The fashion world has been transformed by the pandemic; the everyday items that we once purchased for special occasions are now considered ‘essential’ and will be used to style our every day lives. Those who follow the latest trends expectantly have noticed that certain fashion staples have gone ‘in’ and ‘out’ of fashion’ and they have adjusted their wardrobes accordingly. It seems that the fashion industry has pivoted to the ‘everyday uniform’ with unique and exclusive design twists.
One of the most prominent examples is Robert Pattinson. The British actor is best known for his leading role as Edward Cullen in the Twilight franchise, which has amassed a huge cult following around the world. His fashion choices have always been eclectic and unique, which is why he has become so popular with the fashion set. However, even though the world has changed, Robert Pattinson has not and he continues to represent an iconoclastic and exclusive lifestyle.
An Iconoclastic Style
Pattinson was born in London in 1983 and moved around a lot as a child, growing up in South London, then moving to the countryside for a few years. He was educated at the prestigious Brighton School and then went on to study English Literature at Oxford University. His acting career truly began after he graduated and he has not looked back since. He has been nominated for several awards for his acting work, including a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of James Bond in Spectre and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his role in Black Swan.
While at university, Pattinson became involved in the fashion world and started to take an interest in British textile designer Martin Storer. He was so taken with the brand that he decided to launch his own clothing line, which he called ‘Pattinson Paradise’. He worked with the designer to create a capsule collection that was inspired by the retro yet urban nature of the Edwardian era and named after the suburb in which he grew up, Brixton. As a result of his affiliation with Martin Storer, Pattinson became acquainted with the fashion industry and this influenced his choice of clothing and accessory brands in later years. This is clear in his collaboration with Saint Laurent on the actor’s first fragrance for Dior Homme, which was released in 2018.
A Designer Affiliation
It was while working with Martin Storer that Pattinson first became interested in working with designers for a special event or collection. His collaboration with Saint Laurent saw him work with the French fashion house on a capsule collection of luxury goods aimed at men. These products were inspired by the designer’s women’s ready-to-wear collection and included a special limited-edition bottled water, which was available only at selected retailers.
The partnership with Saint Laurent continued with the design and marketing of a capsule collection of men’s accessories. The product, which was inspired by the designer’s signature print, saw Pattinson collaborate with the house of Valentino on a tie-waist t-shirt and a hoodie. These items would become two of the most popular items from this collaboration. As a part of this collection, Saint Laurent graciously provided a personalised ‘signature’ hoodie to Pattinson, which was embroidered with the actor’s initials and a unique slogan.
An Exclusive Life
It would appear that the fashion world has adopted a ‘more is more’ approach and is excited about the prospect of developing unique products for a celebrity customer base. As a result of this trend, Pattinson has become even more desirable as a customer and even more exclusive in his choices. One of the most unique items that he has ever worn is his bespoke Valentino red Valentino purse. The product of an exclusive collaboration with the Italian fashion house, this purse is made from the finest calf leather and features the designer’s signature spider-embroidered pattern. It originally retailed for £500,000 and was only made available for purchase through a bespoke agreement between Valentino and Pattinson. The unique and luxurious product was such a success that Valentino and Pattinson have since worked together on a number of projects. In 2019, they reunited to create a special limited-edition bag, which was designed in tandem with the Italian fashion house’s Creative Director, Frida Giannini. The product of this collaboration, which was available for purchase through a bespoke agreement, retailed for £600,000.
Pattinson has also worked with the luxury French designer, Dior, on a capsule collection of fragrance products. The collection, which was launched in 2018, included two bottles of perfume and three samples of diorshow, the designer’s mist spray. A range of products in this collection are also available to purchase through a bespoke agreement.
A Wardrobe That Evolves
It is clear that the world has changed and fashion has changed with it. As we have established, the everyday items that we once purchased for special occasions are now required for our every day lives. This makes a complete overhaul of our wardrobes necessary and, in some cases, this may mean replacing certain items that we have been wearing for many years. The ‘essential’ item that is most likely to be replaced is our handbag. It seems that handbags are among the fastest-paced items in terms of fashion and they are always a prime candidate for replacement. This can be attributed to several factors, including the ease of theft that they provide, easy portability and the fact that they are simple and functional. The latter is particularly important in today’s world, where we are bombarded with excessive ornamentation and superfluous detail.
The pandemic has seen the luxury handbag market totally transform and it has revealed the true nature of some of our most iconic items of clothing and accessory. We saw this in the case of the luxury handbags that were hastily constructed out of materials that were easily available, such as plastic. Additionally, some designers and manufacturers have seen a rise in sales as a direct result of the pandemic. LV and Ralph Lauren are a couple of examples of luxury designers who have capitalised on this trend. It would appear that the pandemic has provided us with a unique opportunity to evolve our wardrobes and it is important that we take full advantage of this. This should not just relate to our fashion choices but also to our homes and our accessorising. As we have established, the luxury sector within the home-improvement market has seen unprecedented growth and home decor accessories and furniture are thriving as a result of this. This is probably because people are buying luxury products that they can use to decorate their homes and they are inspired by their favourite high-end brands.
A Rising Popularity
With the luxury industry growing its offering during these unprecedented times, it is only natural that people are seeking to take a closer look at what is available. We have established that Robert Pattinson is an iconoclastic actor who is not afraid to express his opinion on fashion and style and this has given him a key role in setting fashion trends. It seems that people are taking note of this and, as a result, his fashion choices have become popular and he has even been declared the most fashionable man in the world. This is based on a survey that was commissioned by the Italian luxury brand, Salvatori, and that ranked Pattinson ahead of other famous figures, such as Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior. While this may seem like a biased survey, the results were backed up by an objective panel, which included stylists, journalists and marketing experts.
It is clear that the fashion industry has changed drastically and has evolved to meet the demands and restrictions of the pandemic. This is particularly evident in the way that the luxury sector has pivoted towards providing essential goods and it is important that we adapt to this as well. It is clear from the examples that we have discussed that the fashion industry has transformed to meet the needs of the moment and it will continue to do so, as and when the world changes for the better.