When you’re one of the best-known faces in pop culture, your every move is headline news. And so, it came as no great surprise when the spotlight was inevitably trained on Robert Pattinson as he made his grand entrance on the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York on August 28, 2012.
The actor, best known for playing the lead role in the Twilight film trilogy, was joined on the carpet by his fashion partner, Stella McCartney. The blonde beauty wore a stunning black dress that showcased her famous horse-head dress from the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in London the month before. The dress was the perfect match for his black satin t-shirt and jeans, and stole the show.
Signature Look
It was an evening of firsts for Mr. Pattinson. Not only was this the first time he had attended the VMAs, but it was also the first time he had worn something from the McCartney label. So it was clear that he was going for a classic look — one that had been worn time and time again by the stylish English designer. And so he did. After the ceremony, he was seen on the red carpet wearing a black suit, white shirt and yellow waistcoat — a look that has since become his go-to option for VMA evenings and other high-profile events.
McCartney has since become his regular designer and he has used her brand several times since, including at the wedding of Prince George to Princess Amelia in April 2015. He was also spotted in London last year wearing a double-breasted suit by the designer.
Mr. Pattinson’s outfit was completed with a black pocket square, white shirt and yellow striped tie. He has used this outfit combination on several red carpets over the years. The result is always a stylish, classic look.
Rocking Up On Taylor
We can’t talk about Mr. Pattinson’s outfit without mentioning the man himself. In the lead-up to the show, headlines about the 28-year-old English actor were constantly dominated by his rumored romances with the likes of Katy Perry and Rihanna. But on the day of the VMAs, he was all about business — especially since he was there to promote his new movie, Water for Elephants. The film is based on the bestselling novel of the same name and is about a young man who travels to America and becomes part of a circus family. While there, he befriends a wild elephant…which is more than enough material for a whole movie.
If you watch the trailer for the movie, you’ll get a good idea of what kind of performance Mr. Pattinson is capable of. The movie also stars Cate Blanchett, Robert DeNiro, Reese Witherspoon and Jack Pratt. And if you’re a fan of the novel, you’ll get to see a lot of its original characters in this adaptation. However, it’s clear that Mr. Pattinson was trying to keep the spotlight away from himself as much as possible on the day of the VMAs. While he was making an appearance, he was accompanied by a bodyguard, who was probably there to protect him from paparazzi (or just to keep an eye on him).
Shifting Loyalties
Before the ceremony, Mr. Pattinson was joined by several of his Twilight co-stars. Between giggling and laughing, the group was clearly nervous about the potential for drama on the night of the VMAs. However, that nervous energy turned to excitement as the show got underway and the crowd got into the spirit of the event. As the host, Miley Cyrus, opened the show with a performance, the audience was treated to a medley of Disney songs, including “Let It Go” and “Party in the U.S.A.” While many of the pop stars who’ve graced the red carpet over the years have graced it for a specific movie or performance, Mr. Pattinson’s attendance at the VMAs was certainly unique. While most of the Twilight co-stars were there to support their leading man, it was clear that they were also there to promote their individual movies: Bella’s Twilight saga comes to an end with the release of the final installment, Eclipse, in theaters on August 22, 2012, while New Moon will premiere on October 23, 2012.
So, while fans were waiting for Mr. Pattinson to arrive, they got a chance to catch up on the gossip in the meantime. Just like on the day of the ceremony, he was accompanied by a bodyguard, who also served as his driver. But as the star came down the runway, he was handed a mic by rapper Lil Wayne, who was there to support his good friend Mr. Pattinson.
Since the beginning of the year, Mr. Pattinson has been on a media blitz, promoting the end of the Twilight saga and the arrival of his solo career. While he may not have been keen on talking about himself during the ceremony, he did appear to be having a pretty good time as he soaked in the adulation. At the end of the night, he tweeted: “Thanks @MTVVMA for the memories. Great to see so many old & new friends! #VMAs #Twilight.” While he was certainly enjoying the event, one thing is clear: 2012 was a big year for Robert Pattinson.