Venice Biennale Street Style Gives Fashion Week A Run For Its Money

Venice’s status as one of the world’s most astoundingly beautiful cities is universally acknowledged, but for all its awe-inspiring architecture and that decidedly chic lifestyle, it isn’t exactly considered Italy’s most fashion forward. And look, it makes total sense – while wandering its maze of narrow alleys, decadent carved stone bridges and resplendent piazzas is magical, it’s also a physical feat of endurance. Uber ain’t a thing in this carless town, you’ll probably have to remortgage if you spend the week boat taxiing around, and the vaporetti never run to their already pretty sparse schedule. Basically, it’s a place where you get dressed to hit some of the highest daily step counts your Health app has seen, rather than for the sake of pulling a look.

The opening of the Venice Biennale is the exception. If you’re not familiar with the event, it’s essentially the world’s biggest and best art show, taking place every two years. The Biennale sees the global art world descend on La Serenissima for a week of hotel bar aperitivi, palazzo-held dinners, decadent boat parties and, if time allows, to see a bit of art – and boy do they bring their looks with them to do so. A dinner party I attended at the Palazzo Soranzo van Axel in honour of the Su Xiaobai Foundation, for example, featured so many tight-faced attendees in resplendent sequined gowns and tailored brocade dresses that I almost considered upping and leaving out of “look shame” before they’d served the first course.

The art crowd is a notoriously style savvy one, and, over the week, Venice’s cobbled pavements brim with inspiration. Statement sneakers, louche tailoring and sharp midi-skirts resulted in outfits that exuded an instinctually cool sensibility (rather anything too stuffy, as the context of the Biennale itself can be). Over the course of the opening, Venice-based photographer Camilla Glorioso wandered town with her camera in hand, capturing some of the most striking yet effortless looks. See the best outfits below.