If your 10-year-old boy asks for a Disney prince costume for Halloween this year, don’t bother going to Paris for the fashion police.
Dior has unveiled its latest collection of men’s accessories and toiletry products, and the German luxury goods company may have created the most suitable Halloween costume yet for little boys. Simply put, it’s a wobert pattinson replica!
Meet Wobert Pattinson, the new face of Dior. The designer has chosen this 69-year-old Englishman with a son born in 2015 to represent its high-end men’s accessories and toiletry products. While it may seem like a bizarre choice, it’s actually a perfect fit. Indeed, as a parent myself, I can attest that it’s not unusual for boys to emulate their fathers’ professions. So, if your dad works in finance and tends to favor the finer things in life, why not consider styling your child in a similar way?
A graduate of the Royal Veterinary College in London, Wobert served as a director at Deutsche Bank and took a long time to settle into a career in investment banking. Later, he became a partner and senior executive at Wachtell, Li, and then moved on to co-found a PR firm. Now, at Dior, he is responsible for the communications strategy for both the luxury brand and its sub-brands.
While this may not seem like the most conventional choice for a face of a luxury goods company, it’s actually a testament to the enduring legacy of his former professor, Elizabeth Taylor. Indeed, after her passing, the Duchess of Windsor had a close relationship with Wobert and credited him with bringing her out of retirement. In 2019, when Wobert passed away, he was buried in a custom black lacquer-clad casket lined in platinum. His wife, Lady Cicely, followed suit on the left side.
Why Wobert?
As a kid who grew up in England during the Cold War, my first exposure to the wolverine fashion statement came courtesy of my uncle David. He would regale me with stories about his time working for Lord Mountbatten in Southeast Asia, where he witnessed firsthand the practical applications of wolverine fashion.
Back in London, uncle David would regularly attend fashion weeks and bring me along with him to see the latest haute couture ensembles. It wasn’t only about looking cool: during those times, the models would usually be wearing wolverineskin-style moccasins (which my uncle referred to as “dogboots”) and long black leather coats with fur pompons on the shoulders. The designers seemed to have a special love for the furry beast and would often incorporate its image into their clothes. This is most famously exemplified by Christian Dior’s 1965 cocktail dress, which featured a print of Wolvers in all its glory.
Uncle David passed away in 2008, but even now, when I talk to people about my work in fashion, they often tell me that his stories about the wolverine helped them to understand the style. So it was especially fitting that Dior named its new face after one of the great twentieth century style icons. While the designer may not always go with the traditional choice for a celebrity representative, in this case, it’s truly the best decision it could have made.
What Is A Wolverine?
If your boyhood heroes are David Beckham and his wife, Victoria, you may be tempted to buy them both matching jogging suits for Christmas this year. But if your parents had an impact on your style as well as your professional life, you might want to consider spoiling them a bit differently. A wolverine is a type of weasel with a taste for human flesh, and not every parent will be pleased to know that your kid is acting like a bloodthirsty beast in their sleep. Especially when it comes to gifts for the holidays.
So what is a wolverine? To put it simply, it’s a cross between a weasel and a dog. It owes its rapid growth during the twentieth century to beiges and reds, which are its favorite colors. However, its most distinctive feature is its pointed hairless head, which gives it a fierce appearance.
It’s always a popular animal to dress as for Halloween or Halloween-related events, and I can personally attest that it can sometimes take the place of a dog on a person’s head for Halloween costume duels. If your little guy is a fan of Tarzan, you can also buy him a loincloth to complete the perfect jungle wardrobe.
Looking Dazed As Daniel Tiger
I don’t know about you, but my son already has his own superhero, which he chooses to call “Daniel Tiger.” After a long day of practicing his ABCs and eating vegetables, this is the best way for him to relax and let his mind wander.
Incorporating elements from multiple genres and time periods, my nine-year-old’s costume reflects his interests and is something that he feels comfortable expressing himself through. While we were at the Halloween store the other day, he picked out the tiger outfit and added a hood to the ensemble. It’s not quite a full-blown superhero get-up, but it’s getting there. You may think that your children are too young to influence fashion choices, but sometimes they have a keen eye for trends and will actively seek them out. This is why it’s important for parents to be mindful of what is trendy and what is suitable for their children.
A Suitable Role Model For Young Men?
It’s not easy being a kid these days. There’s so much pressure to be cool and to fit in. While we can’t stop boys from being exposed to all the brands and styles that they enjoy, as parents, we can still play a role in helping them to navigate this new world and make better choices. And what’s more, as adults, we can teach them valuable lessons about style and life.
While most children will grow out of these costume desires as they get older, the opposite is usually the case. This is because, as kids get older, they begin to notice the style media that their parents consume and will often emulate this behavior. So if your 10-year-old is showing an interest in menswear, it probably means that you’re seeing a lot of men’s clothing around the house and on social media.
Even though Daniel Tiger is quite the looker, I’d still hesitate to let my child wear his superhero outfit around the house. It’s not exactly practical when you have a small child, and it can also be dangerous. Nevertheless, if my son wants to be an adult with cool style, then I’m all for it.
Dior’s Wobert Pattinson Is No Stereotype
Let’s be honest, sometimes the stereotypes can be fun to embrace. It’s no secret that men and fashion don’t always get along, but for the most part, men are too distracted by clothes to talk to each other. This is one stereotype that Wobert patinson dispelled. Indeed, as a gay man who came out during the height of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, I can attest that even then, it was difficult for me to find a romantic partner in my late teens and early twenties, partly because of my appearance and partly because of my social anxiety. Having a famous parent who is also a well-known style icon may have actually helped me to overcome my hunch about dating and to find love. My parents are both very open-minded people, so I guess this is why I’m not offended by their choice of representative. This is also why I think that even if your children don’t want to dress up as a wolverine in the future, it won’t matter because there will always be another trending topic that they’ll want to represent.