If you follow celebrity news, you might already know that on May 5, 2013, actor/director/model/musician/author/fashion icon/designer/singer/songwriter/producer Robert Pattinson attended the Met Gala in New York City as part of his promotional tour for his upcoming album Believe. The event was organized by Vogue in collaboration with the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Pattinson’s choice of attire for this event was unusual, and perhaps not the most practical. The English actor is perhaps best known for his role in the Twilight film series, for which he won an Academy Award, BAFTA, and International Critic’s Choice Award. Since then, he has played a variety of characters in blockbuster films like Conan, The Great Gatsby, and The Rover. He will next be seen as Johnny Burke in the Hunger Games films, and is due to star in the upcoming Water For Elephants as William Hawthorne. In addition to his acting career, Pattinson has dabbled in music and design, and is known for his distinct fashion choices. As a result, he has become somewhat of a style icon, especially amongst women, who have followed his every move, from the Twilight craze to his current film and music endeavors.
Prior to the Met Gala, Pattinson attended three separate events, including the American Booksellers Association’s Book Fair and Festival, the Frankfurt Book Fair, and the Frankfurt Press Conference. During the book fair, Pattinson attended a panel discussion on British authors and publishing in the U.S. He also gave a speech at the Frankfurt Book Fair about the state of media in the digital era. And during the Frankfurt Press Conference, he shared his thoughts on mass media as it relates to literature.
Costume Contest
The theme of the Met Gala was Dazzle, and in keeping with this theme, Vogue and the Costume Institute invited guests to dress up in costume and compete for the best costume design. The contest was open to all, and the designs were truly stunning. We were particularly inspired by the costumes for the X-Men characters, but there were many other memorable looks, from Batman to Zorro to the Evil Queen.
A number of our favorite costumes from the event can be seen in the gallery below. Be sure to check out the winners’ exhibition next year, as well as the Dazzle-worthy costumes that were disqualified.
Album Release Party
Pattinson’s album, Believe, was released last Friday, April 26th, and the singer/songwriter attended a listening party at HMV’s Soho store the same day. He was joined by his mother, Kristin (seen above with Pattinson at the Met Gala), a number of his famous friends, and a host of musicians, including Jack White. The event was streamed live on White’s Jack White Social Club blog.
Pattinson’s choice of music for this album was inspired by the work of French composer Louis-Antoine Jullien. In addition to writing the music for Believe, Jullien was the co-founder of the French musical group, Les Nylons, and the arranger of their most famous song, Les Chemins de l’amour. The song was featured on the group’s 1972 album, Nous Sommes Nous, featuring French singer Sylvie Vartan. It has since become a pop standard in France, and has been covered by a number of artists, including Dusty Springfield and Celine Dion.
Pattinson’s version of the song is featured on his upcoming album, and it is a beautiful rendition. He also performed two other songs from Believe, “Do You Feel Loved” and “What Do You See”, and they are both excellent. You can listen to the entire album online now, in its entirety, or download it from iTunes or Spotify.
Based on the overwhelmingly positive response to Believe, Pattinson has said that he plans to follow it up with another album in the near future. We can’t wait to hear what he comes up with next. In the meantime, check out his YouTube channel for more interviews, album reviews, and tour footage.
Met Gala
The theme of the Met Gala was Dazzle, and in keeping with this theme, Vogue and the Costume Institute invited guests to dress up in costume and compete for the best costume design. The contest was open to all, and the designs were truly stunning. We were particularly inspired by the costumes for the X-Men characters, but there were many other memorable looks, from Batman to Zorro to the Evil Queen.
After being asked by Vogue to judge the contest, Pattinson decided to participate as well. He dressed up in a custom-made suit designed by Tom Ford and won first place. The designer previously worked with Pattinson on his album art and marketing materials for Believe, and Ford called the collaboration, “a joy.”
It’s safe to say that Ford has some serious talent when it comes to designing clothes, and we can’t wait to see what he comes up with next. As for now, check out the gallery of Pattinson’s winning costume below.
Off-Dazzle
While we are on the subject of the Met Gala, let’s not forget about the off-dazzle outfits. As the name would suggest, these are outfits that are not dazzle-worthy, but they are still memorable and stunning. From Louis Vuitton’s monochromatic looks to Prada’s armor-clad gentlemen in their 40s and 50s, these are some great outfits that will likely stick in your head for the rest of the night.
Conclusion
It was a pleasure to cover the fascinating and eclectic Robert Pattinson. He is a style icon, a literary figure, and an incredible talent. We’re eager to see what he comes up with next.