Zendaya in Balmain & Bulgari at the Venice ‘Dune’ premiere: completely stunning?

Dune - The 78th Venice International Film Festival

The Venice Film Festival was in full swing over the holiday weekend here in America, and I am thrilled to have so many fashion photos! People were really waiting to bring out some big, dramatic fashion, and Venice is where it’s at. Friday night was the big Venice premiere of Dune, the much-delayed film starring Zendaya and Timothee Chalamet (among many others). Producers really pushed Z and and Timmy to do the Venice promotion together and it’s cute as hell. For the premiere, Zendaya wore this incredible Balmain gown which looks like it was sculpted onto her body. I usually hate that beige-y nude shade but it works on Zendaya. She paired the gown with Bulgari jewels and I’m in awe of the size of that emerald. Timothee wore a sparkly Haider Ackermann suit and jewelry by Cartier.

Zendaya attends the red carpet of the movie 'Dune' at the 78th Venice International Film Festival

Cynthia Erivo in Schiaparelli Fall 2021 Haute Couture at the Dune premiere. That moment when Jiffy Pop IS the look.

Embed from Getty Images

Penélope Cruz in Chanel. Honestly, one of the best Chanel gowns I’ve seen in a while, and one of the best looks I’ve seen on Penelope in a while.

COMPETENCIA OFICIAL Red Carpet during the 78th Venice International Film Festival

Dakota Johnson in Gucci at The Lost Daughter premiere. I’m an undercover Dakota stan and I think this is kind of a snooze on her. She looks amazing in rich colors and this stringy metallic look is just kind of blah on her.

The Lost Daughter red carpet, 78th Venice International Film Festival, Italy - 04 Sep 2021

Kate Hudson in Valentino at the Mona Lisa And The Blood Moon premiere. I hate this and I hate that designers are doing these vintage-negligee looks.

78th Venice Film Festival, Red carpet of film Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon, Venice, Italy

Anya Taylor-Joy in hot pink Dior at the Last Night in Soho premiere. I get what Anya was going for – vintage, creepy bubble-gum – but I kind of feel like this could have and should have been a lot different for Venice specifically.

Last Night in Soho red carpet, 78th Venice International Film Festival, Italy - 04 Sep 2021

Cynthia Erivo in Valentino at the Last Night In Soho premiere. I actually kind of like this.

LAST NIGHT IN SOHO Red Carpet during the 78th Venice International Film Festival

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Getty.

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44 Responses to “Zendaya in Balmain & Bulgari at the Venice ‘Dune’ premiere: completely stunning?”

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  1. Tanguerita says:

    Erivo’s arms are goaaaaaaaals.

    • North of Boston says:

      Yes!

      But her platforms in that first look make me angry… they do not fit her, which makes it look dangerous and not in a good way, plus distracts from the lines of the look.

      Stylists and footwear designers, do better!

  2. Jezz says:

    Kind of embarrassing to try and make a major statement by wearing neon pink, only to have another person wear the exact same shade. 🙁

  3. Jezz says:

    Re Zendaya. THIS is precisely what Kim K tried to do at the Met with her greasy-haired cinched waist thing. THIS is the mermaid perfection the designer sought. Wow, this body, this dress, and this young woman are perfection here!

    • AEvaJohnson says:

      This was my first thought too!

    • SM says:

      Ha. You are so right. And it did work beautifuly on Zendaya, this is exactly what Kim in her delluded mind thought she looked like.
      As for Cynthia Erivo’s in Schiaparelli look – looks like she got entangled in some tin foil.
      Also I kind of was hoping for an entire post on the Dune cast, because that’s one good looking cast. My forever crush Oscar Isaac.

    • minx says:

      I didn’t initially pick up on that but you’re right. Trashy Kim or the sublime Zendaya? No comparison.

    • (TheOG) Jan90067 says:

      I’m not loving the “draping” in the bust area, makes it look like it doesn’t fit “right” to me…like it’s bunching. The rest… pure perfection!
      AND THAT EMERALD!!!!!!!!!! GIMMEGIMMEGIMME!!!!

      • Delphine says:

        The draping makes it look sculpted. She looks like an Ancient Greek or Roman goddess come to life.

  4. Roo says:

    When is Zendaya not stunning? She always looks amazing and can pull off so many styles.

  5. CROOKSNNANNIES says:

    Zendaya is my girl crush and style icon, but when I see that dress it makes me think of throwing pots in art class- and how your hands get caked in the wet clay and then get all dry under your nails and it’s gross. I also don’t like the emeralds with the weird shade of beige/brown for some reason. However, she’s pulling it off in a way no one else could.

