Barbara Palvin's 9 Years on the Venice Red Carpet: Couture Gowns, But Often Budget-Friendly Shoes
Since her first Venice red carpet appearance in 2016, Barbara Palvin's gowns have largely come from Armani's couture ateliers, yet her feet often tell a different story with affordable brands like Betsey Johnson and Aldo. This contrast has become her red carpet signature.
Since Barbara Palvin first walked the Venice Film Festival red carpet in 2016, her gown list has consistently featured haute couture names like Armani Privé and Giorgio Armani—as an Armani Beauty ambassador, it's only natural that most of her dresses come from the brand. But shift your gaze downward, and her shoe choices often break away from this logic, alternating between budget-friendly and luxury picks, forming the most honest part of her red carpet styling.
On August 27, 2025, at the opening night red carpet of the 82nd Venice Film Festival, Palvin appeared in a black lace gown custom-made by Intimissimi, paired with Betsey Johnson's Nikki ankle-strap heels. This black cutout style featured beaded embroidery covering a mesh upper, with a stiletto heel and pointed toe—understated in design, yet echoing the texture of the lace gown.
From Aldo to Possibly Saint Laurent: Her Shoe Closet Isn't All Couture
On September 1, 2023, at the "Poor Things" premiere, she opted for another all-black look—an asymmetrically cut Giorgio Armani gown with a prominently high slit, paired with Aldo's Stessy 2.0 Pillow Walk pointed-toe heels in black patent leather, featuring a low vamp and a straight heel—a style so classic it bordered on plain. Before stepping onto the red carpet, she even walked out barefoot, shoes in hand, only slipping them on right before entering the frame.
Rewinding to August 31, 2016, at the 73rd festival, she appeared in a white crochet maxi dress by Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini, featuring long sleeves and ruffle details paired with an embellished belt. That year's black heels had a stiletto so slender it bordered on dramatic, with thick suede ankle straps wrapping around—a design language strikingly reminiscent of Saint Laurent.
Laying out these three years side by side, Palvin's red carpet logic becomes clear: the gown tells the story, the shoes do the walking. From Betsey Johnson and Aldo to possibly Saint Laurent, she's never insisted her shoes match the same brand tier as her gowns—and this asymmetry is exactly what keeps her red carpet looks feeling effortless rather than calculated.
