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Tuesday, 17 June 2008

Syren Couture’s Catwoman Suit for Michelle Pfeiffer in ‘Batman Returns’ is Exhibited At the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC

May 12, 2008

"The “Catwoman” suit created by Syren Couture for Michelle Pfeiffer’s role in the 1992 movie “Batman Returns” is currently on display at the upcoming “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy” exhibit at New York City’s world famous Metropolitan Museum of Art. The exhibit will run through Monday, September 1st in the Museum’s Special Exhibition Galleries on the first floor and it features approximately 60 ensembles including movie costumes, avant-garde haute couture and high performance sportswear.
Syren Couture is s high fashion house and has been supplying custom latex and leather designs to the entertainment industry for over 15 years. Syren has a colorful history of creating costumes for such movies as Batman Returns, Catwoman, Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Men in Black and for TV shows that include CSI: Miami and Ugly Betty as well as for numerous top music videos.
“Today, superhero imagery has suffused almost every aspect of popular culture” said Andrew Bolton, curator in the museum’s Costume Institute. “The superhero’s iconic costume of cape, mask and bodysuit finds many fashionable permutations. But fashion’s embrace of the superhero extends beyond iconography to issues of identity, sexuality and nationalism.”
The unforgettable black latex suit and mask created by Syren and based on acclaimed costume designer Bob Ringwood’s design, fit Ms. Pfeiffer like a second skin and gave her part woman/part cat character a strong, feline appeal. As Catwoman, she was able to kick box, jump, spin and perform astonishing acrobatics, always framed by the silhouette of her costume with its distinctive molded rubber stitches that accentuated her femininity and sophistication.
“I’m so thrilled by the work done by Syren Couture on the recreation and restoration of Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman costume to be featured at the Met’s exhibition in New York,” said Mr. Ringwood.
“What remained of it in the Warner Brothers’ Archive was in a very sorry state indeed and could never have been put on exhibition. But now, thanks to your work at Syren and to my assistant, Kate Lindsay, we have a beautifully restored costume that will be the fine iconic exhibit it should be in the exhibition at the Met.
“I know the recreation could not have been easy, especially on such a contorted mannequin with its twisted pose and I think the finished result is a miracle,” Mr. Ringwood added.
An announcement from the Museum notes that “Catwoman will represent The Paradoxical Body which will explore the character’s vacillating manifestations of good and bad” Syren’s Catwoman suit is in the company of creations by such leading names in fashion as Balenciaga, Pierre Cardin, Dolce & Gabbana, Jean Paul Gaultier, Thierry Mugler, Versace and many others.
A gala benefit celebration was held to open the exhibition and was chaired by Georgio Armani, with actor George Clooney, actress Julia Roberts and Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine. In an interview on the “Today” show on NBC, Ms. Wintour noted that Catwoman was her favorite for best-dressed superhero.
“Latex is an exciting and challenging medium for fashion. We were all thrilled to work on this project which was a labor of love and we couldn’t be more excited to have our creation get this incredible recognition” said Jeffrey Gent of Syren Couture.
L.A.-based Syren Couture is internationally recognized for its extraordinary latex fashions and custom latex/rubber original designs which range from informal latex styles for day wear to evening gowns."

Source: Syren Couture

I never knew that the stitches on the costume were actually moulded pieces that were stuck onto the surface of the catsuit! For a closer look at the suit and its restoration, click on the excellent blog by Steve Diet Goedde!

Labels: catsuit, Catwoman, Kinky News, rubber/latex