While Venice is known for a lot of glitz and glamour, the Toronto International Film Festival’s claim to fame is that it’s much more relaxed and the red carpet looks reflect that. Attendees are often willing to take a bit of a risk up in Canada, favoring everything from unconventional suiting to shorts and even those certifiably crazy looks that you always wondered how they would translate IRL (or the celebrity equivalent of real life).
Even though the festival is a pretty eclectic mash-up of trends, one running theme we noticed was white. Think flowing separates, LWDs and full-length gowns decorated with black embroidery. The other main takeaway was that if you’re not already familiar with shoe designer Chloe Gosselin, you’d better get acquainted because she’s primed for a bigger following after all the love she got at the festival.
In case you were too preoccupied with New York Fashion Week to catch all the fashion action in Toronto, we’ve got you covered with our slideshow of the best red carpet looks from the festival.
2017 Toronto Film Festival
Grace Jones at the Premiere of Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami
Grace Jones rocked a textured hooded cape over a black dress with a cut-out skirt. The icon accessorized with elbow-length gloves, shades and black peep-toes.
Image: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
Priyanka Chopra at the Premiere of Pahuna: The Little Visitors
Priyanka Chopra went matchy-matchy in a pink plaid Fendi Resort 2018 cropped blazer and pleated skirt. Studded boots capped off the look.
Image: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
Lady Gaga at the Premiere of Gaga: Five Foot Two
Leave it to Lady Gaga to take things to the umpteenth degree. Her custom Lanotta Studio ensemble was comprised of a mixed media pink jacket and shiny bell-bottoms.
Image: J. Merritt/WireImage/Getty Images
Jessica Chastain at the Premiere of Molly's Game
It was a blue Prada gown with teal embellishments and keyhole accent for Jessica Chastain at the premiere.
Image: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
Tatiana Maslany at the Premiere of Stronger
Tatiana Maslany’s burgundy J. Mendel dress included both black embellished trim on the bodice and a ruffled skirt. Rachel Katz jewelry and Aquatalia sandals completed the look.
Image: Rich Fury/Getty Images
Greta Gerwig at the Premiere of Lady Bird
Greta Gerwig sported a colorfully abstract Giorgio Armani Fall 2017 strapless dress with a sheer overlay. Black ankle-strap sandals wrapped things up.
Image: Rich Fury/Getty Images
Margot Robbie at the Premiere of I, Tonya
Margot Robbie brought a little boho to the red carpet in this blue floral Erdem Resort 2018 dress.
Image: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Nicole Kidman at the Premiere of The Upside
Nicole Kidman’s black Oscar de la Renta dress made an impression due to its ruffled accents and flared skirt. She added in diamond jewelry and complementary Jimmy Choo Minny sandals to polish off the outfit.
Image: J. Merritt/WireImage/Getty Images
Ellen Page at the Premiere of The Cured
Ellen Page finished off her black suit with a stark white skinny tie and a patterned pocket square.
Image: Jeremy Chan/Getty Images
Emma Roberts at the Premiere of Who We Are Now
Emma Roberts’ Brandon Maxwell Fall 2017 LWD featured a standout layered collar and cuffs. A Stalvey top-handle case and gemstone embellished Chloe Gosselin Helix black ankle-strap footwear rounded out the look.
Image: George Pimentel/WireImage/Getty Images
Jess Weixler at the Premiere of Who We Are Now
Jess Weixler’s long-sleeve Marni Spring 2017 patterned dress had splashes of blue and green plus a waterfall skirt. Basic black pumps balanced out the outfit.
Image: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
Helen Mirren at the Premiere of The Leisure Seeker
Helen Mirren opted for a purple dress with black floral embroidery decorating the neckline and hem. She worked in cluster earrings, a glitzy bag and fancy footwear to finish off the look.
Image: GP Images/WireImage/Getty Images
Elle Fanning at the Premiere of Mary Shelley
Elle Fanning laced up for the premiere in this pale pink semi-sheer Alexander McQueen dress with waterfall skirt. Diamond earrings that perfectly coordinated with her sparkling sandals amped up the look.
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Maisie Williams at the Premiere of Mary Shelley
The Game of Thrones star capped off her structured red top and shorts from the Emporio Armani Spring 2017 collection with ribbon-wrapped fiery pumps.
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Bel Powley at the Premiere of Mary Shelley
There was a lot going on with Bel Powley’s LWD by Alessandra Rich, from its ruffled collar and cuffs to those lace panels on the sleeves and that black bow. Black ankle-strap pumps punctuated the piece.
