Penélope Cruz in Custom Chanel for the ‘Bunker’ Venice Premiere

Penélope Cruz returned to the Venice Film Festival red carpet for the Bunker premiere following the film’s photocall earlier in the day.

We have been screaming for years for Penélope to return to the kind of form that leaves us breathless, and here it is.

Finally, a Chanel creative director has created a custom look for the Spanish actress that feels worthy of Penélope Cruz at a major film festival. Matthieu Blazy, I thank you.

The red is sensational, but this isn’t simply a case of relying on colour. The fitted bodice, fringed peplum and thigh-high split give Penélope a silhouette that feels sexy, sophisticated and unmistakably her.

You’ll also note that her co-star Patrick Schwarzenegger wore red for the premiere. Considering Patrick plays a young author who becomes friendly with Penélope’s character, Sofia, as her marriage to Javier Bardem’s Miguel comes under strain, perhaps the matching colour wasn’t entirely a coincidence.

You might feel there is something familiar about Penélope’s custom gown, and that is because it takes its colour, peplum embellished with crocheted flowers and beads, and three jewelled buttons from a suit in the Chanel Fall 2026 collection.

After so many years of wanting more from this partnership, I feel like I can confidently say that this is one of Penélope’s best custom Chanel looks, if not the best.

Red Gianvito Rossi pumps and Chanel High Jewellery, including diamond earrings from the ‘Reach For The Stars’ collection, completed her look.

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