    Re: Dakota. I don’t have strong feelings on Dakota in general as a person (as an actress I’ve only ever seen her in timid, awkward, diffident roles and they’re eh) but I think she looks so glamorous here! And I don’t even really care for sheer or fringe. But I think this really elevates her.

    Re: Kate Hudson. The dress is a mess but her boobs look incredible. I have mixed feelings about cosmetic surgery done outside of reconstruction, etc., but she chose a great size that’s very proportional with her figure.

    • North of Boston says:

      RE Kate Hudson, that dress is not only awful, it is awful for Venice and awful for her.

      It manages to make lace look hot and suffocating, the color does not complement KH and there is way too much of it in busyness, volume-wise, acreage-wise and covering her from chin to wrist to floor.

    • BeanieBean says:

      Dakota’s dress reminds me of something Bob Mackie would have made for Cher, except Cher would have worn it with a coordinating headdress.

      • (TheOG) Jan90067 says:

        OMG THAT was my first thought, too! I thought that was *why* Cher is trending today!!! lolol

  6. Keats says:

    Cynthia always seems like she has the most fun in her red carpet looks. Sometimes I dont know if I like them, but I love that she loves them

  7. Eurydice says:

    Zendaya is very “Dune” with the beige and the draping and the giant snaky jewel – I love it.

  8. Exg729 says:

    I think Zendaya’s and Timothee’s looks are a nod at their Dune characters, and I really like that.

  9. Lightpurple says:

    Zendaya looks sensational but she also looks like she’s about to devour Timothee Chalamet and his priest outfit whole

    • Digital Unicorn says:

      LOL – oh yes, she’s a beautiful young woman and this dress and overall styling really showcase that. Am looking forward to seeing her in Dune, thou not sure how big her part will be (based on the book she doesn’t appear till the 2nd half of the story).

  10. Giddy says:

    Zendaya looks incredible here, and never seems to get victimized by designers. Anya Taylor-Joy’s dress is terrible. It reminds me of an awful bridesmaid’s dress paired with her fascinator that looks like a wad of bubblegum landed on her head. I love that the designers showed such fabulous looks for Venice!

    • Myra says:

      She always looks really good, doesn’t she? I’m wondering if she’s the kind of person that can wear just about anything or if her stylist is always on-point.

  11. North of Boston says:

    DJ can wear a dress, but honestly that looks like she’s auditioning to replace Gal Godot in Wonder Woman:1977.

    Like at any moment she’s going to tear off the drippy silvery top dress, grow magical cuffs and footwear and fly off to save Donna Summer and Liza Minnelli from terrorists.

  12. dea says:

    So much pretty in that first pic, damn. Zendaya is stunning and Timothee is just so beautiful to look at. Both gorgeous, stylish and classy ppl. I know he’s one of the hosts of the MET but I wonder if she’ll attend too.

    I love Anya but that look is tragic.

    Dakota is such a bland actress but she always kills it on the red carpet, wow!

    Loooove Cynthia Erivo but those outfits…meh.

  13. Merricat says:

    I dislike Kate Hudson’s dress, and Anya Taylor-Joy’s dress (ATJ looks like she’s going to prom). I wish Dakota’s dress was not colorless. Penélope looks great, Zendaya looks magnificent, Cynthia looks like she’s having fun (and she never bores me).
    I also hate the negligee-as-formalwear. It’s so lazy, and often unsuccessful.

  14. Barbie1 says:

    I love Zendaya’s look. That’s the kind of glamour I want to see on the red carpet. The emerald is to die for. Timothee should not be as thin as Zendaya. The least he could do is eat something and workout more. Think of your fans lol

    • dea says:

      He doesn’t need to work out if he doesn’t want to. He’s not that kind of actor anyway. Kind of a breath of fresh air to see a skinny guy who doesn’t pose with his shirt off enjoy the success he’s enjoying. I mean on one hand we want the public and the HW execs to stop demanding actresses to look stick thin and on the other we ask actors to hit the gym to please their fans? Um yeah, that ain’t it.

  15. FilmTurtle says:

    She looks amazing, as always. And in style with the movie.

    How tall are Z and Timothee supposed to be? All I can see are the heels/lifts in his shoes. I guess she would have towered over him otherwise.

    • lol says:

      You must be a Tomdaya shipper, they’ve been on poor Timmy all weekend. His boots are Haider Ackermann, they have some heel (like an inch?) but no lifts lmao. He’s a tall guy, he doesn’t need lifts.

