8 Ways to Freak a Black-Tie Dress Code, According to the Best-Dressed Men in Venice

The 83rd Venice International Film Festival kicked off last week and hosted some of the most-anticipated premieres of the season over the weekend. In one of the tightest, most stacked slates in recent memory, these included Ink, Danny Boyle’s Rupert Murdoch biopic, Primetime, Robert Pattinson’s much-anticipated Chris Hanson movie, and Martin McDonagh’s latest joint, Wild Horse One, starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell. We’ll have to wait a bit to get eyes on them, but in the meantime there was plenty of action on the red carpet, where a colorful cast of characters, from George Clooney to Noel and Liam Gallagher, absolutely crushed the black-tie dress code. If you have a black-tie event in your future, consider this a primer on eight unconventional ways to do it right.John MalkovichAmong the weekend's best surprises was John Malkovich, rocking a string of elite-tier fits, the biggest of which was a Dior ensemble featuring a wide peak-lapel suit over an Elizabethan-style shirt with a ruffled collar. There was also a Bode getup including a shawl-collar dinner jacket, a retro-print shirt, and a pair of kilim mules from LA’s King Kennedy. Both looks reflected his quirky persona and offer a prime example for anyone looking to take a similarly big swing at a formal event. In such cases, there’s only one rule to follow: own it.John Malkovich in Dior at the Wild Horse Nine premiere. picture alliance/Getty ImagesNoel and Liam GallagherThe brothers Gallagher were in town to promote a doc about their reunion tour, titled (what else?) Look Back in Anger, sporting matching scowls and dueling takes on high-low for the film’s Saturday premiere. Dressing down for a gala might seem simple, but it’s far more complicated than swapping your tuxedo trousers for a pair of jeans or wearing sneakers instead of shiny leather shoes. In this case, Liam and Noel circumvented the stuffiness of black-tie with ensembles that hit the perfect balance of tailoring (Liam’s tuxedo jacket; Noel’s patent leather Oxfords), workwear (their monochrome tees), and sportswear (Liam’s Loewe espadrilles).Noel and Liam Gallagher at the Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger premiere. Maria Moratti/Getty ImagesGeorge ClooneyThe Cloon abides. For the last thirty years, give or take, George Clooney has been synonymous with a specific look: a classic suit in a solid color (usually grey, black, or navy) with a crisp white shirt open at the neck and understated black leather shoes. Perfectly tailored, immune to trends, and as unwavering as the Swiss franc, this look helped Clooney retain his title as one of Hollywood’s best-dressed leading men for decades. In Venice to pick up his Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, he stuck to the script. And why shouldn’t he? With a firm grasp of how a suit should fit, and a well-established personal style, Clooney remains the embodiment of stylish self-assurance.George Clooney at a photocall for the Golden Lion For Lifetime Achievement. Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty ImagesRobert PattinsonIn case you haven’t noticed, R. Pat is on a bit of a heater at the moment, filming a Batman sequel and jumping from one praised A24 project to the next while serving as a spokesmodel for the likes of Dior and Jaeger-LeCoultre. He was in top form at the premiere of Showtime, wearing a wide, white pinstripe Dior suit and a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Hybris Artistica Caliber 184 (price: seven figures). The suit is a vibe, without a doubt, and while it works on Pattinson, it would be a very big swing indeed for anyone else, especially at a black-tie event. For best results, go fashion or go white-on-white, but do both at your peril.Robert Pattinson in Dior at the Primetime screening. JB LacroixJ BalvinThis pajama-fied Venice fit looks hella comfy (which goes a long way when it’s eighty-five and humid, as it was over the weekend) and it’s totally on-brand for Balvin. The suit, which comes directly from the Emporio Armani spring-summer 2026 runway and was worn without a shirt (again, smart), is the opposite of subtle, but neither is he. Pop off, king.J Balvin in Emporio Armani at the Ink screening and opening ceremony. Maria Moratti/Getty ImagesOrlando BloomA chocolate brown tux is a great idea, and it’s hard to imagine anyone looking better in one than Bloom did in this Zegna number. The key here is balance. The brown is unexpected and unconventional, so the tux’s conservative proportions (except for a very slightly flared trouser) keep things from veering too far into high-fashion territory.Orlando Bloom in Zegna at the Bucking Fastard screening. Stefania D'AlessandroJonathan BaileyNot to take anything away from Mr. Malkovich, but this might be the best look of the festival, courtesy of the late, great Giorgio Armani. All of the traditional tuxedo elements—the satin shawl lapels, the bow tie, the patent leather shoes—are represented, but, in the maestro’s typical fashion, they’ve been elevated and re-imagined by deft attention to proportions and fabric. An ovation-worthy performance.Jonathan Bailey in Giorgio Armani at the Ink screening and opening ceremony. Stefania D'AlessandroZo In-SungWe don’t know who designed the Possible Love star’s outfit, but they deserve a heap of praise for nailing the sweet spot between traditional and modern. It’s business up top courtesy of his crisp, white DB dinner jacket, and a party on the bottom thanks to some extremely vibey flares.Zo In-Sung at the screening of Possible Love. STEFANO RELLANDINI/Getty Images