or Tilda would have rocked this.

      I find it difficult to like her, even when she’s ‘acting’.

      • Eliza says:

        It’s very 40s to me.

        But I agree completely about Cate. That’s exactly who I thought of when I saw it. Natalie is tiny and I think the dramatic gown swallows her up.

    • Milla says:

      I see a lot of Balmain and Kardashians so no… Why isn’t she in Dior?

  2. L says:

    yh the last girl gives me a mini Sophie Turner vibe

  3. Becks1 says:

    I kind of love it (Natalie’s outfit.) Its a little dynasty-esque, those shoulders are a little too big, etc – but somehow I still really like the overall effect.

    • jessamine says:

      I was surprised how well she pulls of the mega-shoulders with her petite frame. But she does! I also kind of love it 🙂

    • Renee2 says:

      I love it too!!! Even though I don’t like the bottom of the dress I think that she looks super glamorous, and her face and hair are gorgeous. I like that she wore something fun, it’s dope.

      • Elisa says:

        +1, I also love her hair and make-up and she seems to glow. I’m usually not a fan of her but here she looks lovely.

    • bros says:

      Love it too-universally flattering cut. also the jumpsuit her co star is wearing is the jumpsuit version of what Melania Trump wore when the Macrons came to the white house for the state dinner-same lower tier grey thing cutting the dress off at a weird point.

  4. Maum says:

    Without the shoulders it would have been awesome.

    With them it looks bad costume-y.

  5. SM says:

    Yikes! She just traveled to the Dinasty set, raided the closet and went back to the Venice with this one. No bueno

  6. Endoplasmic_ridiculum says:

    Looks fun in the photos in which she is smiling. Terrible when scowling!

  7. Tiny Martian says:

    I’m just curious about the movie itself! Brady Corbet is becoming quite an interesting director, and Vox Lux received all positive reviews, from what I’ve seen. She plays a glam rocker, so this dress seems to reflect her role to some degree.

  8. Naptime says:

    Lux is light, luxe is fashion speak for luxury

  9. Veronica S. says:

    I don’t mind it, honestly. It’s an older woman’s dress, but Portman is getting to the age where she can get away with a touch of matronly in her gowns without looking ridiculous. It’s not my favorite thing she’s worn, but it’s not terrible by any means.

    I only know what lux translates as because of the famous piece “Lux Aeterna.” Vox I learned several years ago from a friend with a music background.

    • hunter says:

      I think it is poorly tailored; shoulders are about 30% too large for this look on her frame.

      • Veronica S. says:

        I think it’s a tall woman’s look is the real problem. She’s got a small frame. She’s wearing it better than most, but the shoulders could have benefitted from some toning down.

  10. BANANIE says:

    I think my main issue with Natalie Portman’s isn’t the shoulders — it’s the aggressive bow, and also I think the colors clash. I think sometimes it looks ~amazing~ when people mix metals, but here it looks over the top.

    The jumpsuit is not my thing. I think looser jumpsuits tend to be more flattering. I personally hate the sheer trend, but I think the bottoms of the legs are supposed to tie in to the mesh part at the top. So while it’s ugly, at least there was a reason.

    I think the last is dreamy but I can’t get over ponytails on the red carpet.

  11. Nikki says:

    My first thought was Dynasty as well. Dated..

  12. Sharon says:

    I can’t keep my mouth shut about this one – it’s heeeee-deeee-ouse

  13. bella says:

    I love it and also LOVE< LOVE the blue Oscar! It is gorgeous and if I was younger , I would be all over it!

  14. Moonstruck says:

    Natalie has a flawless face but that outfit is just no.