It seems that every other celebrity has jumped on the fashion bandwagon and collaborated with a famous designer to create a trendy, luxury item. But who would have thought that British heartthrob and Hollywood A-lister, Robert Pattinson, would be the last celebrity to stand alone in committing to a designer collaboration?
In an interview with The New York Times in July 2019, the actor said, “I think it’s about time that I did something a bit different, and I’ve been trying to find a way to do that but in a luxury way. I don’t think there’s a need to cheapen luxury.”
He then revealed that he had joined forces with French fashion house, Burberry, to collaborate on a capsule collection that would pay tribute to the house’s signature maroon and red color scheme. Although the exact details of the collection have not been released, it is known that the actor will be wearing the items on the set of his upcoming films.
A Classic Collaboration
The New York Times article also pointed out that the partnership between the two was classic, noting that “Robert Pattinson has long been seen as a style icon, embodying the British countryside’s traditional values of country sports and hard work combined with a touch of Mediterranean sophistication”.
Indeed, this collaboration marks an about-face for the actor. Back in 2014, he sported a stunning full-suit ensemble featuring a long-sleeved burgundy dress and matching burgundy pants by Aquascutum, a British outerwear brand. It was a striking look that won over internet fans, including the fashion juggernaut, Gigi Hadid.
Now, in a nod to the famous French luxury brand, his capsule collection will be manufactured using the maroon and red color scheme that is synonymous with the luxury house.
Pattinson’s Red Velvet Shoes
The stylish British actor isn’t the only member of the superstar lineup to be donning red. In fact, it seems as though everyone is jumping on the red-themed fashion wagon. In May 2019, Victoria Beckham sported a striking outfit as she and husband, David, attended the premiere of their upcoming Netflix special, Becoming Victoria BECKHAM in London. The stylish British designer chose to keep her traditional yet polished look with classic white Victoria Beckham dresses alongside block-print mini dresses made entirely from Japanese silk.
Perhaps the most recognizable face wearing red this year is the Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine, who has been seen sporting striking looks in the brand Gucci. In January 2019, the Duchess wore a gorgeous dress made entirely from silk when she and Prince William opened the UK government’s annual conference on mental health. The designer’s signature chequered print was used in an innovative way to create an abstract design on a silk dress that still retained a sense of the traditional check pattern.
Fashion’s Comeback Kid
While there may be a clear parallel between the fashion comeback of the 50s and that of the early 21st century, there are some stark differences as well. For one, the style icons of today are much more multi-hyphenate than their predecessors were, acting and modeling alongside their fashion careers. This is evident in the increasing number of celebrity fashion collaborations that are gracing our headlines.
Red Is Back (And So Is Black)
Another significant difference is the use of color in fashion today. Designers have begun experimenting with different hues, most notably black. As the Duchess of Cambridge’s keynote speech at the One Young World Conference in South Africa in May 2020 put it, “I truly believe that when it comes to fashion, colorism is totally outdated.” Indeed, in an effort to combat ‘fashion racism,’ some designers have gone so far as to use black models in their advertisements. (Not that colorism is a bad thing; it’s simply a perception that is slowly but steadily being changed.)
Black became an acceptable choice for fashion advertising not because it is perceived to be a ‘safe’ choice, but because it is fashionable. Some of 2019’s most prominent fashion collaborations include:
– Chanel and Google designed an augmented reality app in tandem, which allows users to try on different styles of jewelry with unique linkages to Chanel’s iconic #1 perfume.
– British designer, Karen Millen, sported a striking red dress with a matching jacket and purse as she unveiled her Spring 2020 collection.
– Burberry and luxury goods company, Graff, teamed up to create a capsule collection that pays homage to the English countryside.
– French designer, Issey Miyake, named his capsule collection after Dior Homme’s most prominent fragrance, Diorsignature M, embodying the spirit of men’s fragrance, Diorsignature M.
No matter what, the fashion industry has certainly come a long way from the black dresses of the 1950s. Indeed, let’s celebrate this comeback by wearing bold, vibrant colors with confidence!