Kristen Stewart On Her Evolving Style, Red-Carpet Clichés, & Paparazzi
We get that you don't want to draw attention to yourself with clothes when you're being photographed a thousand times a day, but do you ever think about incorporating more color and pattern into what you wear?
"You're right, the reason you see me wearing simple clothes is because I don't want to give [the paparazzi] anything. Literally, I go outside every day in the same thing, so they can't say anything. So, it seems like I don't put any thought into it, but I recently put all my stuff in one area and obsessively, OCD-style, arranged all of my stuff. Like such a girl!
"And you might be surprised, but I do have more than a white T-shirt and a pair of jeans; I actually have some cool stuff! And I think I'm going to start using it. As I get older, I get more comfortable, and I'm finding those things that define me. Before, it really was just a T-shirt and jeans, but now, it's changing."
But, on the carpet, you seem pretty fearless about wearing what you like, and taking unconventional risks — like when your foot was hurt and you wore Chucks with a gorgeous dress. How do you find the confidence to make that work?
"It's really important to like what you're wearing. It's pretty clear when I don't like what I'm wearing, and it's pretty clear if you got dressed for other people. Even if you're not looking the the best you can, or maybe your outfit isn't spot on, if it looks like you got dressed and you like it, you'll probably look cool anyway."
So, your mantra is basically, 'this makes me happy, so this is what I'm going to wear'?
"Yeah! Sometimes you're not in the appropriate mood for the event you're going to, and you can look overdressed or underdressed, but even more than where you're going, your look has to suit your energy. It sounds completely self-involved, but it works."
When you're on the red carpet, you tend to take serious-looking pictures –– you're definitely not the hand-on-hip girl…
"God, if I ever see my hand on hip, I'm like 'Stop it!'"
Exactly –– it can feel like such a cliche. But do you have a secret to posing without feeling forced?
"Again, I think the biggest thing is to like what you're wearing. But, in reality, I'm not very comfortable taking pictures, so I just try to get through it. Recently, though, I've had to do a lot of On The Road stuff, and I've been incredibly comfortable, not because there's a personal pride thing, but because I'm so proud of everyone, and to be a part of this group. So, I guess the secret to taking good pictures is to have a good reason to do it. Just stand tall, man! I know that's funny coming from me, but it's true!"
We're all really excited for On The Road! Have you always been a huge Kerouac fan?
"I read On The Road when I was a freshman in high school, and I met Walter [Salles, the movie's director] for it when I was 17. I know that I've said this so many times, but it really was my favorite book; I was obsessed with it. I loved the verbs; just so many fucking verbs — I really liked that it wasn't packaged and delivered in a story-book sort of way, and when you're a freshman in high school, every book is written like that.
"Like, where is it's beginning, middle, and end, in that book? It's just really hard to pin down. I was like 'I've got to find people like that.' I really wanted to keep up with people that really push you. When I met Walter, I was younger than the character was in the book, and didn't know how to insert myself into that story. But I was like, 'I'll do anything!', and when I finally got the part, I was like, 'Are you sure? I'm 17!' Luckily, I had a few years to grow up, and I was 20 when we started filming. But I've been a fan since I was 14 or 15."
Photo: Courtesy of Balenciaga
in NYC