First came a fairly significant haircut. “I chopped her hair much shorter now, with lots of layers, movement, razored and wispy layers and some summer highlights,” he explains. “So I gave that classic inspiration a modern twist: soft, effortless waves with plenty of texture. Glamorous, but still relaxed.” His shorthand for the finished look? “A combo of Sophia Loren meets Kate Moss.”
The result was a tumble of softly tousled, side-parted waves, with face-framing layers and golden highlights catching the light against the gown. To create the texture, Giannetos used the Tymo CurlPro, followed by plenty of L’Oréal Paris Elvive Big Hair Dry Shampoo and Elnett Hairspray for volume and hold. His assistant, David Mazzotta, also helped create the look.
The makeup, meanwhile, picked up on the golden tones of Demna’s design without competing with them. “For her makeup, I kept everything luminous, with shimmery golden tones to complement her gown,” says Giannetos, who used Charlotte Tilbury for the occasion. The brand marked its fifth year partnering with the Albies, continuing its support of the Clooney Foundation for Justice.
After preparing the skin with Charlotte’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir and Magic Cream, Giannetos created a glowing base using Airbrush Flawless Foundation, Airbrush Flawless Blur Concealer, and the Hollywood Contour Wand. The Unreal Blush Healthy Glow Stick and Beauty Light Wand brought warmth and radiance to the cheeks, with the Pillow Talk Soulmates Palette in Flawless Pink providing a soft flush.
For the eyes, he combined the Exagger-Eyes Easy Eyeshadow Stick in Oyster Twilight with the Hollywood Flawless Light Tricks Eye Palette, finishing with Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara. A softly defined nude lip, courtesy of the Lip Cheat Contour Duo in Tan and Hot Lips 2 lipstick in Angel Alessandra, kept the focus on the eyes and the gilded complexion.
Crucial to the finished effect was controlling the shine without losing the luminosity. “I’m obsessed with Charlotte Tilbury’s new translucent powder,” Giannetos says. “It lets me mattify specific areas while keeping that beautiful glow.”
It was a look that articulates the enduring appeal of Old Hollywood glamour without becoming too precious about it—a real Amal Clooney classic. Where an Italian screen siren like Loren might have favored a perfectly coiffed wave, Clooney’s version came with slightly undone lengths, a softer silhouette, and a little more movement. A movie-star moment that still let the light in on the night’s real-life heroes.
