While many of our favourite films end up influencing our style, it’s not always the case. Some films are just so bad that they end up hindering our fashion choices. Sadly, such is the case with Robert Pattinson’s upcoming film, Twilight. When the director arrived in London for the film’s premiere, he looked dashing in a black and white check suit but, after the premiere, the actor, now 28, did not look keen to make his way down the red carpet once more.
As the film’s premiere drew closer, the cast and crew of Twilight, including Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lauther, began appearing at various glamourous London events, drawing attention away from the film itself. Most notably, Stewart and Lauther attended the recent London Fashion Week, where Stewart sported Louis Vuitton and Lauther opted for a Gucci suit. On the night of the film’s premiere, they looked resplendent in their designer duds. But then, came the end of London Fashion Week, and with it, came the denims and hoodies once more.
The fashion media piled on, calling the duo’s appearances at the fashion event an indication that Twilight had somehow damaged their careers. Is this true? Did Robert Pattinson hate Twilight so much that it damaged his career? Was he scared to attend a fashion event, even one he sponsored, after the film’s premiere? Let’s examine the evidence.
‘Twilight’: A Dumpster Fire
On the surface, it’s difficult to argue that Twilight is not a bad film. The reviews have been pretty much universally negative, with critics calling it a “dive” and a “mess.” (Not that we’re picking on it; it’s easily one of the worst reviewed films of all time, with a rotten 40% on Rotten Tomatoes). With such a low score, it’s no wonder that Twilight has never been nominated for a major award. It also has the distinction of being the first film to be released in 4K resolution; if you’ve ever seen a tv show or a film on digital projection, this is what you’ve been missing out on all these years.
Based on the best-selling novel by Stephenie Meyer, Twilight is a messy adaptation of the hugely successful series of vampire novels. The first in the series, Twilight was released in 2012 and quickly became a massive box office hit. Its success inspired the creation of a whole movie franchise, which includes the upcoming releases New Moon and Eclipse, as well as the critically panned sequels The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2. It would go on to become the best-selling book series of all time, with over 140 million copies sold worldwide. (And we thought Harry Potter was big…)
To say that Twilight is a disappointment would be a massive understatement. The film was a complete and utter letdown. The story is painfully thin and feels more like a collection of clichés than an entertaining read. Add in the fact that this is the third adaptation of the novel, and you’ve got all the makings of an epic disaster.
Pattinson Hates Fashion
The most surprising part of this whole debacle is that even Robert Pattinson seems to hate Twilight. In a recent interview with Vogue, the actor, now 28, opened up about the film’s influence on his life. When asked if he’s ever regretted any of his choices, especially in terms of style, he replied:
“I haven’t really thought about it too much…I mean, I get dressed everyday and I don’t think about it too much. For so long, I didn’t like fashion. I kind of stayed away from it. Once you’ve accepted a part in a movie and people recognise you from it, it comes with a certain prestige. It can be a little overwhelming, to be honest.”
It would be fair to say that Twilight didn’t exactly put Robert Pattinson on the map as an actor to begin with. He was best known for his role as the eponymous character in the 2009 film The Twilight Saga: New Moon, based on the novel by Stephanie Meyer. The film was a moderate success but didn’t exactly set the world on fire. Since then, he’s appeared in a handful of films, including the upcoming action adventure Jackman. Most recently, he portrayed the titular character in Eclipse, the final instalment of The Twilight Saga, which was a commercial and critical failure.
Fashion After Films: Is This The End Of An Era?
Well, if Twilight has taught us anything, it’s that films can significantly impact our style choices. After the huge success of the first film in the series, Stephanie Meyer’s bestselling vampire novels were available for adaptation in a whole host of different ways. From stage plays to TV shows to comics to feature films, there seems to be an endless array of ways in which Meyer’s bloodsuckers can be entertained. The question is: Is this the end of an era for fashion after films?
While Twilight might be bad news for Robert Pattinson’s future in the film industry, the fact that it’s become such a cultural phenomenon might just make it a blessing in disguise. Fashion after films, particularly costume and character-design based blogs, have taken the internet by storm. With such a strong focus on fashion and style in general, it might just be the film for which so many people have been waiting. It’s time to take a closer look…
Style Blogs And The Revival Of Vampirism
If Twilight is recognised as one of the worst films of all time, it’s not because of its plot or technical aspects, but because of its absolutely awful dialogue and lack of character development. The performances across the board are very much a cut above the usual Hollywood dreck but, for some reason, the writers didn’t have anyone to direct them so it all comes across as very flat and forced.
The funny thing is, while reviewers might pounce on the poor writing and amateurish direction, it’s actually the very thing that makes Twilight so interesting to read about. The internet has rediscovered the charm of the Gothic novel and its obsession with all things dark and deadly. Costume and character-design blogs have blown up in popularity in the past year and, as a result, we’ve seen the emergence of a whole new generation of stylish vampires. From Leonardo diCaprio in The Revenant to Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean, many of today’s biggest stars have sported some pretty incredible style while, at the same time, being extremely memorable for their character. Here, actors’ recreations of famous novels might just set the trends for decades to come.
Vogue’s Makeover Challenge
If you thought that watching Twilight would make you feel sorry for the actors, then think again. The fact that they keep getting asked to play characters that are often naked, or at least partially naked, might just be the key to their continued careers. One of the blogosphere’s most popular articles in recent months has been a series of makeovers for Victoria’s Secret models. The feature is usually accompanied by a helpful instructional guide on how to become a fashion superstar. While most of the advice focuses on runway strutting and fashion week partying, it also has tips on how to dress while keeping a romantic vibe.
Given that both articles focus on the importance of fashion trends and style in general, it might just be a case of keeping up with the latest styles and makingover a celebrity so that they look just like a famous fashion designer.
Is This The End Of An Era?
Is Twilight the final nail in the coffin for fashion after films? That’s the million-dollar question. In a way, Twilight is a reminder of why we fell in love with fashion in the first place. While the films might be bad, they’re also often highly memorable and unique in their own ways. Perhaps it’s time to give fashion a rest and instead focus on the things that we love most about it: the clothes, the accessories, and above all, the style.