      No need to feel threatened Tomdayas, he and Tom are good friends. He’s not after Zendaya, no reason for Tomdaya stans to go after him lol

      • FilmTurtle says:

        Ha, no, I’m not a shipper. Just an observation (I’m an armchair student of the smoke and mirrors behind fashion). Usually, when the arch of the foot is so prominent it means the guy is wearing lifts. She’d be towering over him in those heels if he didn’t have extra lift, and I guess the MaleStar can’t be seen as shorter than The Woman.

    • North of Boston says:

      5’ 9” and 5’ 10” according to a quick search of the Interwebs. I don’t see any lift action for TC, just regular boot heels, but Z’s wearing 3-4” heels.

      @lol, doesn’t seem to be necessary be throwing stan assumptions/accusations around to FT’s question.

      • lol says:

        He’s actually 5’ 10” – 5’ 11” and he’s got an awful posture, always slouching.

        The reason I mentioned the shippers is because I’ve seen EXACTLY the same lifts shade from them about Tim on twitter. A bunch of Tomdayas have been shitting on him all weekend when all he’s doing is promoting his movie where he is *lead* It’s not his fault they’ve paired him up with Zendaya for the promo, I mean they’re the most popular out of the cast and the youngest so that makes sense.

        Look how the guy was scared to even put his arm around her for pics. He’s always praising Tom in interviews so you know he’s not a threat to Tomdaya but the shippers are acting like he all he wants is to get in her pants. Like two people of the opposite sex *can* be friends, y’know?

    • Naomi says:

      As for SpidermanTom, he’s 3 inches shorter than Zendaya who may/may not be his gf. He is very cute and seems to find the press attention comical.

      This Tom Holland quote makes me think that Timothy is prob not 5 feet 10in either. He doesn’t look it.

      “Tom confirmed his height in his audition for Spider-Man. But he also admitted often fabricates how tall he is. He mentioned: “You have to give a brief summary of who you are and say how tall you are. Every actor lies, so I told them I am 5ft 10in!”

      • lol says:

        @Naomi Well according to the height requirements for his doubles on two of his movies (the one with JLaw and the new one with Guadagnino) Tim is 5’ 10” – 5’ 11” so nah, he’s definitely over 5’10.

        @FilmTurtle lol sure Jan.

  16. Lucy2 says:

    Zendaya is perfection. She is truly someone who always looks amazing and can make pretty much any fashion work.

    I hate kate Hudson’s look. Like full on hate it.
    Not sure about Dakota’s.
    Cynthia makes some odd choices, but seems to have fun with it.
    Penelope’s is nice but kind of a snooze, and I say that is someone who generally likes simple, elegant dresses.

  17. MsIam says:

    I don’t like any of them including Zendaya’s dress. It’s just another one of her clingy dresses with a thigh high slit that she wears over and over. She’s gorgeous but to me she always looks the same. I like Penelope’s dress the best but even it looks kind of boring and bridesmaid-y.

  18. Sof says:

    I realized I’m getting old when the first thing I noticed from Dune’s premiere was Timothee’s posture. Same Tim, same. Also, noticed Anya has her mouth open all the time.
    I loved that dress on Zendaya, not sure about the necklace.
    Really liked Dakota’s dress in motion.
    I must be the only one, I found Hudson’s dress ok but maybe in another colour it would work better.

  19. Coco says:

    I would love to see Dune on the big screen, but if COVID numbers in my area keep me away I’ll probably still order a ticket online to support it.

  20. Debbie says:

    I was all set to say something about Zendaya’s too pale dress, very strong eye make up and hair which just screams for attention. Zendaya usually knows what suits her & usually looks good but this one is a miss for me. I was set to put a thumbs-down on Zendaya until I saw Cynthia Erivo’s Jiffy Pop look. Oh dear, that woman always tries SO HARD. Bless her.

    While trying to get the aftertaste of Cynthia’s look from my mouth, I saw her Big Bird look & my mouth actually dropped open. She’s crying out for help at this point.

  21. L4Frimaire says:

    Zendaya looks amazing. Grown an and sexy in that gown. I can’t stand hot pink so both Cynthia Erivo and Anya Taylor Joy look ridiculous, like they’re wearing costumes. Erivo’s solar blanket looks ridiculous as well. I’m not a fan, so. Don’t mind Kate Hudson’s Valentino.I like it.

  22. Queen Anne says:

    Zendaya is pure perfection and this gown is stunning on her!

  23. Duhno says:

    Zendaya looking like a stunner, this is becoming a common streak.