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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Lifestyle
Claudia Cockerell

The best dressed stars on the London Film Festival red carpet (and the weirdest outfits)

Mia Goth attends the Headline Gala screening of "Frankenstein" during the 69th BFI London Film Festival at The Royal Festival Hall - (Dave Benett)

Every film festival has its signature style. At Cannes it’s a strict black tie dress code (see-through or excessively voluminous gowns are banned — far too déclassé), while Venice is more relaxed: stars usually grace the carpet sporting something more avant-garde paired with sunglasses and a light sheen of perspiration. Telluride in Colorado is all self-consciously casual, with celebs showing that really they’re just like us in their old denim jackets and big autumnal jumpers.

At the London Film Festival, anything goes. The red carpet has been rolled out on the Southbank, and born witness to everything from Barry Keoghan’s baggy jeans to Greta Gerwig’s ultimate power suit. Here are the best dressed celebs so far — and the strangest.

The best dressed celebs at the London Film Festival

The naked dress trend lived to see another day (désolé, Cannes), as sported to perfection by Mia Goth in a powdery violet chiffon dress from London’s hottest designer, Conner Ives.

Ayo Edibiri looked like an Ancient Greek statue in a slippery white satin Chanel gown, while Elle Fanning nailed the oft-maligned dress and trousers look courtesy of Simone Rocha.

Meanwhile, Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott swapped suits for leather, joining many stars dressed in head-to-toe black. This only made Sir Ian Mckellen’s rainbow-coloured knitted scarf all the more joyous.

Elle Fanning attends the Headline Gala screening of Sentimental Value during the 69th BFI London Film Festival (Dave Benett/WireImage)
Ayo Edebiri attends the Headline Gala screening of After The Hunt during the 69th BFI London Film Festival (Dave Benett)
Josh O'Connor attends the Headline Gala screening of The Mastermind during the 69th BFI London Film Festival (Dave Benett/WireImage)
Mia Goth attends the Headline Gala screening of Frankenstein during the 69th BFI London Film Festival (Dave Benett/WireImage)
Paul Mescal attends a screening of Hamnet during the 69th BFI London Film Festival (Dave Benett/WireImage)
Greta Gerwig attends the Headline Gala screening of Jay Kelly during the 69th BFI London Film Festival (Dave Benett)
Sir Ian McKellen attends a screening of The Choral during the 69th BFI London Film Festival (Dave Benett/WireImage)
Andra Day attends the Headline Gala screening of Is This Thing On? during the 69th BFI London Film Festival (Laura Rose/Dave Benett/WireImage)
Andrew Scott attends a screening of Hamnet during the 69th BFI London Film Festival (Dave Benett/WireImage)
Imogen Poots attends a screening of The Chronology Of Water during The 69th BFI London Film Festival (Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireIma)
Mari Yamamoto attends the Gala screening of Rental Family during The 69th BFI London Film Festival (Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImage)
Mila Kunis attends the Opening Gala screening of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery during the 69th BFI London Film Festival (Dave Benett)
Julia Roberts attends the Headline Gala screening of After The Hunt during the 69th BFI London Film Festival (Dave Benett/WireImage)

... And the strangest looks

It’s not a no, but we are intrigued by Claire Foy’s decision to dress as a very opaque trapezoid. Meanwhile, Barry Keoghan pitched up to Hamnet in baggy jeans and box-fresh white trainers looking like someone’s reluctant younger brother who was dragged along to a family friend’s party.

There was something very Theresa May about Kirsten Dunst’s red jacket and houndstooth trouser combination, while Jeremy Strong’s olive green corduroy baseball cap was possibly one olive green corduroy item too far.

Bradley Cooper’s look was in dire need of an iron, and Ben Mendehlson in a powdery blue faux fur coat with his pet chihuahua? What the hell, sure.

Claire Foy attends the Headline Gala screening of H Is For Hawk during the 69th BFI London Film Festival (Dave Benett)
Barry Keoghan attends a screening of Hamnet during the 69th BFI London Film Festival (Dave Benett/WireImage)
Kirsten Dunst attends the Headline Gala screening of Roofman during the 69th BFI London Film Festival (Dave Benett)
Jeremy Strong attends the Headline Gala screening of Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere during the 69th BFI London Film Festival (Laura Rose/Dave Benett/WireImage)
Bradley Cooper attends the Headline Gala screening of Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere during the 69th BFI London Film Festival (Laura Rose/Dave Benett/WireImage)
Ben Mendelsohn attends the Headline Gala screening of Roofman during the 69th BFI London Film Festival (Laura Rose/Dave Benett/WireImage)

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