The best outfits and beauty looks from the first night of Sanremo 2025

With a reference to the three editions he previously hosted (from 2015 to 2017), and after a tribute intro to Enzo Bosso, Carlo Conti greets the audience. Then, the audio cuts out, and the Tuscan presenter continues speaking in silence in an almost surreal scene, which seems to be a bad omen for the nights to come. The audio returns, and Gaia takes the stage, officially kicking off Sanremo 2025 with her song Chiamo io chiami tu. Joining the event are the beloved Gerry Scotti and Antonella Clerici, wrapped in a peplum dress covered in strobe-like sequins, as the artists take turns performing one after the other. Time passes quickly, as do the competing artists with their looks. Everything passes before our eyes, from the blinding glow of Clara to the retro style of Noemi and Achille Lauro, from Simone Cristicchi's outfits with precious details in Antonio Marras to Olly in jeans, from Lucio Corsi in Marc Bolan version to Giorgia in Dior. 

The best outfits and beauty looks from the first night of Sanremo 2025

Gaia

Brand: Dilara Findikoglu

Look: Ethereal and stunning. Gaia opens the first night of Sanremo 2025 in a total nude look curated by stylist Alba Melendo. The custom-made dress by Dilara Findikoglu is composed of layers of chiffon covering the bustier and a see-through skirt, gently embracing her body. Her shoes, a pair of transparent sandals with plexiglass heels, are from Aquazzura. The accessories, including rigid bracelets and hand jewelry, also custom-made by Angostura Jewels, add a Weirdieval twist to the whispered sensuality of the dress. The make-up, done by make-up artist Greta Giannone using Lancôme products (Gaia was recently named the brand’s local ambassador), is slightly glossy and perfectly matches the nude tones of her outfit: taupe with gold accents on the eyelids, rosy blush on the upper cheekbones and bridge of the nose, pink lipstick, and brushed-up eyebrows. The fairy-style hairstyling by Alfredo Cesarano is reminiscent of the look seen in Alexander McQueen's Spring 2011 runway show: basket-weaving root braids in a checkerboard pattern with long, sleek strands.

Rkomi

Brand: Vivienne Westwood

Look: Abandoning the biker style he had previously showcased at the Festival, Rkomi sings Il ritmo delle cose wearing a white twill suit in a wool and viscose blend, featuring oversized lapels and prominent shoulder pads, from Vivienne Westwood’s SS25 collection. A black studded leather belt is the only detail breaking the total white look. Under the jacket, there’s no undershirt—just his bare chest, a signature move of the singer, who loves to show off his torso. His rockstar attitude pairs perfectly with his hairstyle: a slightly wavy shag with bangs.

Noemi 

Brand: Giambattista Valli Haute Couture

Look: Noemi descends the stairs—struggling slightly—wearing an Old Hollywood-inspired gown: a black silk duchess mermaid silhouette dress, adorned with a white chiffon drape at the neckline that extends into a dramatic train at the back. Completing the Giambattista Valli Haute Couture creation, chosen upon the recommendation of stylist Ramona Tabita, are Acquazzurra shoes and elegant Bulgari jewelry. The make-up focuses on the eyes, with a subtle smokey eye. Her copper-red hair, worn down with a side part and soft waves, perfectly embodies the retro diva mood of the outfit—somewhere between Jessica Rabbit and Rita Hayworth.

Irama

Brand: Balmain

Look: As Irama sings about the slow unraveling of a love story, he does so in a Balmain ensemble: a long military coat with gold epaulets and frogging, under which peeks a white silk vest with a deep neckline revealing his bare chest. He pairs it with tailored black trousers and black leather gloves. His beauty look follows the same naval general aesthetic: salty hair with highlights. Do you like it? Does it remind you of Ivana Spagna’s '80s looks or a Lady Oscar cosplay? The jury is still out.

