Emma Stone has long been a cinematic chameleon, but her recent appearance at the Venice Film Festival marked a striking evolution—both in style and substance. After a seven-year hiatus from the storied event, Stone stepped onto the Venetian stage with her longest and most dynamic hair in months, captivating paparazzi and fashion critics alike. Yet, it wasn’t just her luminous locks that stole the spotlight. Stone’s presence, alongside acclaimed director Yorgos Lanthimos for the debut of their latest film Bugonia, signaled a multifaceted return: a sartorial masterclass, a candid reckoning with physical transformation, and a philosophical musing on identity and extraterrestrial belief.
A Hair Moment That Defines the Season
Venice has always been synonymous with cinematic glamour, but Emma Stone’s hair made headlines for its sheer exuberance. Glossy, extended, and styled with a pronounced side part, her look was a departure from recent, more restrained cuts. The “flippiest” effect—a term both playful and precise—evoked a sense of movement and freedom, suggesting Stone’s own evolution within and beyond Hollywood’s beauty standards.
Such a hair transformation is more than a seasonal change; it’s a statement. In an era where actresses are scrutinized for every follicle, Stone’s choice underscores agency and experimentation. The side part, paired with her signature coppery hue, framed her face elegantly under oversized black sunglasses—balancing old-school glamour with modern edge.
Style Notes: A Masterclass in Modern Glamour
Stone’s Venice ensemble was a study in contrasts and cohesion. Her choice of a halter-neck black look—cinched at the waist and paired with a delicate lace skirt—spoke to both drama and sophistication. The outfit, completed by strappy black sandals and a gold arm cuff, channeled Grecian undertones while remaining resolutely contemporary.
Accessories played a pivotal role. The gold arm cuff—a nod perhaps to Venetian opulence—added a sculptural accent, while the strappy sandals grounded the look in urban chic. The overall effect was effortless but calculated: a balance between high fashion and accessible style, echoing Stone’s reputation for sartorial intelligence.
Off-Duty Chic: The Rise of the Toe-Ring Sandal
Earlier in the week, Emma Stone was spotted in Venice with her husband, Dave McCary, embracing a travel-ready aesthetic. She paired a black V-neck sweater with dark wash denim and the season’s surprise hit—toe-ring sandals. This casual yet polished look demonstrated Stone’s versatility and eye for emerging trends.
The toe-ring sandal, recently popularized by Stone’s friend Jennifer Lawrence, speaks to a revival of early-aughts nostalgia filtered through a contemporary lens. Its practicality and subversive minimalism contrast sharply with Stone’s red carpet flair, reinforcing the notion that true style lies in adaptability. Whether arriving for press or traveling incognito, Stone’s wardrobe choices communicate intentionality and quiet rebellion.
Venice: A Homecoming Seven Years in the Making
This year’s festival appearance marked Stone’s first in Venice since 2018, when she attended for Lanthimos’s critically acclaimed The Favourite. The gap underscores both her selectivity and her shifting priorities as an artist. Stone’s return, in partnership with Lanthimos, signals a creative synergy that has defined some of her most compelling performances.
Venice itself acts as more than just backdrop—it’s a crucible for transformation. The city’s labyrinthine canals and gothic facades mirror Stone’s own journey: circuitous, layered, and steeped in history. Her presence at the festival reaffirms her place within the global cinematic conversation, while hinting at new chapters to come.
Corsets and Consequence: The Physical Toll of Period Drama
Stone’s candid reflections on the physical aftermath of filming The Favourite offer a rare glimpse into the occupational hazards of costume drama. In interviews with Vogue and Graham Norton, Stone described the lasting effects of wearing restrictive corsets—how they “shift your organs after a while” and alter one’s body shape for weeks.
Her personal anecdotes are both humorous and sobering. Describing her rib cage as “large,” Stone recounted the difficulty of breathing in the constrictive garment, yet paradoxically noted an “unusual ability” to hold her breath underwater—an accidental byproduct of this physical challenge. She reframed the experience as a “gift,” while voicing empathy for the generations of women subjected to such fashion dictates: “For the first month, I couldn’t breathe.”
This honesty invites a broader conversation about the intersection of fashion, history, and embodiment. Stone’s willingness to discuss the corporeal realities behind period glamour pushes beyond surface-level beauty, interrogating what it means to inhabit roles—both cinematic and societal—that demand discomfort for the sake of art.
Bugonia: Alien Narratives and the Nature of Identity
Bugonia, Stone’s latest collaboration with Lanthimos, premiered at Venice on August 28 and is set for theatrical release on October 24. The film’s premise is as audacious as its title: Stone plays a CEO kidnapped by conspiracy theorists who are convinced she is an extraterrestrial sent to destroy Earth.
At the press conference, Stone leaned into the film’s metaphysical provocations. “I’m coming out and saying it—I believe in aliens,” she declared, blurring the line between performance and personal conviction. This admission, delivered with characteristic wit, became a springboard for deeper reflection. When asked about navigating success “without turning into an alien,” Stone quipped, “How do you know I’m not an alien?”
Her humor belied a more serious meditation on identity. Stone acknowledged the tension between her public persona and the private self—“both being real but managed differently to keep [herself] sane.” The remark hints at the pressures of fame, and the necessity of compartmentalization in an industry that demands visibility yet punishes vulnerability.
The Shifting Landscape of Celebrity and Self
Stone’s Venice narrative is emblematic of a broader trend: the renegotiation of celebrity identity in the age of omnipresent media. Her ability to oscillate between high fashion and understated travel looks, to speak openly about physical hardship and existential wonder, marks her as one of the most self-aware and adaptive figures in contemporary culture.
This duality—public spectacle and private reality—defines the modern star. Stone’s reflections on alienation and authenticity are not merely promotional soundbites; they are invitations to reconsider what it means to be visible, to be real, and to be resilient.
Conclusion: Emma Stone’s Enduring Allure and the Future of Iconic Presence
Emma Stone’s return to the Venice Film Festival was more than a comeback; it was a reassertion of artistic and personal agency. From her flippiest hair to her nuanced commentary on identity and embodiment, Stone continues to challenge, inspire, and redefine the contours of modern celebrity.
As Bugonia heads towards its October release, the conversation Stone has sparked—about style, selfhood, and otherworldly possibility—offers a blueprint for navigating fame with grace and wit. In an industry that often celebrates surface over substance, Stone’s Venice appearance serves as a reminder that true icons are those who dare to reveal their complexities, both on and off the screen.
