Julia Roberts and Amanda Seyfried twin in Versace at Venice Film Festival

Julia Roberts and Amanda Seyfried wore the same Versace outfit at the Venice Film Festival. Photo / Getty Images

Turning up at a party in the same outfit as another guest might have once have been a fashion faux pas, but if the Venice Film Festival red carpet is any indication, it’s right on trend. Just ask Julia Roberts and Amanda Seyfried, who wore the same Versace outfit days apart at this year’s event.

First up was Roberts, who was in Venice to promote her new film, Luca Guadagnino’s After The Hunt. Her look for Friday’s photo session comprised a transitional striped shirt, blue wool blazer, and straight-leg denim, worn with a heritage gold buckle belt, woven shoes, and a leather bag. It may have seemed understated, but the opportunity to wear it was something of a coup: a first glimpse of what’s to come from Versace’s new creative director, Dario Vitale, whose debut collection won’t be seen in its entirety until later this month at Milan Fashion Week.

For the rest of the world, it’s a great source of autumn wardrobe inspiration. For Seyfried, who shares stylist Elizabeth Stewart with Roberts, the influence was more immediate. In a comment under Stewart’s Instagram post of Robert’s outfit, she asked, “Please let me wear the same outfit”. Clearly, all parties obliged, and Seyfried arrived in Venice before the premiere of The Testament of Ann Lee on Monday in exactly the same look.

Seyfried then shared a picture of herself wearing the outfit to her own Instagram feed with the caption, “Thanks for sharing”, tagging Roberts and adding the hashtags: “sustainable” and “shareyourlooks”. For some, the move represents an important fashion statement as well as a touching moment of sisterhood.

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A post shared by Amanda Seyfried💛 (@mingey)

“It’s an amazing move from Elizabeth Stewart, who styles both women,” says celebrity stylist Holly White, who’s worked with many a Hollywood client. “It’s women celebrating women – who both look incredibly chic in the look – a double win for Versace and a great way to showcase sustainable dressing in the run up to sustainable fashion week at the end of this month.”

But even if it’s no longer a case of “sack the stylist”, sceptics might add another reason motivating the twinning looks: a savvy PR stunt. Versace’s PR Agency, Lucien Pagès, says it was a spontaneous – not necessarily planned – turn of events. But it’s difficult to overlook the fact that celebrities are often paid high sums to wear brands for high-profile appearances, and the fact that the shared outfit has already generated a lot of talk about Vitale at Versace.

That said, the idea of challenging an old faux pas is a tried-and-tested trick from the Roberts-Stewart style playbook. In 2018, the actor and her stylist appeared at an awards ceremony in LA in identical lilac Givenchy suits. The pair even co-ordinated their accessories in matching glasses, pink shirts, white platform brogues and bags.

Julia Roberts (L) and her stylist Elizabeth Stewart in matching lilac Givenchy suits and the 2018 InStyle Awards. Photo / Getty Images

For others, the precise reason behind the shared Seyfried-Roberts look is less important than what it achieves. “I love that they reminded the world that sharing is chic,” says Eshita Kabra-Davies, the founder of fashion rental platform By Rotation. “What used to be a fashion faux pas, being seen in the same outfit, is now a statement of confidence and community. Fashion is at its best when it’s lived in, loved, and shared. It’s proof that style isn’t about ownership, it’s about connection.”

The shared look might just be the next step in a world that has come not only to accept but admire another red carpet trick: the outfit repeat. The women of the British royal family, the Princess of Wales in particular, are masters of this art but Hollywood is catching on too.

In fact, at the opening night of this year’s Venice Film Festival, Cate Blanchett (who is known for her penchant for rewearing great looks and is also styled by Stewart) wore a sleeveless black gown with a plunging neckline by Armani Privé. The dress was quickly identified as the same piece she wore to the 2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Cate Blanchett at The 82nd Venice International Film Festival. Photo / Getty Images

It looked just as good three years later. Whether or not she is open to letting a fellow star borrow it, or any other piece from her covetable wardrobe, remains to be seen.

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