Kristen Stewart’s Bold Fashion Choices on “Blood on the Lips” Press Tour Make a Statement
In a time where the trend of not wearing pants prevails on runways and in some celebrity circles, as well as the theme dressing at movie premieres, Kristen Stewart’s outfits during her press tour for “Blood on the Lips” have truly stood out. Rarely has an actress stripped down so gloriously.
Stewart and her stylist, Tara Swennen, have taken the sensuality and veiled politics of the film and translated them into the promotional panopticon, forcing anyone paying attention to confront their own preconceived notions about women’s bodies, sexuality, and what empowerment exactly means, while debunking the whole celebrity brand clothing circus.
There is a lot of message under so little clothing. But it was skillfully managed and very entertaining to watch.
Margot Robbie had fun dressing up as Barbie during the press tour for the movie about the iconic doll; Zendaya turned heads and social media during her appearances for “Dune: Part 2,” dressed in Mugler, Givenchy, and Alaïa; and the team from “Godzilla Minus One” walked the Oscars red carpet with heels resembling lizard claws to match. But with her appearances to promote “Blood on the Lips,” Stewart has taken the concept of character cosplay to a new and sharper level.
It all began in Berlin in February when Stewart skipped the shirt for the European premiere of the film and wore a very short Chanel haute couture patchwork miniskirt, a matching blazer, and a knit bralette. (Stewart is a Chanel ambassador). The actress took even more risks with a controversial Rolling Stone cover where she only wears a sleeveless Nike shirt and a suspender.
And when she appeared at the Los Angeles movie premiere wearing a Bettter bodysuit that seemed to exclaim, “Skirts, who needs them?” with a very high thigh cut, sheer black stockings, a black blazer, and black stiletto heels, it was clear that these choices were not mere coincidence but a conscious strategy.
Appropriately, Bettter’s motto, which repurposes men’s suits for women, is “empower instead of dominate.” Which, considering the film in question, a queer film noir set in a small town in 1980s New Mexico and, as one critic wrote, a “deconstruction of cinematic hypermasculinity,” hits the nail on the head.
However, when the promotional machinery reached New York, Stewart truly showed her cards. As well as parts of her body, in a black mini with a mesh bra, garter belt, and stockings, and a leather jacket to appear on “Late Night With Seth Meyers” and a Monot top with draped chain halter neckline for “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.” Paparazzi caught her leaving her building in tiny cream knit shorts and a bra under a khaki shirt, with heels, and another time in Chanel micro sports shorts and matching leg warmers. Again, with heels.
The clothing was like a challenge to the watching world, a refusal to conform to gender expectations of pretty girls in cute dresses, and a gentle response to the idea that provocation is an invitation. A “I see you judging me, I challenge you a little more” of fashion politics.
By orchestrating her outfits, Stewart, who seemed to be quite enjoying herself, thank you, showed how much can be said on the pseudo red carpet, even without the E! host asking what she was wearing. You really couldn’t overlook the message she wanted to highlight. After all, she wasn’t exactly covering it up.