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Julianne Moore at the Premiere of Suburbicon
Julianne Moore kept things simple in a crisp ivory Christian Dior coat dress. Those black ankle-strap sandals really stood out against the stark dress.
Image: George Pimentel/WireImage/Getty Images
Nicole Kidman at the Premiere of The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Valentino’s multicolored patterned Resort 2018 collared gown guaranteed Nicole Kidman would turn heads at the premiere. Red velvet Chloe Gosselin sandals that seamlessly tied into her berry lip completed the look.
Image: Rich Fury/Getty Images
Selma Blair at the Premiere of Mom and Dad
Selma Blair played a little peekaboo with a slit of skin showing on her embellished Bottega Veneta black dress. She accessorized by matching her mini metallic clutch with silver ALDO pumps.
Image: J. Countess/WireImage/Getty Images
Dianna Agron at the Premiere of Novitiate
Dianna Agron showed a lot of skin courtesy of this sheer embroidered Christian Dior Fall 2017 gown and corresponding undies. A layered necklace and a black clutch polished things off.
Image: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
Evan Rachel Wood at the Premiere of A Worthy Companion
Evan Rachel Wood scrunched up the sleeves on the blazer of her Stella McCartney Resort 2018 pinstripe suit for a more relaxed vibe. She carted a box clutch and tucked her pants into black boots to wrap up the ensemble.
Image: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
Ruth Wilson at the Premiere of Dark River
Ruth Wilson’s look can best be described as eclectic. With a striped top over a white blouse tucked into a gold foil ruffled skirt all hailing from Johanna Ortiz’s Resort 2018 offering, those black sandals helped balance out the congested outfit.
Image: Jeremy Chan/Getty Images
Kate Mara at the Premiere of Chappaquiddick
Keeping things short, sweet and a tad edgy, Kate Mara rocked a Giambattista Valli Fall 2017 Haute Couture floral dress with a flashy bodice panel. Black accessories rounded out the outfit.
Image: Rich Fury/Getty Images
Angelina Jolie at the Premiere of The Breadwinner
Angelina Jolie opted for an easy-breezy white Givenchy Resort 2018 top with a bit of a train and trousers. Diamond hoop earrings and white pumps completed the look.
Image: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Emma Stone at the Premiere of Battle of the Sexes
Emma Stone also went the stark route in a white Tom Ford dress with gold chain-link straps. A gold clutch and white pumps both by Tom Ford finished things off.
Image: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Sarah Silverman at the Premiere of Battle of the Sexes
Sarah Silverman struck a pose in a nude Galia Lahav halter gown with black floral embroidery. She rounded out the look with a top knot.
Image: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Rachel Weisz at the Premiere of Disobedience
Rachel Weisz’s white Dolce & Gabbana was jazzed up by black lace embroidery. Delicate drop earrings were all it took to wrap up the look.
Image: Tara Ziemba/WireImage/Getty Images
Rachel McAdams at the Premiere of Disobedience
The seafoam green color of Rachel McAdams’ lacy Elie Saab Resort 2018 ruffled gown made it a standout. A selection of silver rings and a berry lip punctuated the piece.
Image: Tara Ziemba/WireImage/Getty Images
Kate Winslet at the Premiere of The Mountain Between Us
It was a white Badgley Mischka halter dress with black embroidery for Kate Winslet at the premiere. Diamond De Beers jewelry upped the glitz factor.
Image: Rich Fury/Getty Images
Jennifer Lawrence at the Premiere of Mother!
Busy doesn’t even begin to describe Jennifer Lawrence’s black Dolce & Gabbana dress. From the corset bodice with striped ribbon to that heavily embellished skirt, there was a lot to take in.
Image: Michael Tran/Getty Images
Jessica Chastain at the Premiere of Woman Walks Ahead
Jessica Chastain’s red Zuhair Murad Resort 2018 embellished dress perfectly complemented the red carpet. Dazzling gemstone earrings polished off the look.
Image: Rich Fury/Getty Images
Elisabeth Moss at the Premiere of The Square
Elisabeth Moss styled her fuzzy black Rochas short-sleeve sweater with a full red skirt. A red foldover clutch and black embellished Chloe Gosselin ankle-strap heels completed the ensemble.
