It’s been a tough year for Robert Pattinson. From scoring sweet revenge on wife Kate Bosworth by knocking her ex-fiance off their wedding cake to his split from Taylor Swift – the list of romantic misfortunes goes on. But the biggest blow came last summer when he was left devastated by the tragic death of his close friend and fellow musician, David Bowie. It was a tragic end to the life of one of England’s greatest cultural icons. As his grief gradually subsided, Pattinson turned to his passion for luxury goods and fell in love with luxury lifestyle brand Burberry. In the current issue of Men’s Health, the actor/model/fashion expert/entrepreneur opens up about his love for luxury goods, his amazing fashion evolution, and his future wife plans.

Luxury Is A Virtue

It’s impossible to talk about Pattinson’s love for luxury without talking about his well-known sweet tooth. The English actor is truly a tasteful gentleman who exudes elegance and sophistication which makes him the ideal candidate to represent Burberry’s modern British gentleman ideal. As a kid, the 28-year-old dreamed of one day becoming an international film star. Instead, he became the face of an internationally renowned luxury brand. Though he has had several hit movies under his belt, the role he plays as Christian Grey in the new movie adaptation of EL James’ Fifty Shades of Grey is what has truly catapulted his career.

“I’ve been lucky enough to work with some incredible designers. That’s what really made the difference. I’ve always been very lucky at picking my clothes, whether it’s been designers like Ralph Lauren that encouraged me to experiment with color or accessorizing or Gucci, which has done a lot for me as a stylist. They’ve all been very encouraging. But it’s all about being brave and taking a chance. If you feel like something’s not working, try something new. That’s what I did when I was younger. I’d never really felt like I had a lot of fear around fashion, but as I got older I started to realize how much fear there is in fashion. It’s such a safe world to stay within the lines, but that’s so boring. If you want to stand out, you’ve got to be adventurous and take a risk. If you feel like, ‘This isn’t working. I’m not happy with it.’ You’ve got to be brave enough to go for something new,” Pattinson told Men’s Health.

His Evolution As A Stylist

Even before the big-name designers, Pattinson was famous for being daring and unique. The Englishman got his start in the industry working for top London stylists before launching his own line in 2014. He quickly became known for dressing A-list celebrities like Amy Winehouse and singer Lily Allen. But it was Christian Grey’s unique taste that first attracted Pattinson to the role. The designer is known for his love of Burberry and his appreciation of British culture, especially since moving to the UK for university. This is something Christian Grey shares with the actor. Pattinson was born and raised in London and spent some time at university in Durham, England.

After seeing the designs of Christian Grey, it was clear that the handsome Brit was born to pull off the perfect fashion blend of old school charm and modern cool. It was no wonder that Winehouse named him one of the top five stylists in London. But since then, we’ve seen Pattinson branch out and become one of the most influential stylists in the industry. Here’s a look back at some of his remarkable work.

2015: The Year Of The Blazer

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a year since David Bowie’s death. But it certainly feels like it was only yesterday. As if the world needed another reminder of the pop icon’s passing, this year has been marked by the singer’s influence on the fashion industry. His unique and distinctive style inspired designers like JOVANI AIKIN, who created a collection in his memory. It’s clear that Bowie was a fashion god; his influence can still be felt in the work of today’s top stylists.

But it wasn’t only musicians who were inspired by Bowie. Celebrities from all walks of life wore their favorite icon’s influence on their sleeves. The most notable example is Robert Pattinson. It was in 2015 that the English actor’s fashion career really took off.

Pattinson put Bowie’s bold eclectic style on full display androgynously in a black and white striped shirt worn with a floral print jumper worn in the style of a blazer. The ensemble perfectly encapsulated Bowie’s androgynous charm.

2016: The Year Of The Leather Jacket

Although some people prefer to avoid cliches, it’s fairly safe to say that 2016 has been the year of the leather jacket.

While some designers made bold and trendy fashion statements with their haute couture collections, it was the leather jacket that really took center stage. The most popular fashion trends for the upcoming year were all variations on the theme of the classic leather jacket.

As early as February, rumors began circulating that designer Tom Ford was going to release a limited edition leather jacket collection in celebration of his 70th birthday. The designer made the bold and unique decision to use real, full-grain leather and real fur on the liner of the jackets. This was a major departure from his usual materials – most of which are man-made. Ford’s unique design team worked tirelessly to bring the vision of the designer’s beloved English rose to life.

Then, in April, it was actually announced that Ford would be releasing a capsule collection of leather jackets for his website. The designer’s stylists worked with real furriers to ensure each jacket was individually wrapped and shipped worldwide. As an added thank you to his customers, Ford threw in a surprise gift with each purchase.

Suits, Blazers, And Dresses

It’s been a wild year for fashion. From the luxury watch industry to the haute couture fashion houses, Swiss luxury watch brands saw a 40% increase in revenue last year alone. With the demand for luxury goods at an all-time high, it’s no surprise that the year of 2016 was such a big one for fashion. It was marked by spectacular shows, memorable moments, and incredible collaborations.

But it wasn’t all about high society dressing. In fact, it was the everyday women of Great Britain that really dressed the part in 2016. Inspired by the retro looks of the 1950s, women sported beautifully crafted suits and blazers. Fashion-forward companies like Karen Millers saw increased sales as customers wanted to play it safe while still pulling off the style trend setters. And as a result, they designed entire wardrobes of work attire.

But it’s not all about business attire. As if to prove that men can be fashion setters too, designers put their best foot forward as usual in stonewash jeans, printed shirts, and double-breasted blazers.

The most memorable fashion moments of the year came from some of the biggest fashion names. In February, Marc Jacobs sported a floral print wrap dress by Helvetica Schulze that became an instant classic. In March, Prada released an official portrait of their mama designed by Carven. The portrait, which was part of an installation at the Venice Biennale, consisted of a room of 20 pedestals, each one representing one of the designer’s most iconic mama portraits. Finally, in April, Chanel released a statement dress designed by Karl Lagerfeld, which the designer claims is the most sophisticated dress he had ever made.

Future Of Fashion

It’s impossible to say what the future of fashion holds since we’ve never seen anything like this before. But it’s clear that as long as people want luxury goods and designers can provide them, the fashion industry will never be the same again.

It’s almost a shame there’s no longer a need to say that being unique, individualistic, and original is what makes a man or woman truly stylish. Fashion now has a new name for being unique – it’s called being stylish.

Whether you choose to embody cool, class, and sophistication with a Burberry blazer or opt for a floral print shirt worn with a slim-fit suit, your fashion choices will speak volumes about you.