(EMAILWIRE.COM, July 15, 2009 ) LOS ANGELES – Sacha Baron Cohen's character and his gay partner in the movie Bruno wear Syren Couture Latex, outfits that were specially created by Jeffrey Gent, head designer for the world's leading latex fashion house. Working closely with Cohen and Jason Alper, costume designer for Bruno, Gent produced two hilarious outfits that are featured in an over-the-top gay fetish scene.
Jason Alper's photo of Bruno sporting the skintight purple metallic latex shorts suit appeared on The New York Times' website in the "TimesPeople" section, in a feature called "Brunowear": (http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/07/08/movies/0712-bruno_5.html).
The R-rated send-up opened with a clear win at the domestic box office during the past weekend, with an estimated $30.4 million in ticket sales.
"It was great fun working on this project," according to Gent, who says the adventure began when he was invited months ago to visit a seedy old studio building on Santa Monica Blvd. that was packed with outrageous costumes. During a mysterious and secretive meeting it was revealed that he was being hired to create an outfit for Cohen.
"The outfit I created consists of a pair of custom-designed latex short shorts with studded codpiece and and rear zipper as well as a matching top with buckling collar and short cropped sleeves," says Gent. "I made a similar outfit in metallic green for his partner that also has the interesting detail of nipple zippers and pants with all round zipper. It is not everyday that I'm asked to make something that is deliberately tacky and over the top!"
"Sacha was very serious at first, sitting at a table with four other men from the production company. Everyone lightened up once we began discussing all the hilarious details of the costumes. We spent a good two hours with the fitting and working out all of the details, then I only had two days to make two of everything they ordered!"
Gent figured prominently in another Bruno event last month when Cohen enlivened the MTV Movie Awards at the Gibson Amphitheatre by descending dramatically from high in the rafters wearing a harness, large white angel wings and custom-made white latex Gladiator Kilt was designed by Gent. Cohen landed face down in the lap of Eminem, with his naked butt in the rapper's face.
For over 15 years Syren has supplied latex designs to the entertainment industry and private customers, who shop for the latest styles at its retail store on Sunset Boulevard. The handcrafted, high-quality Syren creations are popular because of their second skin appeal, which flatters the figure and allows ease of movement without sacrificing aesthetics.
Syren has a colorful history of creating costumes for such movies as Batman Returns, The Matrix, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Men in Black and most recently for the Silk Spectre II character played by Malin Akerman in Watchmen. Syren's costume for Michelle Pfeiffer's role in "Catwoman" was recently on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. When asked on The Today Show which of the costumes was her favorite, famed Vogue editor Anna Wintour said: "Catwoman every time, absolutely."
