Inside Hoyeon’s First Venice Film Festival

Given Hoyeon is a top model and budding Hollywood star—you likely caught her as Kang in Squid Game—it’s surprising that she’s only marking her first Venice Film Festival this year. For her Venice debut, the South Korean star was in town to promote Alfonso Cuáron’s new mini series Disclaimer, in which Hoyeon co-stars alongside Cate Blanchett, Lesley Manville, and Sacha Baron Cohen. (The series, debuting in October, received a 6-minute standing ovation at the festival.)

“I had mixed feelings of excitement and nerves at the same time,” Hoyeon tells Vogue of attending the star-studded festival for the first time. “I‘ve always been a huge fan of Cate Blanchett and Alfonso Cuáron, so working with them was something that I never even imagined would happen. I felt so lucky to be surrounded by these amazing veterans because it was my first time acting a proper role in English. I felt safe working with them.”

Of course, half the fun of attending a Venice premiere is the glamorous fashions you get to wear for the occasion, and Hoyeon didn’t disappoint on that front. A red carpet star in her own right—not to mention dominating the high-fashion catwalks for years as a model—Hoyeon knows a thing or two about finding a stellar look. For Venice, she opted for two modern Louis Vuitton ensembles for her Disclaimer screenings.

The first was an embroidered red silk bias-cut gown with a draped neckline and black satin sandals. “Nicolas and the Louis Vuitton team made this beautiful red dress that made me feel very glamorous,” she says. “We wanted the drape on the chest and the hair to go well together. My favorite part of the dress is the draping.” She accessorized it with pieces from Vuitton’s High Jewelry collection, including a set of princess-cut diamond earrings.

For her second look, Hoyeon opted for a classic black velvet gown, complete with a tulle neckline, sheer exposed back, and black patent pumps. “We wanted to create a [beauty] look that is both cool and chic to match the all-black dress, so we chose a sleek ponytail and added a red lip for a pop of color,” says Hoyeon of her hair and make-up. “My favorite part of the dress is the back!” She accessorized with Vuitton’s High Jewelry Galaxie bracelet, made with white gold and diamonds.

Photo: Courtesy of Hoyeon

Photo: Courtesy of Hoyeon

From the glamorous fashion to the seaside cocktails and pasta she also enjoyed while in town, it’s safe to say Hoyeon had an eventful Venice Film Festival debut. Now though, the star is already back in Korea, where she will be heading back into work. (Guess summer fun is officially over.) “I’m going to Shanghai for a Lancôme event on the 5th,” she says. “Meet me there! And please look forward to my next movie, Hope!” Below, take a closer look at the star’s Venice Film Festival.

This article was originally published on Vogue.com. 

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