Coma_Cose

Brand: Valentino

Look: Cuoricini (the title of their song) takes center stage as Coma_Cose appear on Sanremo 2025’s opening night wearing two creations from Valentino’s Pavillon des Folies collection, the first under Alessandro Michele as creative director. Styling is by Tiny Idols, aka Silvia Ortombina, alongside Pablo Patané. Fausto Lama wears a cherry-red wool blazer with silk peak lapels over a silk shantung shirt, paired with black wool trousers and rounded-toe ankle boots. California, on the other hand, embraces a vintage bride aesthetic: a white lace catsuit overlaid with a butter-colored georgette dress featuring a daring side slit. She completes the look with black-and-gold bicolor pumps and pearl-and-crystal earrings. The beauty look? Spectacular. Hairstylist Filippo Calì, using Revlon Professional and American Crew products, created a wet-finish pixie mullet with thick sideburns and a fringe reminiscent of Liza Minnelli. Makeup references seem to include Mina, Betty Boop and Chappell Roan. Make-up artist Fausto Cavalieri gave California a theatrical look with a slightly white-painted face and a focus on the eyes, featuring hot pink eyeshadow and bold black liner mimicking lower lashes and defining the brows. The manicure? Sweetheart French nails—perfect for both Coma_Cose’s song and Valentine’s Day.

Achille Lauro

Brand: Dolce&Gabbana

Look: There’s always great anticipation for Achille Lauro at Sanremo, and once again, he did not disappoint. He arrived impeccably dressed in a black velvet tailcoat, completed by a white cotton piqué vest over a white poplin tuxedo shirt and black silk duchess trousers. The theatrical touch? A voluminous silk taffeta cape. His Dolce&Gabbana look, as hinted at by his stylist Nicolò Cerioni, is inspired by old Hollywood icons. Channeling a modern-day Rudolph Valentino, Lauro entrusted Michele Mancaniello and Dolce&Gabbana Beauty products for his make-up and grooming. A hint of blended eyeshadow added depth and allure to his gaze, while a touch of bronzer sculpted his face with light and shadow. The fragrance? Rumor has it he wore Devotion For Men by Dolce&Gabbana. His hair, styled by Mimmo Laserra, is sleeked back with a deep side part—très chic!

Giorgia

Brand: Dior

Look: Giorgia returns to Sanremo with La cura per me, a song written for her by Blanco and Michelangelo. Predictions already place her as the winner of this year's Festival. Her vocal performance certainly lived up to expectations, but her look? Not so much. The Roman singer opted for a classic black midi dress with sheer lace details, designed by Dior and chosen with the help of stylist Valentina Davoli, who added a slim leather belt at the waist and minimalist sandals. Giorgia kept her hair sleek and straight with a side part and went for a fresh, barely-there make-up look: subtly smoky eyes paired with creamy pink lipstick, the same shade used to sculpt her cheekbones. A beauty detail you may have missed? Cherry-red nail polish on her toes. Maybe she could have taken more risks.

Rose Villain

Brand: Fendi

Look: Rose Villian kicks off her Sanremo journey alongside stylist Celia Arias, dressed in red. The singer chose a second-skin silk knit dress from the Fendi Couture Fall/Winter 2023-2024 collection, creating a striking contrast with her blue hair. The minimalist and essential silhouette of the Fendi creation finds its perfect mismatch with her hairstyle: a slightly messy, manga-inspired bun with loose strands framing her face. While she recently debuted her beauty brand, Good Villain, Rose opted for a natural make-up look at Sanremo—just black eyeliner and mascara, complemented by a creamy pink lipstick and a glowing complexion. The manicure? Sharp soap nails.

Olly

Brand: Emporio Armani

Look: No tuxedos, no glittering details, no tailored suits. Olly and his stylist, Lorenzo Oddo, went for casual. His custom-made Emporio Armani outfit keeps it simple: a black knitted sleeveless pullover, revealing the tattoos on his right arm, paired with slightly flared jeans. The only nod to glamour? A subtle shimmer on both pieces. His hair is artfully tousled, and so are his mustache. Do you like Olly’s stylistic choice? Hopefully, we’ll see something more exciting in the coming nights.

Elodie 

Brand: Prada

Look: We expected something spectacular from Elodie—so much so that a bit of disappointment was inevitable. Still, the singer of Dimenticarsi alle 7 remains stunning. For this first Sanremo performance, she chose, together with her stylist Giulia Cova, a minimalist silver slip dress with a crinkled effect. The custom Prada look, inspired by the SS09 collection, was completed with Elsa Peretti earrings and Forever rings, all by Tiffany & Co. Elodie wore her hair sleek, glossy, and ultra-straight with a center part, styled by Andrea Soriga. Her makeup, created using L’Oréal Paris products, focused on her eyes, with sharp cat-eye liner and a touch of silver near the tear ducts. Lips were kept nude, and her feline nails featured black glass tips.

