Tilda Swinton’s Bowie-Inspired Look at The Grand Budapest Hotel Premiere: A Fashion Statement

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In February 2014, Tilda Swinton channeled her eerie doppelgänger, David Bowie, at the premiere of director Wes Anderson’s latest film, The Grand Budapest Hotel, during the 64th Berlin International Film Festival.

Tilda Swinton wears her hair up in an architectural updoTilda Swinton wears her hair up in an architectural updo at the premiere of “The Grand Budapest Hotel” during the 64th Berlinale International Film Festival at Berlinale Palast on February 6, 2014, in Berlin, Germany (Credit: WENN / Patrick Hoffman / Clemens Niehaus / Future Image / SIPA)

The Art of Miniature: Crafting the Grand Budapest Hotel

The exterior of the Grand Budapest Hotel is a miniature model created by set designer Adam Stockhausen. The American production designer and his team built three major miniature models: the ​1⁄8-scale forest set, the ​1⁄12-scale observatory, and the ​1⁄18-scale Grand Budapest Hotel set.

The miniature model of the full façade of the fictional Grand Budapest Hotel was nine feet tall and 14 feet long. It was largely modeled on the Grandhotel Pupp, a 228-room luxury hotel located in Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad), Czech Republic.

“There were some interesting interior details of the hotel that we liked, such as the wide corridors with carpet running down the center and windows that shone light into the hallways,” Stockhausen told National Geographic in 2014.

Grandhotel Pupp inspired the miniature model of the fictional Grand Budapest HotelGrandhotel Pupp inspired the miniature model of the fictional Grand Budapest Hotel (Credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Tilda Swinton’s Red Carpet Style: An Androgynous Masterpiece

The phenomenal actress looked every bit like an extraterrestrial rock star with her otherworldly beauty, eclectic fashion sense, platinum blonde hair, high cheekbones, ghostly pale skin, and those quirky feathered sandals.

Tilda Swinton signs autographs for fans at the premiere of "The Grand Budapest Hotel"Tilda Swinton signs autographs for fans at the premiere of “The Grand Budapest Hotel” (Credit: WENN / Patrick Hoffman / Clemens Niehaus / Future Image / SIPA)

Tilda knows how to work in an androgynous outfit like a boss, and this time was no exception as she stepped out on the red carpet in a head-to-toe Schiaparelli.

Tilda Swinton signs autographs for fans at the premiere of "The Grand Budapest Hotel"Tilda Swinton signs autographs for fans at the premiere of “The Grand Budapest Hotel” (Credit: WENN / Patrick Hoffman / Clemens Niehaus / Future Image / SIPA)

The then 53-year-old actress was a vision of modern edge and irreverence in a white charmeuse shirt tucked into black tailored pants.

Tilda Swinton as 84-year-old Madame D. in The Grand Budapest HotelTilda Swinton as 84-year-old Madame D. in The Grand Budapest Hotel (Credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Tilda wore a beautiful black wool tuxedo that featured white silk ruffles on the inside. She styled it with an impressive gold-and-red cocktail ring and disheveled platinum locks.

Tilda Swinton wears an androgynous black-and-white suit on the red carpetTilda Swinton wears an androgynous black-and-white suit on the red carpet (Credit: WENN / Patrick Hoffman / Clemens Niehaus / Future Image / SIPA)

Portraying Madame D., the wealthy dowager and secret owner of the hotel, she added a pop of color to her monochromatic ensemble with vampy red lips and nails.

The British star finished off her look with a pair of thong sandals adorned with black feathers from Schiaparelli’s latest collection.

Tilda Swinton's feet in feathered Schiaparelli sandalsTilda Swinton’s feet in feathered Schiaparelli sandals (Credit: WENN / Patrick Hoffman / Clemens Niehaus / Future Image / SIPA)

Tilda’s ensemble was part of designer Marco Zanini’s Spring/Summer 2014 collection for Schiaparelli, which debuted at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week.

The designer’s eclectic pieces feature intricate beadwork and embroidery, gorgeous fabrics, vibrant hues and prints, and the label’s signature whimsical flourishes. This particular look suits the hauntingly beautiful star’s regal presence and her quirky yet sophisticated sense of style.

Schiaparelli's Spring/Summer 2014 collection runway show during Paris Haute Couture Fashion WeekSchiaparelli’s Spring/Summer 2014 collection runway show during Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris, France, on January 20, 2014 (Credit: WENN / Patrick Hoffman / Clemens Niehaus / Future Image / SIPA)

What do you think of Tilda’s straight-off-the-runway look?