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How Lady Gaga is championing the ‘demure and mindful’ TikTok trend at Venice Film Festival

Lady Gaga’s dramatic Dior ensemble was very demure, very mindful.

Lady Gaga won style icon of the night at the Venice Film Festival
Gaga poses in black Dior gown at Venice film festival Lady Gaga won style icon of the night at the Venice Film Festival (Alamy Stock Photo)

Lady Gaga won best dressed at the Venice Film Festival last night with her new sophisticated and “demure” style. The star made her red carpet debut with fiancé, Michael Polansky.

2Y12491 VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 04: Lady Gaga and Michael Polansky attends the “Joker: Folie a Deux” red carpet during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 04, 2024 in Venice, Italy. Credit: Matteo Chinellato/Alamy Live News
2Y12491 VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 04: Lady Gaga and Michael Polansky attends the “Joker: Folie a Deux” red carpet during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 04, 2024 in Venice, Italy. Credit: Matteo Chinellato/Alamy Live News (Alamy Stock Photo)

Gaga, 38, was celebrating Todd Phillips’ musical sequel, ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’, in which she plays Harley Quinn with her co-star Joaquin Phoenix. The film earned an 11-minute standing ovation at the festival.

2Y12076 Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga und Todd Phillips bei der Premiere des Kinofilms ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’ auf der Biennale di Venezia 2024 / 81. Internationale Filmfestspiele von Venedig im Palazzo del Cinema. Venedig, 04.09.2024
2Y12076 Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga und Todd Phillips bei der Premiere des Kinofilms ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’ auf der Biennale di Venezia 2024 / 81. Internationale Filmfestspiele von Venedig im Palazzo del Cinema. Venedig, 04.09.2024 (Alamy Stock Photo)

Gaga wore two Dior gowns on Wednesday, which were appropriately glamorous and avant-garde.

Her red carpet look was a voluminous black Dior gown with a plunging neckline, dropline waist and a concertina-like skirt. The pièce de résistance however, was her two-pronged Philip Treacy lace headpiece.

2Y124EF VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 04: Lady Gaga attends the “Joker: Folie a Deux” red carpet during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 04, 2024 in Venice, Italy. Credit: Matteo Chinellato/Alamy Live News
2Y124EF VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 04: Lady Gaga attends the “Joker: Folie a Deux” red carpet during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 04, 2024 in Venice, Italy. Credit: Matteo Chinellato/Alamy Live News (Alamy Stock Photo)

Gaga accessorised the look with Tiffany & Co. jewellery and her go-to platform boots, which peeked out from beneath her dress.

The star’s sumptuously sartorial and sophisticated look undoubtedly channelled the “very demure, very mindful” trend of the moment. Gaga wore two of Princess Diana’s favourite designers – who is an iconic source of inspiration for the trend.

Princess Diana’s love for Christian Dior led to the brand naming ‘The Lady Dior’ bag after her
Princess Diana’s love for Christian Dior led to the brand naming ‘The Lady Dior’ bag after her

Alongside Gaga’s Dior gowns, her lace headpiece was made by royal milliner Philip Treacy, who has not only dressed the likes of Diana and the current Princess of Wales, but infamously made Princess Beatrice’s ‘pretzel’ ribbon headpiece for Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding.

Princess Beatrice wore a blush taupe fascinator by the Irish milliner to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in 2011
Princess Beatrice wore a blush taupe fascinator by the Irish milliner to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in 2011 (Alamy Stock Photo)

Gaga wore a more subtle Dior look prior to the red carpet – perhaps more in keeping with classic royal looks. The star wore a square-necked, long-sleeve black velvet midi dress with a small matching beret.

Gaga kept it simple and sophisticated in anticipation for her red carpet look
Gaga kept it simple and sophisticated in anticipation for her red carpet look (Alamy Stock Photo)

The haute couture look was a perfect canvas to allow her colossal new engagement ring to pop.

Fans first spotted Gaga’s engagement ring in April 2024
Fans first spotted Gaga’s engagement ring in April 2024 (Alamy Stock Photo)

Gaga is not the only star to channel the “demure” trend at this year’s Venice Film Festival however. Lesley Manville, 68, was the epitome of elegance in a custom Loewe gown.

Manville kept the look chic and refined with brushed back hair and gold jewellery
Manville kept the look chic and refined with brushed back hair and gold jewellery (Alamy Stock Photo)

The gold silk was draped meticulously whilst looking totally effortless, transforming Manville into a Grecian goddess.

Actor Amy Ryan, 56, who walked the red carpet for her new film, ‘Wolfs’, offered a refreshingly feminine take on the demure trend. Amid a sea of dark hue, Ryan stepped out in a soft pink Alexis Mabille Couture gown.

Ryan’s bubble-gum pink gown brought a lightness to the otherwise sombre carpet
Ryan’s bubble-gum pink gown brought a lightness to the otherwise sombre carpet (Alamy Stock Photo)

The gown consisted of a dramatic pleated bodice and a perfect peplum that framed her silhouette delicately, but with flair. Ryan styled the dress with a Judith Leiber pink clutch and silver Jimmy Choo sandals.

Whilst some have leant into this subdued fashion trend, others have gone brilliantly bold with colour, print and sparkle.

Sveva Alviti channelled JLo’s green Grammy Award Versace dress of 2000
Sveva Alviti channelled JLo’s green Grammy Award Versace dress of 2000 (Alamy Stock Photo)

Italian actor Sveva Alviti, 40, wore a lime green Gucci gown with a plunging pleated neckline and flowing ombre trains. Alviti may be suggesting that brat summer isn’t over just yet – brat girl autumn anyone?

Julianne Moore, 63, embodied liquid gold in a Bottega Veneta sparkling ensemble while attending the ‘Room Next Door’ premiere on Monday.

Moore beamed in her bright long sleeved gown
Moore beamed in her bright long sleeved gown (Alamy Stock Photo)

Dubbed the queen of colour on the red carpet, Moore’s vibrant yellow gown suited her perfectly. The star complimented the look with a sleek low ponytail and minimal make-up with an autumnal bronze eye.

Another star to showcase that summer isn’t quite over was French actor Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, 61, who wore a bold crimson and white floral Erdem dress.

Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu proved summer isn’t over yet with her white floral midi dress
Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu proved summer isn’t over yet with her white floral midi dress (Alamy Stock Photo)

The dress’s plunging neckline and midi cut planted it firmly in the summer season. Beaulieu’s bright florals injected texture and vibrancy into an otherwise neutral and “demure” array of red carpet looks.

Let’s hope this is a sign of some late September sun.