Tony Effe

Brand: Gucci

Look: Tony Effe chose stylist Lorenzo Posocco and a total white Gucci look. For his Sanremo debut, he wore a double-breasted white wool suit, a matching shirt and tie, and white leather Horsebit creeper loafers. The only pop of color? Burgundy leather gloves, a signature shade from Sabato De Sarno’s collections for the Florentine brand. Completing the outfit were Tiffany & Co. jewelry. His slicked-back, pomaded hair perfectly matched the Godfather-worthy style.

Serena Brancale

Brand: Balestra

Look: Singing Anema e core on stage, Serena Brancale embraces her passionate side with a sequined red-hot top and a long slit skirt, a look chosen for her by stylist Ylenia Puglia and signed Balestra. The beauty look, however, contrasts with and softens the outfit’s intensity. Her platinum blonde hair is slicked back, while her make-up remains delicate, creamy, and monochromatic, with soft antique pink hues on lips and cheeks. Something feels off—let’s hope for better choices in the coming nights.

Clara

Brand: Roberto Cavalli

Look: Clara wants to shine—both with Febbre, her song, and with the silver sequined gown Roberto Cavalli designed for her. The mermaid-style evening dress features a sheer effect, a plunging neckline, a halter neck, and a backless design. On her feet, she wears silver René Caovilla sandals. Styling is by Francesco Vavallo. Her beauty looks natural: her slightly wavy hair is left down, while her make-up focuses on black eyeliner and nude lipstick.

Fedez

Brand: Atelier Versace

Look: Fedez returns to Sanremo, at a time when he’s at the center of gossip. On stage, he keeps it simple, singing in a classic total black suit by Atelier Versace, featuring tiny sparkling stones on the sleeves. Styling is by Giulio Casagrande. The most intriguing—and unsettling—detail? His contact lenses, turning his eyes completely black and giving him a demonic look. Has Fedez entered his goth era?

Bresh

Brand: Ami Paris

Look: Stylist Michele Potenza dresses Bresh in Ami Paris. The total black look consists of tailored trousers, a leather jacket, and a crystal-covered top. The singer keeps it casual—but not too casual—perfectly at ease at Sanremo 2025. His rebellious curls fall naturally onto his forehead. Sometimes, simplicity is the best choice—don’t you think?

Sarah Toscano

Brand: Pucci

Look: Sarah Toscano makes her Sanremo debut in a fresh, feminine look: a custom mini polo dress by Pucci, featuring the brand’s signature graphic and colorful patterns in black, blue, and white. The stylist is Simone Furlan. Make-up artist Chantal Ciaffardini, using YSL Beauty, opts for soft pink monochrome tones, starring the new Make Me Blush by YSL Beauty. The result is girly and effortless, perfectly matching her extra-long high ponytail and face-framing bangs, all by ghd.

Joan Thiele

Brand: Chanel

Look: Joan Thiele isn’t just incredibly talented—she’s also effortlessly cool. So much so that she manages to make a Chanel suit look contemporary and interesting, something even the biggest celebs have struggled to achieve. The singer wears a bouclé-textured ensemble with gold-trimmed front pockets. Over her shoulders, she drapes a cape tied with a black bow. Her beauty look pays tribute to Frida Kahlo: hair braided into two plaits, a bold unibrow, and a ‘60s-inspired make-up look with dramatic cat eyes and sharp eyeliner. We’re excited to see what she wears next.

Francesca Michielin

Brand: Miu Miu

Look: Perhaps Francesca Michielin and her hairstylist, Angelo Rosa Uliana (who uses Aveda products), tuned into the 2025 Grammys and discovered that the hime haircut—a style once worn by Cher and recently by Lady Gaga—is the trend of the moment. The singer completed her beauty look, crafted by Luciano Chiarello using Clinique products, including the latest Black Honey collection and the brand-new Clinique Even Better Clinical Vitamin Makeup SPF50, with a '60s-inspired cat eye. Her outfit, styled by Susanna Ausoni, is by Miu Miu: wide-leg pants featuring a double-length hem adorned with blue crystals, mimicking the exposed-underwear trend of the '90s. The same crystals embellish her twisted crop top.