Image: J. Merritt/WireImage/Getty Images
Chloë Sevigny at the Premiere of Lean on Pete
Chloë Sevigny’s Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood Fall 2017 creation was a bit of a hodgepodge of prints and fabrics. Westwood also supplied the plaid bag and strappy black platform sandals.
Image: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
Alison Brie at the Premiere of The Disaster Artist
Alison Brie was crushing on velvet decked out in this Wolk Morais Spring 2017 black sleeveless minidress. Black sandals with semi-sheer straps capped things off.
Image: Rich Fury/Getty Images
Brie Larson at the Premiere of Unicorn Store
Fittingly for a film called Unicorn Store , Brie Larson selected a colorful Schiaparelli Fall 2017 Haute Couture gown. Her silver sandals complemented the piece’s sash to a T.
Image: George Pimentel/WireImage/Getty Images
Claire Foy at the Premiere of Breathe
Claire Foy slipped on a plush navy silk velvet Tibi bias dress for the premiere. A berry lip and maroon velvet ankle-strap sandals balanced out the look.
Image: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
Angelina Jolie at the Premiere of First They Killed My Father
Angelina Jolie draped herself in a black satin Ralph & Russo Haute Couture dress with an asymmetrical hem. Those matching pumps also came courtesy of Ralph & Russo, while Samer Halimeh was the source of her drop earrings.
Image: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Alicia Vikander at the Premiere of Euphoria
Alicia Vikander once again opted for Louis Vuitton, this time favoring a landscape patterned dress reimagined from the Cruise 2018 collection with black straps and a coordinating bow waist tie. Golden ankle-strap sandals jazzed up the outfit.
Image: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images
Rosamund Pike at the Premiere of Hostiles
Rosamund Pike’s semi-sheer Alexander McQueen Pre-Fall 2017 nude dress turned heads with its colorful embroidery. Her wine-stained lip served as the perfect companion to the eye-catching piece.
Image: J. Merritt/WireImage/Getty Images
Octavia Spencer at the Premiere of The Shape of Water
The lacy sleeves and peplum accent on Octavia Spencer’s black Tadashi Shoji off-the-shoulder dress stole the spotlight, but her fanned earrings still demanded attention. She accessorized with a slim clutch and cagey Steve Madden sandals.
Image: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images
Diane Kruger at the Premiere of In the Fade
Diane Kruger shined in this asymmetric Prabal Gurung silver dress boasting a daring side slit perfect for flaunting those strappy metallic Jimmy Choos. She also carried a corresponding L'Afshar clutch.
Image: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
Carey Mulligan at the Premiere of Mudbound
It was a tweed-accented Chanel black dress for Carey Mulligan wrapped up by the fashion house's signature logo belt. Basic black ankle-strap sandals rounded out the outfit.
Image: George Pimentel/WireImage/Getty Images
Mary J. Blige at the Premiere of Mudbound
Mary J. Blige’s Fall 2017 LBD by Gucci made an impression thanks to its oversized asymmetrical ruffle detail and stark cuffs. Star-patterned Chanel heels with bows finished off the look.
Image: George Pimentel/WireImage/Getty Images
Bella Heathcote at the Premiere of Professor Marston and the Wonder Women
Bella Heathcote was in full bloom at the premiere in a colorful Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2017 dress. The actress accessorized with floral platforms and a denim blue Atelier Swarovski Lurex satin and mesh bag.
Image: Jeremy Chan/Getty Images
Gemma Arterton at the Premiere of The Escape
Gemma Arterton suited up in a Markus Lupfer Resort 2018 patterned blazer (complete with ruffle-trimmed pseudo pockets) and shorts for the premiere. Black Jimmy Choo pumps that complemented her top punctuated the matching set.
Image: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images
Kate Mara at the Premiere of Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool
For her second premiere look of the festival, Kate Mara picked a white ruffled David Koma Fall 2017 mesh minidress. An ivory clutch and fancy embroidered pumps polished off the ensemble.
Image: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Adèle Exarchopoulos at the Premiere of Racer and the Jailbird
Adèle Exarchopoulos jazzed up her black tux with a patterned corset top. Padlocked box-fresh sneaks capped off the look.
Image: Jeremychanphotography/WireImage/Getty Images
Halle Berry at the Premiere of Kings
Halle Berry’s Zuhair Murad Fall 2017 plunging jumpsuit included eye-grabby lace and floral embroidery up top. Hoop earrings rounded out the outfit.
Image: Michael Tran/Getty Images
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