Nevertheless, the stars who did attend shone bright on the red carpet and in photo calls: George Clooney’s glamorous wife Amal’s donned a vintage Dior lace dress while The Crown actress Emma Corrin showed off a “pantless” look in Miu Miu underwear (yes, just underwear and a cardigan) over black tights.

But if we had to pick four leading ladies as the ultimate show-stealers, they must be Charlotte Rampling, Emma Thompson, Isabelle Huppert and Carla Bruni. All over 55, they’ve become the age-defying icons of our time.

Here’s a look at their stunning styles this year.

1. Charlotte Rampling, 77

On August 30, English actress and model Charlotte Rampling arrived at the festival in a simple yet elegant Courrèges dress as she walked the red carpet hand in hand with 90-year-old Italian film director Liliana Cavani. Rampling later presented the festival’s Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement to Cavani.

Rampling’s black dress featured a cut-out circle at the chest and a subtle side slit, but the highlight of her outfit was her funky shoes that featured circular perspex heels. Vogue dubbed the viral look as an introduction to the “wrong shoe” theory, which argues that the best ensembles feature unexpected footwear. The thin heels also left many onlookers perplexed by its ability to bear the weight of a human.

Setting trends at 77? Just the norm, apparently, for Rampling.

2. Emma Thompson, 64

British actress Emma Thompson joined celebs like Rita Ora in Venice for the DVF Awards on August 31, hosted by Belgian fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg during the Venice International Film Festival.

In one kooky pic, the Oscar-winning actress proved that she never takes work too seriously as she nibbled on George Clooney’s “reserved” place card while sitting next to the actor and his lawyer wife Amal.The Cruella star, who is planning to relocate to Venice according to Evening Standard, looked like a ray of sunshine in her floral-printed kaftan dress, and continues to age with grace, stating that she hasn’t ever considered undergoing plastic surgery.

3. Isabelle Huppert, 70

French actress Isabelle Huppert lit up the Venice International Film Festival with her Balenciaga ensembles this year.

For the premiere of Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro, she dazzled in a shimmering silver fringed gown with chunky heeled boots and silver earrings. Looking not a day over 40, many would be surprised to find out that The Piano Teacher actress has in fact entered her seventh decade in life.

In another look, at the 20th Giornate Degli Autori (Venice Days) event on September 1, she opted for a hot pink fuchsia dress with long bell sleeves and black sunglasses, giving off another bold and daring look while embracing the summer-loving trend of Barbiecore.

4. Carla Bruni, 55

Italian singer Carla Bruni looked like a million bucks as she strutted her stuff at the premiere of Tatami at the Venice International Film Festival this year.

She wore a long black sleeveless gown with a cut-out detail at the chest reaching down nearly to her navel, complete with a thigh-high slit reminiscent of Angelina Jolie’s iconic 2012 Oscars dress. The 55-year-old beauty was later spotted enjoying the beach with her husband Nicolas Sarkozy, the former president of France.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tK%2FMqWWcp51kuqKzwLOgp52jZMC1xcueZqmdn6W5pnvCnqOemqKewaqx0miYq6yZmLmme5Jram1oaWV8dXnAnKurnaOosrR5zq%2Bcq2Vlanq4tM5mqqWZqZqxbsLEp6CcnV2btq25jJ%2BcrKyZq66teZFpaWxlmaiuo7HLpZxmoKWlvaa%2B06xkm5mcmruktcCgmGakn6S4bq3NnWScmaKhrg%3D%3D